There’s a lot of research out there that proves without a doubt that a good morning routine leads to a more successful day.  If you read up on any Fortune 500 CEO’s or billionaire entrepreneurs you’ll find they all have a morning routine.  In fact, if you look closely at their routines there are a lot of similarities.

I first gained a strong sense of the power of a morning routine when I read Hal Elrod’s book The Miracle Morning*.  A relatively quick read, Elrod provides a simple formula for amping up your morning routine to transform your life.  After reading his book I played around for quite some time to find the best morning routine for me, something that Elrod states is a key to having a successful morning routine.  If your routine doesn’t resonate with you, doesn’t feel good to you, then you won’t do it.  Plain and simple.  And so for the past 4 years now, I have a routine for my mornings which vary slightly from day to day, but the core pieces are always present.

Here is what my morning routine has settled into: 

1. The Essentials – These are all the things I need to do pretty much right when I get up in the mornings.  They can vary a little some days, but these are the things I do first before anything else. Make the bed, use the restroom, brush my teeth, wash my face, feed the cats, drink some water, make some hot tea, and take my vitamins.
2. Quiet Time – This is my time to sit and reflect in the quiet of the morning and it includes things such as meditation, journaling and reading.  This by far is my most favorite part of my morning routine.  It helps me to get grounded, focused, and centered for my day.  I can always tell when I have skimped on this part of my routine.
3. Movement – A little yoga or stretching to really wake the body up and help it feel good.  I find that if I don’t do at least a little bit of movement I feel stiff, tight, and sluggish throughout the day.
4. Prep Time – All the things one has to do before heading out to work…taking a shower, getting dressed, eating breakfast, packing a lunch, etc. I also listen to a podcast during this part of my routine, though you could easily listen to an audio book as well.

The amount of time I spend on each part of my morning routine is different most days depending on my overall schedule for that day, but what is important to me is that I spend some time on all these items. 

You might substitute different items into your morning routine, but I can’t stress enough the importance of having one.  You will accomplish more in your day, feel better, and be a better person overall because you took the time for yourself in the morning through your very own morning routine.

Let us know what the favorite part of your morning routine is! We love hearing about what other people do to help themselves become better versions of themselves!