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Your morning routine is the key to a mindful and fulfilled life.
How? It sets the tone for each day, every day.
A strong, positive morning routine can lead to a positive and intentional day.
If each of your days were positive and intentional, then wouldn’t that be a great life?
One of the biggest challenges people face with morning routines is consistency.
You may start a morning routine one week and do it for a few days, but then you fall back into your old pattern of hitting snooze four times before crawling out of bed at the last possible second.
Let’s change that!
8 Ways to Be Consistent With Your Morning Routine
1. Be realistic
If you work a 9-5 job, have a side hustle and a family, and want to plan out a three-hour-long morning routine, that is probably not realistic for your lifestyle.
If you set unrealistic expectations for yourself, you are setting yourself up for failure.
Look at how much sleep you need, and then decide how early you can get yourself up.
Your morning routine might only take 10 minutes, so figure out how much time you have and need. Not everyone is destined to get up before the sun rises, and that is okay!
Related Reads:
• 10 Morning Habits That Will Change Your Life
• How to Start Your Day with Clarity and Focus
2. Choose things that you will actually look forward to and enjoy doing
There is no way you are going to want to get up early to do things that you don’t enjoy.
You will feel more motivated to get out of bed if it is to do things that you love!
Do you love the taste of high-quality coffee? Try introducing something unique to your routine. Looking forward to that first taste of robust, smooth Guatemalan coffee can be a great motivator to start your day!
Want to exercise in the morning but hate going to the gym? Going for a walk in the morning might be better for you!
Want to practice mindfulness but struggle to sit still during meditation? Try journaling or yoga instead!
Your morning routine is created by you, for you.
Don’t feel obligated to copy and paste someone else’s morning routine into your own life.
Only you can decide what works best for you!
3. Try habit stacking
If you have never read “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, you should definitely add it to your reading list. This book dives deep into how we can adopt positive habits that stick, and habit stacking is an important concept.
Look at what you already do in the morning.
For example, maybe your morning routine is to wake up, take the dog on a walk, make coffee, do the dishes, then sit and drink your coffee.
With habit stacking, you fit your new habits (elements of your new morning routine) between things you already naturally do.
You may do yoga before making coffee, write out a gratitude list after doing the dishes, and journal while you sip your coffee.
Fitting these new habits in with your existing ones will make it easier for you to be consistent.
4. Have an accountability buddy
Is there a friend or family member that can hold you accountable for your morning routine?
You will find the most success if they can do the routine with you, but if not, a simple accountability text each morning can do the trick.
When you know someone is holding you accountable and counting on you to do what you say you will do, then you are less likely to skip a day.
If you don’t have someone to help you with this, then you can always check off the days where you complete your routine on a calendar.
5. Start small, then work your way up
If your current mornings are rushed and unintentional, then adding a lengthy morning routine is going to feel very difficult.
Start small with your routine, and add more elements as you get used to it.
Maybe you just add in a five-minute meditation each morning or a twenty-minute walk.
Once that element feels manageable, then you can always add more in.
This is a good way to get into the consistency of your morning routine without feeling overwhelmed by it.
6. Get a good night’s rest each night
It can be a challenge to get up early in the mornings for everyone, no doubt about that.
However, make it easier on yourself by doing what you can to get a good night’s rest each night. Set a bedtime for yourself (yes, adults can have bedtimes too!!) and stick to it.
You are setting yourself up for success in the morning by knowing you will feel well-rested and able to tackle your day.
7. Set your phone across the room from your bed
What is the biggest killer of all good morning routines?
The snooze button!
In a half-second, sleepy daze, you may hit the snooze button without even realizing it. Even worse, you may hit it two, three times, or more! Is this you?
Setting your phone across the room at night can really help with this struggle. Not only will it prevent you from scrolling late at night, but it will also force you to get out of bed and turn your alarm off in the morning.
At that point, you’re already up so you might as well stay up!
8. Reward yourself and celebrate for sticking with it
When you (or someone else) holds you accountable, you are able to track and see how far you’ve come.
Celebrate any milestones like completing your morning routine for one week, one month, or one year!
Celebrating might look like dinner at your favorite restaurant or just taking a day to yourself. Once you are consistent with your morning routine, you definitely will have earned the celebration.
Final Thoughts
You should craft a morning routine that works for you, your schedule, and your life.
Morning routines really are not rocket science. What works for one person may not work for you, and your morning routine should be composed of things that you love and that bring you joy.
Incorporate these ways to be consistent with your morning routine into your life, and feel the difference that a positive morning routine can make!
What helps you stick to your morning routine? Leave a comment below!
Michelle Gagliani
Owner & Founder
Michelle is the Founder of The Balanced CEO and a Holistic Nutritionist + Health Coach. She was born and raised in St.Thomas, U.S.V.I., and is currently living in Austin, TX. When she’s not running this blog and online business, she is cozied up at home watching TV, taking long walks in nature, or trying out new healthy recipes.
Jaime Reynolds says
My routine is pretty simple. Drink coffee and feed the cats!! MWF I do a 30 min workout.
Michelle says
Sounds awesome Jaime!
Lucy Will says
Great post!! A good morning routine is very important, and I include a good cup of coffee in my routine. I feel it has become essential for me, as I can’t imagine my day without coffee! thanks for sharing this post with us, I will modify my morning routine and will try some of your tips as well. Keep sharing more!
Michelle says
Thank you Lucy!! I’m with you about coffee…I can’t imagine life without it š
Niharika Verma says
I love having a morning routine. It helps me start my day with positivity š
Michelle says
That’s awesome Niharika!
Joshua Brown says
This has really opened my eyes to my morning routine. I just recently started meditating and journaling. But reading let me know I’m not alone. Thank you for this!