7 Ways to Build a Productive Morning Routine
October 27, 2017
The best part of waking up…is snoozing five times and delaying getting out of bed until the last minute? Not really. If your morning ritual needs an overhaul, you’re not the only one—but the good news is that, with a few small tweaks, you’ll find that getting your day off to a fresh start isn’t nearly as arduous as it might seem. From sleep apps that know just when to rouse you to an enlivening dose of creativity, here are seven small tweaks that might just turn you into a morning person.
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1. ALARM, NOT ALARMING: The feeling of waking up to an angry, buzzing alarm clock while you're deep in that REM cycle? Not a fun one. That's why it's time to opt for a smarter way to rise and shine. Sleep Cycle is one of several clever apps that tracks your shut-eye throughout the night, and opts to wake you only when you're in the lightest phase of slumber. Then there's the Philips HF3500—a so-called "wake-up light" that rouses users with its simulated sunrise effect. That's one way to beat the snooze cycle.
Image courtesy of Philips.
2. SCREEN BAN: Cool alarm apps aside, immediately diving into your phone in the morning is a big no-no when it comes to clearing your head. Disable notifications from your home screen, so you're not prompted to plunge into Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter in your very first moments of consciousness. Instead, try giving yourself a few minutes to stretch and take some deep breaths. Ahhh...better already.
3. TRY MEDITATING: Meditating might sound intimidating at first—but when you realize that all that it requires is sitting still, and thinking calming thoughts, it starts sounding like a pretty pleasant part of your morning routine. Give yourself a solid 10 minutes to strive for zen; for real beginners, popular apps like Headspace provide a perfect introduction (as long as you avoid opening up social media apps on the way—hey, we see you over there).
4. HOT DRINKS ON TAP: It's the coffee lover's paradox: You need a cup of joe to feel awake, but actually making coffee before you properly wake up can be quite the challenge. That's where Smarter Coffee comes in. Via its companion app, you can program it to grind your beans fresh and brew a pot of java…all while nestled in bed. Not a caffeine fan? A soothing mug of herbal tea—or a homemade turmeric latte, which takes just five minutes to make—is another way to get your #selfcare in.
Image courtesy of Smarter.
5. BUILD A BETTER BREAKFAST: Speaking of self-care: Scarfing a limp pastry as you run out the door (or skipping breakfast entirely) is not it. Instead, build a better morning routine with a delicious, nutritious—and easy—homemade breakfast. Swirl a spoonful of jam into a bowl of Greek yogurt, mash an avocado on toast that's been spread with coconut oil, or poach your eggs the Turkish way. Your body will thank you for it.
6. CULTIVATE CREATIVITY: News getting you down? A bit of audio accompaniment is the perfect way to round out your morning routine—but try an upbeat Spotify playlist or a comedy podcast to get things off to a more positive start. Your morning routine has space for some hands-on creativity, too. Set aside 10 minutes for doodling or flash fiction writing, and you're bound to feel sunnier and more productive as the day goes on.
7. THE NIGHT BEFORE: It might sound counterintuitive, but the best time to start building a better morning routine is the night before. As in: Turn off your electronics well before bedtime, get your outfit prepped for the morning, help wind down by paging through a favorite book, and be under the covers in time to get a solid 7-8 hours. Because getting those zzzs is still the easiest way to make mornings bearable.
1. ALARM, NOT ALARMING: The feeling of waking up to an angry, buzzing alarm clock while you're deep in that REM cycle? Not a fun one. That's why it's time to opt for a smarter way to rise and shine. Sleep Cycle is one of several clever apps that tracks your shut-eye throughout the night, and opts to wake you only when you're in the lightest phase of slumber. Then there's the Philips HF3500—a so-called "wake-up light" that rouses users with its simulated sunrise effect. That's one way to beat the snooze cycle.
Image courtesy of Philips.
2. SCREEN BAN: Cool alarm apps aside, immediately diving into your phone in the morning is a big no-no when it comes to clearing your head. Disable notifications from your home screen, so you're not prompted to plunge into Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter in your very first moments of consciousness. Instead, try giving yourself a few minutes to stretch and take some deep breaths. Ahhh...better already.
3. TRY MEDITATING: Meditating might sound intimidating at first—but when you realize that all that it requires is sitting still, and thinking calming thoughts, it starts sounding like a pretty pleasant part of your morning routine. Give yourself a solid 10 minutes to strive for zen; for real beginners, popular apps like Headspace provide a perfect introduction (as long as you avoid opening up social media apps on the way—hey, we see you over there).
4. HOT DRINKS ON TAP: It's the coffee lover's paradox: You need a cup of joe to feel awake, but actually making coffee before you properly wake up can be quite the challenge. That's where Smarter Coffee comes in. Via its companion app, you can program it to grind your beans fresh and brew a pot of java…all while nestled in bed. Not a caffeine fan? A soothing mug of herbal tea—or a homemade turmeric latte, which takes just five minutes to make—is another way to get your #selfcare in.
Image courtesy of Smarter.
5. BUILD A BETTER BREAKFAST: Speaking of self-care: Scarfing a limp pastry as you run out the door (or skipping breakfast entirely) is not it. Instead, build a better morning routine with a delicious, nutritious—and easy—homemade breakfast. Swirl a spoonful of jam into a bowl of Greek yogurt, mash an avocado on toast that's been spread with coconut oil, or poach your eggs the Turkish way. Your body will thank you for it.
6. CULTIVATE CREATIVITY: News getting you down? A bit of audio accompaniment is the perfect way to round out your morning routine—but try an upbeat Spotify playlist or a comedy podcast to get things off to a more positive start. Your morning routine has space for some hands-on creativity, too. Set aside 10 minutes for doodling or flash fiction writing, and you're bound to feel sunnier and more productive as the day goes on.
7. THE NIGHT BEFORE: It might sound counterintuitive, but the best time to start building a better morning routine is the night before. As in: Turn off your electronics well before bedtime, get your outfit prepped for the morning, help wind down by paging through a favorite book, and be under the covers in time to get a solid 7-8 hours. Because getting those zzzs is still the easiest way to make mornings bearable.
