A morning routine is one of the most important habits to have in order to start your day off on the right foot. It sets the tone for the rest of your day and can give you a sense of focus and purpose. Having a consistent morning routine can help you be more productive, reduce stress, and make sure that you are getting all the things done that need to be done.
The key to creating an effective morning routine is finding what works best for you. Everyone has different needs and preferences, so it’s important to experiment with different routines until you find something that works well for you. From waking up early and exercising, to taking time for yourself before starting your day; there are many ways to create a successful morning routine.
1. Miracle Mornings
Popularized by author Hal Elrod, Miracle Morning is the perfect balance between simplicity and depth.
There are six activities that the author suggests you do before 8AM each morning:
- Silence (meditation, breathing exercises, etc)
- Affirmations (writing them down, reading them aloud)
- Visualization (visualize living your ideal day for 5ish minutes)
- Exercise (walking, yoga, strength-training, etc)
- Reading (~10 pages of a book you enjoy)
- Scribe (journaling, morning pages, gratitudes, etc)
Each activity can be customized to fit your unique goals and time limit.
2. Tim Ferriss’s Morning Routine
Tim Ferriss, the author of productivity books including the 4-Hour Work Week, has conducted interviews to curate a morning routine that works well for many people. If you’re a Tim Ferriss fan or big on productivity hacks, then this routine could be a good fit for you.
- Make your bed
- Meditate
- Do 5-10 reps of something
- Prepare “titanium tea”
- Reading (~10 pages of a book you enjoy)
- Morning pages or 5-minute journal
3. Arianna Huffington’s Morning Routine
Arianna Huffington, former news mogul turned advocate of burnout prevention, shares her own personal morning routine with others. She is big on managing your digital device addiction, so if you share this interest, take a look at her morning routine.
- Wake up naturally
- Do not check phone first thing in the morning
- Meditate or write down dream
- Have “bulletproof” coffee (it’s coffee with butter mixed into it)
- Exercise for 30 mins
- Stretch
4. Andrew Huberman’s Morning Routine
This is the most time-consuming of the four that we recommend. Dr. Andrew Huberman has studied the science of human performance and recommends these steps based on studies. If you are someone that is motivated by intensity and challenging goals, this routine could be for you.
- Wake up early
- Get exposure to natural light
- Hydrate
- Meditate
- Stretch
- Exercise
- Fuel
- Cold exposure
- Journal
- Set and review daily goals