The Motivating Morning Routine

How would it feel to start your day motivated and organized? It would be great, wouldn’t it? You’d know what you were doing, that everything was sorted and you’d feel brilliant. Surprisingly, it wouldn’t take much to get a great start to your day every day. All it needs is for you to create a morning routine that motivates and organizes you for success; every day.

One of the secrets of success, for those who are highly successful in life and business, is a morning routine. It doesn’t need to be complex and it certainly doesn’t have to be time consuming to create or follow. In the beginning, it will require a commitment from you to planning it and then to practicing it daily until it becomes a habit that happens without you having to consciously work on it.

The morning routine of the most motivated and organized folks generally includes the following elements:

Early Start

Forget about long lie ins and putting the alarm on snooze every 5 minutes. Set your alarm for an hour (or even two) earlier than normal and see your productivity soar. An early start may not come naturally at first, but providing you go to bed earlier and get enough sleep, you’ll notice a positive difference quickly.

Positive Visualization and Affirmations

Set the tone of your day by giving it a really positive boost. Visualize your success from the get go. Use positive affirmations and don’t forget to display them where you can see them frequently as this will boost their efficacy. Doing this step within the first 20 minutes of waking gives you a greater chance of success as you’ll be able to reach your subconscious before your conscious mind wakes up and takes over.

Exercise

Undertaking some form of exercise will get your blood flowing, heart pumping oxygen around your body and generally waken up your entire system. You don’t need to go for a 5 mile run every day. Your exercise regime could consist of morning stretching, yoga or Tai Chi. These will help calm and ground you as well as provide time for inner contemplation.

Hydration

Make sure you keep your body hydrated. Many people start their day with a glass of water and lemon. Herbal tea or a green juice are also good choices for an early morning drink to get your day started the right way.

Planning

If you want to have a successful day, make sure that you know exactly what needs to be done. Have a “to do” list ready and identify the order of priority. Make sure the list isn’t too long, ten or less items is an ideal length.

Nutrition

A healthy breakfast is a good way to get your body fuelled up ready to tackle the day ahead. You’ll feel more alert and able to concentrate on the tasks you need to accomplish.

Reading

Taking a few minutes to sit and read something inspiring or educational will help you feel positive and motivated. You don’t have to spend a long time reading, even 10 minutes will be enough to get your mind working and your motivation kick-started. Suggestions for morning reading include self-help books or biographies and autobiographies of successful people who inspire you and are role models.

Money Tasks

Before you head out the door on your commute or settle down to your day at home, it’s important to do something that will either make you money or save you from spending money. Prep the day’s meals so that you don’t feel tempted to get take-out when you are feeling tired at the end of day. Make sure the dishwasher is loaded and the kitchen counters clean and clear so that you don’t have to think about tidying up when you get home. Pay your bills so that you don’t get overdue notices and charges which create stress.

If you want to have a successful day, then it’s important to improve your day in positive ways. Having a morning routine will ensure that your days are organized for success and you feel motivated from the start.

This article originally appeared in the Autumn 2019 issue of CHOICES Magazine