“Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it.” – Richard Whately. (1)
Many, including me, can attest to the truthfulness of these words. A day starts from the moment you open your eyes and your brain becomes conscious of your surroundings. You start ticking off your morning routine checklist.
What you do in that hour (or hours) makes your morning routine productive, or poor.
The first thing that comes to mind at that moment is, “What time is it?” or “Can I make it in time?” The latter, more often than not, sends a chill down your body when you realize you are late.
So the question arises, “What makes a morning productive?” It could be different morning routine ideas that you perform to take care of yourself, your home, your family, and most importantly your brain.
A routine, consisting of healthy and enjoyable habits, releases loads of feel-good hormones that help in stress reduction, improve the sleep cycle, and promote a healthy diet. (2)
Morning Routine Is Food For Soul
Don’t judge me! A morning routine is a food for the soul.
Just like music is for Schopenhauer, cooking is for Ramsey, or books are for nerds.
A morning routine checklist can involve all of these and much more like meditation, an early morning jog, journal writing, or anything that can give you peace of mind (and no, nicotine is not a part of it!).
Everyone has a person in their lives or knows someone, who takes great pleasure in setting up their bed early in the morning.
They’ll wake up excited and straighten out each silhouette of their bed sheet with such precision that would insult a person who barely washes his face and rush to the office, coming back to the same messy bed.
Trust me! The person who cleans up his bed nicely in the morning is not crazy. It is a food for their soul.
It gives them time to disconnect from the world and be involved in an activity they enjoy doing, think while doing, or simply like the results of.
Sometimes I wash dishes just because it takes me into deep corners of my brain I enjoy being in.
Why Should One Have To Follow A Morning Routine Checklist?
‘The Morning Miracle’ by Hal Elrod is a famous international bestseller that talks about 6 morning habits that can revolutionize a person’s life.
The idea of a fixed morning routine gained popularity after this book went viral, urging people to take small actions that can potentially change their lives. (3)
In today’s tech-driven, fast-paced world, the body needs a break, a disconnection from robotic activities like replying to emails.
Scrolling through Instagram feed while lying in bed for hours before brushing your teeth doesn’t give anyone inner satisfaction.
It just develops guilt if you notice. The inner satisfaction comes from within, when the person finds a deeper connection with the soul, feeling every sensation through the body, living each moment that passes by.
Allowing yourself to disconnect from the chaos, makes the world a better place. The grass starts to look greener, the smile becomes more genuine, and thoughts that wounded your soul start fading.
Having a ‘me-time’ that involves watching a movie is good, but damaging when you start binge-watching a series with 3 seasons and 10 episodes. ‘Me-time’ should be about reconnecting with yourself, and when that happens, you’ll find yourself painting pots, decorating the guest room, and planting seeds in the garden.
How Can A Morning Routine Be Life-Transforming?
“Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” – Dalai Lama
Our actions define who we are, not our words. When a person wakes up and decides to do something positive with his time, he is reinforcing a positive impact on his life.
In the same way, a morning routine checklist can also have a positive impact on your whole life. But it is no miracle!
Transforming your life takes effort and that effort begins small, like starting your morning with a positive thought.
Annie Dallarad, a famous American author said, “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.” Scientific research suggests a more specific approach. It’s the beginning of the day, a morning routine, consisting of a morning checklist, that leads to long-term happiness in life. (4)
Let’s say you wake up, follow your morning routine, and before leaving the house you make sure to review your morning routine checklist.
Checking everything off gives you a sense of achievement that you have accomplished the key to a productive morning, while also boosting your confidence for the day ahead of you. The small victory of simply pleasing yourself will enable you to work harder, boosting your productivity for the rest of the day.
Yes! All of it does not happen overnight. It requires consistency. It requires you to make a habit of holding yourself accountable and asking, “What did I do today to make my morning productive?” Only then can a path be paved to a transformative successful life.
The Effects Of A Productive Morning Routine
The impact of a well-structured morning routine on productivity is well documented. However, research suggests these benefits may extend beyond daily tasks, influencing an individual’s personality traits.
This study explores the potential changes in personality associated with a consistent productive morning routine.
The core tenet lies in the concept of self-efficacy. A productive morning routine checklist fosters a sense of accomplishment early in the day.
Completing planned tasks reinforces the belief in one’s ability to achieve goals, strengthening self-efficacy. This can lead to increased confidence and a more proactive approach to challenges throughout the day.
Furthermore, a structured routine fosters discipline and self-control. Resisting the urge to hit snooze or engage in distracting activities upon waking demonstrates these qualities. Over time, this translates to better impulse control and improved decision-making in various aspects of life.
Morning routines that incorporate mindfulness practices like meditation or journaling can cultivate emotional regulation.
By acknowledging and processing emotions at the start of the day, individuals are better equipped to manage stress and maintain a positive outlook throughout the workday.
It is important to note that the specific personality changes will vary depending on the individual and the components of their routine.
However, the initial success achieved through a productive morning routine can act as a catalyst for broader personality development.
Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to establish a causal link between morning routines and personality shifts.
However, the initial findings suggest a promising avenue for exploring the holistic benefits of a well-designed morning regimen.
15 Morning Routine Checklist Ideas To Change Your Life
Every person is different, and that is why a single type of morning routine does not fit all. A cancer patient would need chemotherapy and targeted medicine for a cure instead of cough syrup or a milkshake.
Just like that, a morning routine checklist is designed by the person according to his own personality, targeting his needs.
Incorporating small rituals and practices as a part of your morning routine checklist can help you decide the trajectory of your day with calm and pleasure. There are numerous morning routine ideas, 15 of which are listed here after careful research and consideration.
1- Placing the alarm clock far from your bed
Willpower is all it takes to get out of your bed, but I like to call it positive manipulation. The hardest part is over as soon as you walk to the other end of your room to turn off the alarm.
2- Making your bed
There is no better way to describe what difference can this tine action make than Admiral McRaven’s philosophy, “If you want to change the world, start by making your bed.” (5) It’s the small efforts that lead up to a big change.
3- Hydrate yourself
Drink at least one whole glass of water on an empty stomach. It helps regulate your metabolism and instantly freshens you up.
4- Taking a warm shower
A warm shower without a doubt gives a burst of refreshing energy. The temperature of the water helps increase the blood flow and soothes your muscles by loosening them up.
5- Welcome the outside, inside your home
This is a crucial step of any morning routine checklist. You can welcome your outside environment by letting open your drapes and windows. This will brighten up your home and let the morning breeze take away all the stress of the previous night.
6- Wake up at the same time
Your mind controls your body, but you can control your mind with extrinsic factors, like setting up the alarm every day at the same time. No, I will not insist on 4 am or 5 am. But watching a sunrise is surely the deal breaker of the best way to start a day.
7- Morning walk or jog
Starting your day with physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, enhancing alertness, focus, and cognitive function throughout the morning.
This sets the tone for a productive day and can even improve mood and reduce stress.
8. Practicing mindfulness – can be mindful eating of your breakfast
Mindful eating involves focusing on the sensory experience of food, savoring each bite without distractions.
This practice promotes better digestion and can cultivate a sense of gratitude for your nourishment. By being present during breakfast, you prime yourself for mindful awareness throughout the day.
9. Avoid gadgets for the first 60 minutes
The constant stimulation of phones can fragment your attention and disrupt the formation of deep focus.
Delaying screen time allows you to prioritize your inner world and establish a sense of calm before engaging with the external world.
10. Express gratitude.
Taking a few moments to reflect on things you’re grateful for fosters a positive outlook and boosts overall well-being.
Gratitude journaling or simply expressing appreciation silently can shift your mindset towards optimism and set the stage for a productive day.
11. Journal writing – Planning your day ahead
Journaling allows you to clarify your thoughts, set goals, and prioritize tasks. By planning your day in writing, you gain a sense of control and focus, promoting feelings of accomplishment and reducing stress.
12. Meditation
Meditation promotes emotional regulation and improves focus. By quieting your mind and observing your thoughts, you can cultivate present-moment awareness and enhance your ability to manage stress and distractions throughout the day.
13. Reading
Dedicating time to reading in the morning exposes you to new information and ideas, stimulating your brain and enhancing cognitive function [8].
Reading can also reduce stress and improve overall well-being by transporting you to different worlds and fostering a sense of calm.
14. Affirmations
Repeating positive affirmations can boost your confidence and self-belief. By consciously focusing on your strengths and capabilities, you prime your mind for a successful day through this component of the morning routine checklist.
15. Check your morning routine checklist before leaving the house.
Taking a moment to review your completed morning routine checklist instills a sense of accomplishment and ensures you’ve set yourself up for a productive day.
This simple act reinforces positive habits and creates a sense of control over your day.
With this morning routine checklist, you will make your mornings productive and full of joy and calm. Want to know how to set up a routine? Mentioned below is a book that will help you throughout your life.
Recommended Readings
1- The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
Hal Elrod’s “The Miracle Morning” advocates a specific morning routine checklist named SAVERS: Silence (meditation), Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing (journaling).
Elrod claims this practice enhances various aspects of life. While the core message of self-improvement through a structured routine is sound, the book’s strength lies in its accessibility. Elrod presents the SAVERS framework as a starting point, acknowledging its customizability.
2- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Charles Duhigg’s “The Power of Habit” explores the science behind habit formation. Through engaging narratives and research, Duhigg unveils a three-part loop: cue, routine, reward, explaining how habits function.
The book emphasizes understanding this loop to reshape negative habits and cultivate positive ones. While some may find the business-oriented examples less relatable, Duhigg’s clear framework offers valuable tools for lasting behavioral change and a productive morning routine checklist.
Related Posts
How to stop procrastinating and get productive
15 Ways to Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Everyday Life
References
https://www.ryandelaney.co/blog/how-starting-a-morning-routine-can-transform-your-life
https://www.pushfar.com/article/9-morning-routine-habits-that-will-change-your-life
https://medium.com/swlh/a-4-step-morning-routine-that-can-change-your-life-completely-daea34941198
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