Finding your perfect morning routine

2 mins to read

The way you begin each day sets the tone for what follows. It’s like the first act of a play, where you draw the audience in; or that first impression made on someone you’ve just met. It’s a promise.

Everyday health

I’ve spent years trying to work out what sort of morning routine is manageable (ie. what do I have time for?) and what will give me the greatest bang for my buck – sending me out the door feeling calm, centred and maybe even quietly happy?

To hone my routine further, I’ve read up on the morning routines of people I admire, and if you’re a writer, you’re lucky! There seems to be somewhat of an obsession with the routines of writers, so there’s a lot I can look up and draw from.

Tip: research the morning routine of someone in your field whom you admire. If it’s not already on the net, you can always be brave, drop them an email, and just ask…

Here are some tips that have shaped my morning routine.

Promise to block out distractions

Anna Krien, author of Into the Woods – a young writer I very much admire – essentially rolls out of bed, puts the coffee pot on and starts writing at the crack of dawn, without distractions (she won’t allow herself to look at Facebook or the Internet until 1pm).

I like this idea. Start churning out work when you’re most productive, which for many of us, is in the morning. When your energy naturally drops in the afternoon: catch up on admin and other mentally gentler tasks.

If you work in an office, you can still do this. Once you’ve got your cup of tea or coffee and are ready to begin work (get in early, and leave early if your workplace gives you the flexibility to do so), turn off the email alert and avoid opening your web browser. Do the hard stuff first.

Promise to hydrate

Sarah Wilson, health writer and blogger, drinks two litres of water – usually warm water with a dash of lemon juice squeezed in – during the first hour or so that she’s awake.

I’m not great at drinking water during the day. I forget. So I’ve been borrowing Sarah’s tip and, so far, so good! Two litres is a little much for me, so I drink 1.5 litres. It means I’ve built up my water account early… and can afford to forget (at least a little bit) later on.

Promise to meditate or exercise before you head out to work

Even if it’s for just a short period of time. Again, borrowing from Wilson – who does 20 mins meditation and at least 20 mins exercise each morning – I’ve been sitting quietly on the couch, listening to my breath for 5-10 mins each morning. After my coffee (priorities).

It’s such a small commitment, but for those minutes I am really sitting in that pocket of time, appreciating the fact I have breath at all, occasionally tuning into the noises the birds are making outside. It has the flow-on effect of making me feel grateful for my life and the environment in which I live. Bonus.

Promise to have a good breakfast

Make sure your first meal of the day is nutritious and delicious. I either whip myself up a bowl of frozen berries, Greek yoghurt and roast almonds (much yummier than raw!); or if I have to use my brain heavily that morning, I work in more protein and put two boiled eggs on peanut butter and wholegrain toast.

You can’t think clearly and creatively in a sustained way unless you’ve eaten well. It’s that simple.

And finally, I take my vitamins early. For me, it’s just two fish oil tablets (1000 mg each) and a magnesium tablet. But if I don’t do it before 9am, it’s likely not to happen.

So that’s me. I don’t get it right every morning, but when I do, that first act of the day’s play sings loudly and brightly. I feel strong and together.

Do you have a morning routine? What rituals make you feel fantastic?