Habits You NEED To Add To Your Morning Routine

Your morning routine sets the tone for how the rest of your day will go. I've learned that when I really prioritize taking care of myself in the morning, I feel happier and just all around better all day!

I've tried adding many different steps to my morning routine, in hopes to find a routine that works for me and makes me feel the best. I think I've finally found the recipe for the perfect morning routine!

In this post, I'm sharing with you the things that I've found to be the most important steps in my morning routine, so you can create a routine that helps you feel great all day long!

Wake Up Earlier

Waking up even 15 minutes earlier can kickstart your day in a much more positive way. Try it this week, start with waking up just 5 minutes earlier each day. By the end of the week you'll have an extra 35 minutes to your morning.

However we start our day sets how we are going to feel for the rest of it. If you start panicked and rushing to get ready, you'll stay that way.

I used to set my alarm for the latest time I possibly could to still be on time to wherever I had to be. I was constantly rushing every morning and didn't have time to do anything that made me feel good to start off the day. This made me feel terrible, but for some reason I kept doing it day after day.

One day I decided to change this bad habit I had. I started to intentionally wake up at least an hour before I had to leave the house, and made sure to fit things that made me feel good into that hour.

Giving yourself extra time to spend prioritizing yourself in the morning makes all the difference. Give it a try and I promise you won't go back to waking up 5 minutes before you have to leave. You'll love having extra time just for you!

Get Some Sunlight

Right when I wake up, I open the curtains to let the sunlight in. Sunlight plays a huge role in how alert we feel throughout the day, so it's great to immediately get in contact with the sun in some way.

Sunlight stops the production of melatonin, which is the hormone that makes us feel sleepy. Sunlight also resets your circadian rhythm, which is basically like our body clock for sleeping and waking up.

It's important to let the sunlight in so that our bodies wake up and our body clock can reset to be tired at an appropriate time when we are ready to go to sleep.

So, right when you wake up, open the curtains or head outside to get sunlight and get your circadian rhythm going!

Avoid Your Phone For The First Hour

I once heard about a study that showed that however we get our first strike of dopamine for the day, is what we will crave for the rest of the day.

For many of us, we turn straight to our phones when we wake up. Scrolling through social media gives us that rush of dopamine first thing in the morning, but not in a good way.

So, according to this study, if the first release of dopamine of the day comes from using our phones, we will crave our phone more and more throughout the day, just to get that rush of dopamine back.

When I heard about this study, I knew I had to change my habit of grabbing my phone the second I was awake in the mornings. Now, I do my best to avoid even touching my phone for the first hour of the day.

I have noticed such a difference in productivity and positivity in my mornings since implementing this change. I think waiting to use our phones in the morning is something we all should be doing!

Move Your Body

There are so many known benefits to moving your body. Movement releases endorphins, the happy chemicals in our brains. Starting off your day with some sort of movement is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

This doesn't have to be a long and difficult workout, though it can be if that's what suits you. Any kind of movement that makes you feel good will do, whether that's a short walk, yoga, or going to a workout class- just find some way to move your body!

My favorite way to start my day recently has been to go for a walk with no distractions. Right after I get up, I put on my walking clothes and head out the door. I use this as my time to clear my mind and practice gratitude- which is the next step of my perfect morning routine.

Movement is proven to increase energy and focus throughout the day. Along with this, movement improves our moods. So, make sure you are implementing some sort of movement into your daily morning routine.

Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude is one of the most crucial habits that decides whether I have a good day or not. To practice gratitude, take a few minutes to think about all of the things you're grateful for in your life.

You can write a list of things in a journal, say them out loud, or just think them to yourself. Whichever you choose, make sure to be present in the moment and think deeply into what you're grateful to have.

If you need help starting gratitude practice, this website provides you with lots of journal prompts for gratitude, which a very easy and great way to start!

Gratitude helps you recognize the positive things in your life, and takes your focus off of any negative emotions you might have. Practicing gratitude is known to improve your health, of course mentally, and yes, even physically.

Add gratitude to your morning routine and I know you'll definitely see the benefits. Your mood will be improved and you'll feel happier about your life. This habit is definitely the most simple, but extremely effective habit you should be adding to your morning routine.

---

All of these habits are things that completely transformed my mornings. Once you make these changes, you'll never want to go back.

So if you try them out with intentions to perfect your morning routine, you are guaranteed to create a morning routine that will leave you feeling better all day long. You've got this!

Now go make those changes, starting tomorrow morning!