Most people at some point in their lives have made it a goal to have a productive morning routine. It’s natural to want to wake up and immediately just conquer the day like a complete boss.
After all, a productive morning makes for a better day, right?
If we can get up and be productive from the start, then we are more likely to achieve the goals we have set out for the day. And whether that’s factual or not, it at least feels true.
But there is one problem with most of the productive morning routines we see online- they’re just not realistic.
Waking up at 5am and doing a long workout in our cute workout clothes, then making a big healthy breakfast, journaling, doing a whole skincare routine, cleaning the whole house and ending up with full makeup and hair, all before 7 am? Just not at all realistic for most of us normal people.
So if you’re seeing those videos and feeling bad about yourself for not being able to meet that level of perfection, it’s time to take a deep breath and cut yourself some slack. None of the rest of us are able to do that either.
BUT that doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a productive morning and build the habits you want to build. You just need to approach it in a realistic way.
Here’s how.
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REAL QUICK: Want a printable copy of this productive morning routine checklist? Grab that here:
Make the bed
Have you ever heard it said that one thing most successful people have in common is that they all make their beds in the morning? I heard that over and over again and did NOT want to believe it was true (I hate making the bed), but decided to try it out anyway.
And the results? I regret to report that what they say is true. I DO truly feel so much better, clear-minded, and put-together on the days when I make my bed.
Making your bed is a quick and simple thing to do each morning that helps you start the day off on a productive note, but also helps your mental health. And climbing into a MADE bed each night? Pretty cozy.
How to do it realistically:
No need to go crazy here. You don’t have to have 14 layers of blankets and 30 throw pillows to reap the benefits of making your bed each morning. Just pull the covers up, adjust the pillows, and be on your way.
P.S. want some cozy bedding that is simple & easy to deal with but also looks so good? Here’s what’s on my bed that I LOVE:
Stretch or do a workout:
Preparing your body for the day is an important part of a productive morning routine.
How your body feels will impact your day, including your mental health. So no matter how much time you have in the morning, taking a few moments to check-in with your body can make a huge difference.
Each of our bodies are different and have different needs. Maybe your back feels tight in the morning, or maybe you wake up feeling a lot of physical energy that that needs burned.
Your approach to physical movement should be catered to your individual needs.
How to do it realistically:
First of all, figure out how much time you realistically have for physical activity.
Only have 5 minutes? No worries. Do 5 minutes of stretching.
Have 20 minutes? Great. Take a breezy walk around the block or do a quick floor workout.
Have an hour? Then if you want, you can go to the gym or go for a really long workout.
No matter how much time you have, even if it’s only a few minutes, stretching or getting some movement in the mornings will set you up physically and mentally for a good day.
Hygiene routine
Doing your basic hygiene tasks might seem like a no-brainer, but it can also be something that’s easy to skip if you struggle with a mental health imbalance like depression, or even just struggle with motivation in the mornings.
But doing all of your normal human hygiene tasks can really set you up for a good day.
Brush your teeth, clean your face, brush your hair, take a shower if you need to, put on deodorant, all of the basics.
I’ve gone through phases throughout adulthood where my depression has been so bad that when I woke up, it felt like the hardest and least appealing thing ever to do the most basic things. My hair didn’t get brushed, I’d go weeks, even months without washing my face. I was a shell of myself.
But making myself do the basics helped me begin healing in small but powerful ways. Allowing myself to do the ‘productive’ things that helped me feel more like a person and less of a shell was truly needed.
How to do it realistically:
Figure out what the basics are for you, and set a period of time in your morning routine to commit to the ‘hygiene tasks’. If you’re short on time or are lacking motivation, find ways to still get these ‘basic’ tasks done.
Brush your hair and put it in a hair clip if you don’t feel styling it. Take a wet washcloth and wipe off your face if you don’t feel like using cleanser. Find more simplified versions of these tasks so that if you don’t feel like doing the big tasks, you still have something easy to fall back on.
Skincare
Speaking of basic hygiene tasks, skincare is one of those things you’ll commonly see on productive morning routine videos online.
And I agree, skincare is important. Our skin wears everything- our stress, our worries, the environment around us. If we don’t take care of our skin, it will show.
For many people, taking time each day to do skincare is a little way to practice self care.
Now I’ll admit, if I’m short on time, this is often the first thing I skip. But unfortunately, I can usually notice the consequences of that. And I know that as I grow older, my face will keep the score too.
By taking even 2 minutes each morning to give your skin some TLC, you’re going to feel more confident, and keep your skin healthy and protected for the day ahead, and do favors for your future aging self!
How to do it realistically:
If you have the time each morning to do a full-on skincare routine, that’s great! Go you!
But if you don’t, that’s okay. You can still take care of your skin.
If you have two minutes in the morning for skincare, do this: clean your face, apply sunscreen and a moisturizer (or a combo SPF/moisturizer)
Doing these three things will give your face a fresh start for the day and help you feel more prepared to take on the day.
Drink a large glass of water
Water has a ginormous effect on literally all of our body’s functions, so getting your water intake up is important.
But drinking a big glass first thing in the morning is extra helpful.
Think about it- you’ve been asleep for several hours, not taking in any fluids. When you wake up, your body needs the hydration. Not only that, but water has been shown to boost metabolism, improve digestion, increase alertness and energy levels, and improve the look of skin.
Long story short, water = good.
So committing to drinking a big ole glass each morning is a super important part of a productive morning routine.
How to do it realistically:
If you, like me, think water just straight up does not taste good, then you might need a little self trickery to get yourself to drink that whole glass. Here are some things that have worked for me:
Picking the right cup (yes, the cup matters). If you too believe some types of cups make things taste better, or at least make the drinking process more enjoyable, then pick a cup you love that’s just for your water. Here’s my pick: Stanley Adventure Quencher 40 oz.
Sip as ya go. Instead of chugging a whole glass within 20 seconds (blech, I wanna throw up just thinking about it), try sipping throughout your morning routine. That makes drinking your morning dose a lot more doable if you struggle with this particular task.
Add a little flavor. Adding in some lemon or cucumber can help the water taste more enjoyable AND add a little health benefit!
Bargain with yourself. One thing that makes water a lot easier to drink? Knowing there’s something yummier up next. Tell yourself that once you finish your water, it’s time for your morning coffee or tea or whatever your drink of choice is. BUT you HAVE to finish the water first.
Other posts you might like:
The 30-Minute Morning Routine You Need for Busy Mornings
How to Create a Low Energy Morning Routine for Bad Days
How to Create a Slow Living Morning Routine
Eat a healthy breakfast
A productive morning routine is not complete without taking care of your physical health, and one way to do that is by eating a healthy breakfast.
This post is all about realistic morning routines, and making a big ultra-healthy breakfast just isn’t the reality for many people, especially on busy mornings.
But even if you’re short on time (on energy), there are still ways to check a healthy breakfast off your morning to-dos.
How to do it realistically:
Including a healthy breakfast in your productive morning routine is a lot easier if you have simple and quick options available. You won’t always have the time or energy to make eggs or cut up produce, so having ‘grab and go’ options is a smart thing to do.
Oatmeal, protein bars, fruit cups, yogurt, or whatever other healthy things you love.
Another great option to prepare for mornings is to meal prep ahead of time so your breakfasts are already taken care of for you. Often on Sundays, my husband and I will prep some egg protein cups, or breakfast burritos. We can easily keep in the fridge or even freeze for weeks ahead, then just heat them up in the morning super quickly.
Try overnight oats, or homemade parfaits, or whatever is easiest for you to prep ahead of time.
Journal & reflect for 5 minutes
When we wake up, we have so much on our minds already. Our to-do lists, our leftover tasks from yesterday, worries, stressors, all. kinds. of. things.
If we let ourselves carry all of that into the day, it can really disrupt our moods, our productivity, and our overall mental health.
Taking 5 minutes to get those thoughts out and reflect on what you’re feeling/thinking can keep you from having a day flooded by stress.
How to do it realistically:
Grab a notebook or your laptop, or even the notes app on your phone, and just do a little brain dump.
This doesn’t have to be anything special. The goal here is just to get your thoughts out. 5 dedicated minutes to sitting with your thoughts and getting them out of your brain.
If you want something more guided, you can grab these free self care journal prompts here: Self Care Journal Prompts
Get some sunshine
Most people can benefit from a little more sunshine, but there’s something extra special about morning sun. Going outside and feeling a little bit of sunshine on your skin as it’s rising? It just feels so good. So healing.
This isn’t a task that needs to take you a lot of time. Even a minute of morning sunshine can boost your mood.
How to do it realistically:
Find a way to get outside for some sunshine during your morning routine if possible. Have your morning coffee outside, or be a little more present and aware of the sun while you take your dogs out for their morning potty.
And if you do your morning routine and are out the door before the sun even comes up? Try stepping outside at work for a little Vitamin D. Finding a way to get some sunshine at some point in your day is so beneficial.
Do a quick home tidy-up
Not everyone has the time or the energy to clean their house every morning. It’s just not realistic.
But doing a quick tidy up, even if it’s just 5 minutes, can set you up for a good day.
How to do it realistically:
Pick what you can realistically do each morning for your home.
In my house, we try to load and run the dishwasher before bed, so each morning our task is to unload it and put the dishes away. We also try to do a quick vacuum each morning to keep the dog hair at bay (two giant fur babies mean constant vacuuming).
Yours could be taking out the trash, or sweeping the floors, or just taking 2 minutes to pick up any clutter you see.
It doesn’t have to be an hours long deep clean to make a difference. Having a healthy and productive life is about the little moments and how we use them.
Having a productive morning routine can help you get a jumpstart on the day ahead in a healthy way. But it’s important that you’re going about that routine in a realistic way.
It’s possible to be productive and achieve your goals without overwhelming yourself or forcing yourself into burnout.
Each morning, find ways you can take one step towards your goals in a way that truly works for you and your energy levels and time allowance. Now go have a good morning!
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