My Morning Routine and a Morning Routine Checklist

​My Morning Routine and a Morning Routine Checklist

​Almost 2 years ago now, I had a more productive morning when I woke up early and did all of the things BEFORE everyone else in my house woke up,

​I moved more; I actually didn’t drink as much coffee…

​My to-do list is never-ending and long. I need every minute of my 24 hours in a day that I can get. That’s why I started this great morning routine.  

​I was finding that I was trying to squeeze healthy habits and behaviors into my daily routines and failing miserably. I didn’t have time for me and I was just off and overwhelmed.  

​Until I started my morning routine that changed my life. It has saved my sanity, made me more productive and just made me an all-around better person.

Here is how my morning routine goes! Scroll down for tips on how I created my morning routine and a FREE Morning Routine Checklist to help you make yours!

4am: My Morning Routine starts: My Alarm Clock Goes Off and I GET UP.

​I don’t hit the snooze button. Studies have shown that it’s better to just get right up.

​4:10am: I Meditate and Affirm Myself

After taking care of morning things, I get out of bed and meditate. ​This means different things on different days. Sometimes it’s reading a meditation from my Power Thoughts app sometimes it’s a meditation from my Peloton app. Whatever it is, it leaves me in a good mood afterwards.

​4:20am: I journal

I end this time journaling in my 5-minute journal if I don’t have much to say or my regular journal. Whatever journal it is, I write down my affirmation of the day and what I am thankful for. Positive affirmations really get my day started off on the right foot

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​4:30am: I Hydrate and Read

​I grab at least a glass of water, then give myself about 30 minutes for me. A lot of people ask me how I read so much; this is my secret. Every morning, I do this. This is my time.

​5-6:30am: I get in my morning exercise!

From about 5-630, for my physical health AND mental health, I work out. This might be strength training, yoga, Pilates , a ride on my peloton or all of the above. It’s helped so much with weight loss and again, since I’m an early bird, this part of my self-care is done before the day even begins.

​6:30-7:45am: It’s time for Fatherhood

It’s time to feed my cats and dog. I filled their bowls up with water and fill up their food bowls for the day.

​8-10 am: I Eat the Frog

​One secret that keeps me motivated every morning is that it actually starts the night before. During my evening routine, I’ve looked over my to-do list and written down THREE things I want to get done that day.

​At 8, I pick my frog. This is the concept that you do the most difficult thing first from the book Eat the Frog by Brian Tracy.

​Some days that’s the gym, some days it could be cleaning the kitchen, some days it’s writing an article or an email. Whatever it is, I get it out the way and that makes me feel accomplished.

​10am: I eat my breakfast

​This is the end of my morning routine, because of all of that, I need food and I need coffee! I actually sit down at my dining room table and take 30 minutes to do this. It’s my time to refuel with a healthy breakfast and be ready for whatever the day is going to throw at me!

​So how do you Make Your Own Morning Routine?

​A morning routine doesn’t mean that you have to wake up at 4 am like me. It simply means that you need to set aside a little bit of extra time every morning to wake up and focus on you!

​Your routine can be as long or as short as you want it.

​So why do you need a morning routine?

I get it,” routines” can seem boring, stifling or just unobtainable! BUT Morning routines make your life easier. They reduce stress because you really don’t have to think about what you’ve before even having your first cup of coffee.

​Routines put our brains on autopilot. They become like muscle memory. You don’t have to think about it because it just is.

​But if you are just starting out, you need help to get a better start on your day, and I’m here to help!

​5 Things to Consider when Planning your Morning Routine

​1. Plan Your Morning at Night

I plan out what I need to get done (including my top 3 things to get done) at the end of the day I find i have less stress in the morning and have a much more productive day when i plan out important tasks the night before.

​2. Pick a wake-up time

​Mine is 4 am. Yours might by 5 or 630am. Whatever it is, keep it consistent and after a while, it will start to feel natural.

​And when you get up, DON’T PICK UP YOUR PHONE! I switched my alarm to my Apple watch because when I used my phone, it was the first thing I reached for! And then I spent the next 20-30 minutes in bed mindlessly scrolling the internet instead of getting up.

​If you have trouble with this, use one of these apps to block social media or limit it on your phone.

​3. Devote Some Time to YOU and Hydrate

​Meditate and affirm: Meditation or morning affirmations are a great way to establish the tone of your day.

​But also taking time for you: reading, journaling, listening to a podcast or watch Netflix. Whatever it is, take at least 20 minutes for you. Do it first thing so that even on a busy day, you feel like you did something for yourself.

Drinking water (BEFORE coffee) helps to gear up your metabolism and your brain. It helps you to WAKE up!

​4. Eat a Frog

​Pick ONE thing to cross off of your to-do list right away.

​As part of my evening routine, I usually write out my to-do list. In the morning, I look over what I need to accomplish and pick one of those to be my frog.

Your frog (idea taken from the book Eat the Frog) could be a difficult task, cleaning a bathroom, sending that important email, exercising or making a Dr’s appointment. Whatever it is, doing that ONE thing that you want to put off helps you feel accomplished. Because it’s before noon and you already got something done!

​5. Have Breakfast

​Didn’t your mama tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?

​Now I know with the advent of intermittent fasting and our busy lives that it can be hard to fit in breakfast or even want to.

​But a person can’t be fueled by coffee alone (believe me I’ve tried)

Getting something in a piece of peanut butter toast, a full meal from iHop, an apple, or avocado toast is important to make sure we can do what we need to do for ourselves and our families all day.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE CHECKLIST HERE

​Morning routines take time and practice to perfect.

​If it seems daunting, add a new element every week. Wake up 15 minutes earlier every week until you reach your ideal time. Take all of these tips and create your own morning routine and adapt as necessary. Just keep at it. And watch your days become more and more productive.