Let’s face it, there’s no worse feeling than a rushed, hectic morning. If your to-do list is long and your time window is short, you’re bound to experience feelings of anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and frustration. Trying to pack lunch, get the kids fed, make sure they finish their homework (that they swore was completed), let the dog out, pack your work bag, and simultaneously chug your now cold coffee is next to impossible. Just the thought of this sounds exhausting! Without preparation and planning, it’s easy to see how a chaotic morning could leave you feeling drained — before 9 am even hits.
If this sounds all too realistic, you’re certainly not alone. But, this doesn’t have to be (and shouldn’t be!) your norm. Stress-free mornings are possible, and setting yourself up for success is easier than you think! A productive morning is powerful — it sets the tone for your entire day. So, we’re going to show you how to seamlessly make it happen with easy-to-implement morning hacks for all-day success.
10 Morning Routine Hacks That May Transform Your Day
#1 Wake up Earlier
We get it — if you’re not a morning person, easier said than done. But, hear us out. What if you had time to actually fit in some self-care for a change — maybe meditate, journal, get a workout in, even sip your coffee in peace and silence. Sounds pretty great, don’t you think? Look, we’re not saying it needs to be an overnight change! If you start to reset your body clock just a smidge at a time, it may be one of the most effective ways to kickstart your day. Start by waking up just ten minutes earlier. Ten minutes is all it takes to be able to get yourself a little more organized before the rest of the house wakes up, and hey, ten minutes of alone time is way better than nothing. If you can center yourself before the chaos of the day begins, you will be able to handle whatever the day throws at you way better.
Start with ten minutes, and work your way up until you have an entire “power hour” to yourself to be massively productive and feel accomplished before you even leave the house to start your day.
#2 Make Your Bed
No, we aren’t really trying to sound like your mom reminding you to make your bed, but seriously, making your bed may actually be able to help boost your productivity throughout the rest of your day. It’s such a simple task that takes less than two minutes of your time. It makes your space look so much more organized, and it just sets the tone for productivity. It’s not just in your head, either! There’s research showing a clear link between a clean, clutter-free environment with improved productivity and reduced stress. Plus, it will be so much nicer to get into a nicely made bed at the end of the day. Trust us, if you don’t already make your bed each morning, give it a try. It’s one of the simplest morning hacks to get your day started off on the right foot.
#3 Keep it Tech Free
80% of smartphone users reach for their phone within the first 15 minutes of waking. If you want to start your day off stress-free, your phone should not be part of your daily morning routine! One study found that taking a one-week break from social media had a positive impact on well-being, depression, and anxiety among participants. This tells us that stepping away from social media every now and then is likely a good idea. So, try doing something other than getting stuck in the black hole of social media the second you wake up! You may find this to be one of the most impressive morning routine hacks for starting your day with a little less stress.
If you use your phone as an alarm, try to put your phone away once your alarm goes off. Put those morning minutes to good use! Instead, exercise, meditate, read, journal… anything that puts you in a productive headspace and reduces unnecessary stress.
#4 Get Some Sunshine
Did you know morning sun exposure is linked to increased productivity, mood, mental health, and focus? It’s true! It’s as simple as sipping your coffee in the morning sunshine or taking a brisk sun-soaked walk around the block. Morning sun helps regulate your circadian rhythm, benefiting everything from energy to mood and sleep, to even boosting serotonin and increasing vitamin D levels — two hormones linked to mood and mental health.
#5 Get Moving
Back to waking up earlier. Well, if you manage to wake up early enough to leave room for a quick 20-minute workout, you will be well on your way to a successful day.. I mean, working out in the morning is a massive accomplishment. You have already supported both your physical and mental health even before the busiest parts of your day get started. It doesn’t need to be anything strenuous or lengthy, either. Even a morning walk comes with major benefits, so don’t feel like you need to go to the gym. You can exercise from the comfort of your own home using the FitOn app.
#6 Supercharge Your Coffee
Coffee lovers, you’ll be happy to know we’re not telling you to ditch the coffee! Instead, we’re sharing ways to boost your cup so you can soak in amazing benefits with every sip! While coffee often gets a bad rap, it’s actually loaded with antioxidants. You’ll just want to limit how many cups you’re drinking, avoid sipping in the late afternoon or evening, and be mindful of what ingredients you’re adding in (a.k.a. ditch the sugar processed creamers).
Soaking in all of the good-for-you benefits (and then some) is as simple as mixing your mug with additional add-ins like reishi, turmeric, collagen, or coconut oil! These nutrient-rich superfoods come with benefits like stress relief, brain and performance boosting qualities, and may even help curb coffee jitters.
To start your morning on a cool, calm, and collected note, try blending reishi powder or cacao into your cup! And if you want a frothy cup with benefits, blending a teaspoon of coconut oil with a scoop of collagen is the way to go.
#7 Listen to a Podcast or Audiobook
Listening to a motivational podcast or thought-provoking audiobook while you work out, drink your morning cup of coffee, or even on your morning drive to work is an excellent way to kickstart your day for success. And, it’s one of those things that’s easy to fit into your morning routine as you can listen while doing what needs to get done. It may be just what you need to get you out of a morning rut.
#8 Make a To-Do List & Set Your Daily Goals and Intentions
If you get the chance to sit down and enjoy a healthy breakfast, then take an additional five minutes while you eat (or sip on a green smoothie) to set your intentions and make a to-do list for the day. Aside from structuring your schedule, this simple task is a great way to bring some positivity and gratitude into your morning! While it only takes minutes, the benefits are long-lasting.
You can write this in a journal or simply jot it all down on a blank piece of paper. Start by writing down your to-do list and list your tasks in order of importance. This will help you prioritize what needs to be accomplished first! Then, write down any additional goals you want to accomplish for the day (keep it realistic and attainable!). Finally, write a positive affirmation and one thing you’re grateful for. It sounds simple, but these steps are powerful in shifting your mindset and setting the tone for the day!
#9 Do Some Deep Breathing
This is the ideal tip to implement into your morning routine if your day tends to start out a bit chaotic. Stopping and taking some deep cleansing breaths may be all you need to calm your mind and body to help you stay centered during stressful parts of your day. If you don’t have time to manage much else in the morning, make it a goal to at least do this! Plus, there’s no excuse when you can do some deep breathing while you shower, make breakfast, or drive the kids to school. Trust us, the simple act of breathing deeply will be totally life-changing for how your body responds to stress.
#10 Make an Antioxidant-Rich Smoothie
While pre-prepping your breakfast is ideal for busy mornings (think: overnight oats or egg muffins), loading up on good-for-you nutrients doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. If you’re pressed for time, smoothies are a simple way to nourish your body with tons of nutrients. Toss in some spinach greens, spoon in some superfoods, mix in some berries and blend it up with creamy non-dairy milk. So simple! Really, you can whip them up in less than 5 minutes — you can even pre-prep smoothie packs!
Try making a superfood smoothie with almond or coconut milk, a frozen banana, some frozen berries, raw honey, a scoop of collagen protein powder, and some superfood seeds like chia, flax, or hemp (or all three if you like a good superfood crunch.) Enjoy this as an easy and nutritious on-the-go breakfast.
Run Your Mornings, Don’t Let Them Run You
Are you so sick of letting your mornings run you and want to take control of how your day starts? You are just a few hacks away from getting your days started off on a better foot! Grab your cup of coffee and start implementing one, two, or even three of these hacks. Before you know it, you will feel like the boss that you are, running your mornings your way and achieving success each day.
