How To Have A Productive & Successful Morning Routine
Sunday, June 27, 2021This post is collaborative, but all opinions are my own
Being a morning person is not for everyone. Most mornings are cold, gloomy and leaving my bed becomes more and more difficult. However, waking up early and getting stuff done can lead to some of your most productive hours of the day. I love waking up early and finishing all my jobs before lunchtime. It makes relaxing in the evening so much easier! Here's how to have a productive morning routine so you can make the most of your day!
Why It's Important To Create A Morning Routine
Being spontaneous can lead to some of the best memories, but in day to day life, you should consider a routine. Routines give you a positive start to the day. It can also give you the motivation you need to do all of your tasks. It gives you a structure to your day, and you know what you're going to be expecting when you wake up. I love my morning routine as it wakes me up for the day. Building a morning routine doesn't need to be complex, it just needs to give your day structure. All of the best ideas can happen in the morning, and having a routine that allows you to be productive can help you to get things done and come up with new ideas!
Set A Plan The Night Before
Before I go to bed, I like to write a list of all the things I need to do or buy the next day. For example, if I need deodorant or book an appointment, I will write myself a list. I love planning, so this is something that helps me to stay productive. I plan out the month anyway, but giving myself manageable tasks for the next day helps me start the day right. When you write a list, start with the hardest jobs first. You could also put the most time-sensitive ones at the top. Once you have the highest priority jobs done, you can choose which of the easier tasks you do next
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When I plan out my day, I don't give myself too many jobs as it feels overwhelming. At lunch, I like to read through my list and re-evaluate the rest of my day. That way, you can change your plan as the things around you change!
When I plan out my day, I don't give myself too many jobs as it feels overwhelming. At lunch, I like to read through my list and re-evaluate the rest of my day. That way, you can change your plan as the things around you change!
Reflect On Yesterday
We often start our days full steam ahead. It gives us little time to reflect on yesterday and how we feel. Before each day, take some time to think about your day and what happened. You don't need to journal about it, although some may find it helpful. Think about your goals, what you achieved and what you learnt. It's easy to move forward and keep going towards our goals, but we forget about where we started. Reflecting on the past and learning from it is a good way to start the day. It can help you to be productive as you improve on the things you learnt the day before. You don't need to spend a long time reflecting, but giving ten minutes to look at yesterday can help you make the day better.
Wake Up An Hour Earlier
I prefer to work in the morning and finish everything by lunchtime. I get up around 7 to do all of my tasks, and when I stop for lunch, I evaluate how much extra time I will need to finish jobs. Try to get up an hour earlier than you typically would, and see how much extra you can get into that time. I like working when everyone is still asleep. It is quiet, and I know that people won't come in. It's also really motivating to watch the sunrise as you get stuff done! You'd be surprised how much more you can do in the day just by waking up an hour earlier. Even if you work out or do some yoga in that hour, giving yourself longer to wake up can help you make the most of your day.
Make Your Bed
Every morning, you should make your bed. Not only does it keep your room looking tidier, but it helps you to start the day right. There have been studies that link productivity and mood to making your bed. Plus, making the bed takes two minutes to do. Even if nobody sees your bed, you will know what it looks like. How can you build good morning routine habits if you can't even start by making your bed? It is argued how long building habits actually take, so try to make your bed every day for a month and see if it sticks. Once you build smaller habits, like making your bed, you can learn better habits that improve your productivity. Making your bed is the start of having a successful morning routine.
Get Ready For The Day
I can't sit around in my PJs all day. To have a productive morning, start by getting showered and dressed for the day. Before your shower, take the time to stretch and work out if you feel like it. A shower is a great way to start a successful day, and you wake up your body and refresh it. I don't like feeling unclean, so I always shower, but I don't always wash my hair. Once you are showered, make sure you look after your skin and body. If you have a skincare routine, now is the time to do that. You also want to drink a glass of water and nourish your body with good food. Getting ready for the day and waking yourself up helps you to be productive. Your body is ready to go, and you're fuelled, so you can make the most of the day.
Related: How to get a better night's sleep
Start With Your Most Dreaded Tasks
When you tackle your to-do list, you can do it in multiple ways. One of the best ways to improve your productivity and have a successful morning is to start with the harder, dreaded tasks. Once you get those out of the way, you'll have the rest of the day to do the things you like. Look at the list of things you need to do, and put them in order of hardest to easiest. You could also order them from the ones you keep putting off to the ones you want to do the most. Work your way down the list and reward yourself by keeping the best habits and tasks to last! If you don't want to do it that way, here are some other ways to tackle your to-do list:
- Work in the order of highest priority, so you're completing the closest deadlines first. That way, you won't have any overdue things
- Work in the order that the ideas came to your mind. Sometimes, the most important things would have been the things you write down first.
- Alternate between easy and hard tasks. For every hard job you do, you're rewarded with something more fun. It keeps things interesting, and you won't feel demotivated as quickly.
- Time block all of the similar jobs together and get them done in one go. For example, all of your blog related jobs can be done within 2 hours, and emails can be done in 30 minutes.
Try A Power Hour
For me, a power hour is when all distractions are minimised, and you work for an hour without breaks. Choose a set few tasks to do, and power your way through your to-do list. I find it motivating to see how much I can get done in an hour. I try to do one power hour in the morning and another in the evening. That way, I can ensure I don't miss anything throughout the day. I set a timer, turn off my phone and work. You can listen to music, but try not to get distracted by your tunes. A power hour is there to make the most of an hour. Once you finish what is on your power hour list, see what else you can tackle from your to-do list. A power hour can be intense, so make sure you're ready!
Tidy Up Your Workspace
Working in an untidy environment can be distracting, and I often find that I lack motivation. Create a workspace that you enjoy working in. You want it to be neat enough that you can find everything you need and be happy to work there. For example, if you were cooking in a dirty kitchen, you may find it harder. No one likes to be surrounded by mess. I tidy up in the morning so that way I am ready for the day. If I need to work, I can sit at my desk and start. Since lockdown, I have been working in my bedroom, but sometimes I feel like I can't relax properly. Switching up my desk and tidying my space helps me to relax and to boost my productivity. To also boost your productivity, you might want to create a home office that suits your needs. I love having a second room to work in and adding cosy but comforting touches can help you work better. Look online for office equipment or check out some online auctions to help you find some hidden gems for your office. From plants to second-hand furniture, adding personal touches to your office can make a huge difference.
Catch Up On Emails
I am terrible at responding to emails and messages. I have lost a few opportunities by not checking my emails. When you get up, make sure you block out some time to catch up on messages. Whether you respond to all of your emails then or only answer the important ones, that is up to you. I prefer to get all of it done in an hour. That way, I don't have to keep checking my emails. I respond to my emails and messages in the morning. I can get on with my day and plan things around the opportunities I have just received. You don't want to miss any important things, so make sure you check your messages!
Time Block For Activities
Time blocking is where you divide your time to do certain activities. For example, from 8-10, you will work on revision, and from 10-12, you will work out. Time blocking is one of my favourite productivity tips. It means that you get all of one task done in a set time, and once your block is over, you don't do any more. It's like if you do a job, answer emails and then do a bit of blogging. Rather than stopping one thing and starting another, you do one job all at once. I love scheduling in time for the things I need to do. It also means you can focus on one task rather than trying to multitask smaller jobs. Time blocking can be beneficial for tasks such as revision, cleaning and work. Try to set up a calendar where you schedule your time blocks. I like to colour code my blocks, so I can identify each job. Time blocking and doing things in bulk can save you a lot of time!
I love waking up early and getting stuff done. Your morning routine can help you to have a successful and productive day. What happens in the morning shapes how the rest of your day will look. I like to get things done early, so if plans come up, I can say yes and enjoy my time without having unfinished jobs. What are your favourite productivity tips? I'd love to hear how you create a productive morning routine and stick to it!
9 comments
I love making my bed! I can't leave it looking messy, so that is a key part of my morning routine. I love checking my emails first thing, and also writing my daily to do list.
ReplyDeleteSo many great tips on this list! I am such a morning person, and like you, find that I get more done if I have everything done by lunchtime. I can't wake up any earlier through the week, as I already start work at 7am, but I do try and wake up earlier on the weekends, and it is still a mini lie in, because its later than I would have gotten up. Here's to a productive morning routine!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing :)
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
Great tips here! I really like the idea of writing lists before you go to bed and power hours - I'm definitely going to try working these into my routine! Thanks for sharing x
ReplyDeleteAwesome tips! Making my bed is my habit and it does get you ready in the morning! I think I get a power hour early morning and night time haha. Thanks for sharing your helpful tips!
ReplyDeletewww.lifebeginsattwenty.com
I have been waking up an hour earlier and doing some exercise over the last few weeks and it's made such a difference. On the odd morning when I allow myself to have a little lie in I feel so disorganised and it takes me ages to get started!
ReplyDeleteRosie
I love this post so much, you've shared some brilliant tips! The idea of a power hour is something I need to try xx
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, these tips are great, for getting ready for a productive morning :)
ReplyDeleteNic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes
These are great tips. I always try to get everything ready the night before to make the mornings easier.
ReplyDeleteThese are all amazing tips! I really need to start waking up earlier to make the most of time, but also I will have to try to have a power hour, it sounds like something that could work for me! I started giving myself block of times to finish tasks and it's really helping x
ReplyDelete