If you’ve browsed social media for “morning routine ideas,” you’ve likely been assaulted with all the extreme clickbait, wellness influencer grindset meme routines: 3AM ice baths, dry ice showers, rusty nail salads, and reading three books before breakfast. No, thanks. Your morning doesn’t need to be an Instagram alpha male or girlboss grindset performance for you to have a productive and good day. Here are 11 ways to start the day that will make getting out of bed actually enjoyable.
Wellness and Self-Care to Start Fresh
Mornings are the time for resetting and recharging. Focus on small, intentional habits to energize your body and calm your mind as the day picks up speed. These simple steps will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes next.
Get Some Sunlight for a Calm, Clear Mind
Start the day with natural sunshine to regulate your circadian rhythm and clear your mind. Exposure to sunlight facilitates the production of powerful neurotransmitters like dopamine that contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness. This is a great practice to help reduce tension and improve focus, allowing you to approach tasks with calmness and clarity. Here are a few things to practice while getting that crucial 15-20 minutes of morning sun:
- Deep breathing: Focus on slow, steady breaths into your diaphragm to relax your body and center yourself.
- Body scans: Gently bring awareness to each muscle in your body, releasing tension as you go.
- Move around: Enjoy some stretching and light playful movement to wake your body and sync it with your mind.
Energize Through Movement
Physical activity activates your muscles and jumpstarts your metabolism, helping you shake off morning grogginess. Engaging in quick bursts of movement like push-ups, jumping jacks, squats or a five-minute HIIT workout is a great way to jumpstart your day without equipment. Alternatively, if you prefer something less intense, simple stretches like neck rolls or seated forward folds relax tense muscles and boost mobility.
Time-Saving Hacks for a Smooth Morning
Mornings too often feel rushed and chaotic, but they don’t need to be. A few smart strategies can make them more seamless. Streamlining your routine eliminates the rush and creates moments for calm and positivity.
Prep the Night Before
Preparation for the day shouldn’t begin in the morning; it should start the night before. Consider the steps that go into getting you out the door and how to make them smoother. Simple tasks like organizing your workspace or setting out clothes can save valuable minutes and prevent decision fatigue. Meal prepping is another game changer. Prepare your breakfast the night before so you can just heat it up in the morning, or if short on time, eat it cold when you wake up.
Make Your Mornings More Efficient
Certain tasks are morning necessities, but a few easy hacks can help you get them done more quickly and without hassle:
- Group similar activities: Combine tasks like packing bags and lunches to save time.
- Use automation tools: If it fits your lifestyle, tools like programmable coffee makers can make your routine more convenient.
- Set timers: Time yourself or set alarms to stay on track, preventing you from spending too long on any one task.
- Rely on checklists: A simple checklist helps you to prioritize and ensure no details are overlooked.
Joyful Rituals to Look Forward To
Mornings don’t have to feel like a chore. You can add small rituals to your routine that bring joy and help you feel more grounded. These intentional habits make it easier to start the day on a positive note.
Start the Day with Gratitude
Starting your day with gratitude allows you to reframe your mindset, encouraging you to focus on what’s going well rather than dwelling on stress and negativity. These simple actions can make it easy to incorporate thankfulness into your morning:
- Jot down three things you appreciate or are grateful for from the previous day.
- Take a few seconds to reflect on what’s going well in your life, even during a busy morning.
- Use a gratitude journal to capture your reflections and track your positivity over time.
Savor Small Joys
The simplest routines can bring the greatest comfort. Take the time to brew your favorite coffee or tea and drink it mindfully– appreciating the aroma and taste. Enjoy your breakfast and don’t rush through it, savoring the calm before the storm of the day and enjoying the little details. A soothing skincare routine can also add a moment of joy to your morning. Reflect on the small acts of self-care that can help you start your day more positively.
Rediscover Hobbies
Mornings can provide a window of uninterrupted time to reconnect with hobbies. Devote 10-15 minutes to activities that spark joy like reading, sketching, playing an instrument or anything else you love. This gives your morning a sense of purpose, adding joy that carries into the rest of your day.
Unique Twists for Your Morning Routine
Sometimes, the key to an exciting morning lies in the unexpected. Adding personal touches to your morning routine can transform it from predictable to inspiring. Get creative and indulge in activities that feel uniquely your own.
Give Your Body and Brain a Boost
Our body in the morning can feel like a slow-loading webpage from 2002– functional, but barely. Instead of relying on brute force to wake yourself, why not work with your body and provide some natural assistance to optimize performance and health?
- Rhodiola: helps the body adapt to physical and mental strain by supporting key regulatory systems like the HPA axis. Promotes a balanced state of energy and calm, keeping you sharp without overstimulation. Choq’s Action 2.0 is a powerful blend for energy, circulation, mood, and focus
- Ginseng: Energizes and uplifts, boosting your focus while enhancing physical stamina, mental alertness and resilience to the pressure of the day. Armor 2.0 contains a high strength ginseng extract, Astragin, and several other immuno-adaptogen compounds.
- Maca: Packed with powerful compounds, this adaptogenic root from Peru supports adrenal health and hormonal balance, promotes steady energy, resilience under pressure, and enhanced stamina.
Tune Into Your Morning
Adding music, podcasts and audiobooks to your routine is an easy way to uplift you. Music can set the mood– whether you need calming tracks to ease into the day or upbeat songs to energize you. Podcasts and audiobooks are another great option, find what motivates, inspires or entertains you. This can give you something exciting and refreshing to look forward to each morning.
Wake Up to a Better Day
No one’s saying you need to become a morning person overnight, but if even one of these practices can stop you from hitting snooze 17 times tomorrow, it’s a win. The goal isn’t to have a perfect morning—it’s to have one that doesn’t make you regret waking up. Try a few, mix and match, and if all else fails… at least there’s coffee or a scoop of Chad Mode clean Pre-Workout to charge you up.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The contents of this article, made available via Choq, are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. The content presented here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or dietary changes. Reliance on any information provided by this article is solely at your own risk.