5 Morning Routine Hacks That Will Change Your Life!

Have you ever wondered why a morning routine is important for achieving success in life? It’s not just about rising early; it’s about setting the stage for a day filled with purpose, positivity, and productivity. In this post, I’d like to focus on the significance of a morning routine and explore key elements of a morning routine that can set the tone for an extraordinary day.

What are those key elements of a powerful morning routine?

Positive Morning Thoughts: The Foundation of Success

The importance of a morning routine begins with the power of your thoughts. Your morning sets the tone for the day ahead and starting it with positive thoughts can make a world of difference. Too often, when we wake up, we engage in a habitual inner dialogue that can be overwhelmingly negative. I am sure you recognize this thinking pattern: “I am so tired today.”, “I wish I didn’t have to go to work.”, “I wonder what problems I will have to face today.”, “I have so much to do, I will never get everything done.”. This negativity can cast a shadow over our entire day, hindering our productivity and overall well-being.

Instead, try to challenge yourself and tell yourself, “Today is going to be a great day.” and repeat it until you feel the positive vibes flowing. Alternatively, you can focus on your future aspirations. This is what I do most often.

Upon waking up each morning, I make a conscious effort to centre my thoughts on the aspects of the day that genuinely excite and inspire me. Of course, I am only human and have days when it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. Just the other day, I woke up feeling sluggish, had a bit of a sore throat and couldn’t be asked. What was the first thing on my mind? “I am so tired. I’d rather stay in a cozy bed than go and work out. Should I just cancel? I am REALLY tired.” However, I caught myself and eliminated those thoughts right away.

This approach can be likened to a two-sided coin. On one side, there’s the practice of nurturing positive thoughts, while on the other, there’s the vital skill of eliminating negative thinking. As Dr. Price Pritchett pointed out in a recent episode of “The School of Greatness” podcast, between the two, minimizing negative thinking is more important.

Overall speaking, your mindset is a key in creating your best life. Drawing from my personal experiences, I can attest that integrating this morning ritual to cultivate the right thoughts may require dedication and practice, but the results are worth the effort. (Anyway, what comes for free?)

Morning Stretching Routine: Energize Your Body and Mind

Now that we understand why a morning routine is important let’s move on to the physical aspect. Incorporating a bit of stretching into your morning ritual not only wakes up your body but also aligns with scientific evidence supporting the benefits of movement like better posture, lowering stress and anxiety or reducing risk of injury. Whether you’re dealing with lower back pain or simply want to rid your body of morning stiffness, a few minutes of gentle stretching can do wonders. Personally, I spent maximum 10 minutes on my morning stretching and I find this is enough for me.

Disconnect from External Influences: Regain Control

In today’s digital age, mornings are often filled with external noise in the form of messages, social media notifications, and news updates. To set the stage for a successful day, consider implementing a “no-phone” policy for the first hour after waking up. This decision allows you to regain control over your thoughts and prevents the external world from hijacking your focus.

You might be wondering why morning routine is important in this context. Well, by avoiding the urge to check messages or social media, you can center yourself and set a positive tone for the day ahead. When you tune into the external world too early, you inadvertently shift your focus from your goals to the demands of others, comparisons with peers, and the stressors of current events.

It really did wonders for me. To ensure I am not tempted to read any messages I received overnight I set a Sleep Focus before I go to bed and I only switch it off when the one-hour of no external influence is completed.

Journaling for Gratitude and Intentions: Manifest Your Dreams

Journaling is a cornerstone of many successful morning routines. I dedicate 30 minutes each morning to this practice. I start by expressing gratitude for the new day and outline how I wish it to unfold. Setting a daily theme, such as “productive” or “joyful,” helps align your intentions with your desired outcomes. Additionally, since we are always so quick to judge ourselves, I write down minimum three qualities or aspects about myself that I appreciate to boost self-esteem.

This practice can be instrumental in fostering a positive self-image. Don’t forget to reflect on the previous day and acknowledge the things you’re grateful for, whether they are events, people, or experiences. Lastly, include items you wish to manifest, expressing your gratitude in advance for these future achievements. (If you are wondering… yes, over time I am able to manifest them.)

Energizing Music: Fuel Your Positive Energy

To infuse energy into your morning routine, play some lively, upbeat music. Choose tunes that evoke fond memories and make you happy. Music has the power to influence mood by affecting both your brain chemistry and your emotional state, few examples below:

• Release of Neurotransmitters: Listening to music you enjoy triggers the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and endorphins in your brain. These are often referred to as “feel-good” chemicals. They contribute to a sense of pleasure and happiness.
• Distraction and Stress Reduction: Music has the power to divert your attention away from negative thoughts and stressors. It engages your brain in a way that reduces the perception of pain and anxiety, thus helping you relax and feel less stressed.
• Emotional Resonance: Certain songs or melodies can evoke specific emotions or memories. Listening to music that brings back positive memories or resonates with your current feelings can enhance your mood by tapping into those emotions.
• Rhythm and Movement: Upbeat music often has a lively tempo and rhythm that encourages physical movement, like dancing or tapping your feet. Physical activity, even minor, is known to release endorphins and improve mood.

The type of music you choose to listen to can either enhance or alter your emotions, making it a powerful tool for influencing your day.

Variations to Consider

While this routine works wonders for many, it’s essential to customize your morning routine to your unique preferences and circumstances. My morning (and I am sure yours too) occasionally doesn’t go as planned, but I adapt as needed. Here are a couple of variations:

Educational Reading: Swap journaling for reading something educational or motivational. Select a book that aligns with your personal growth goals and reinforces your positive life message. Or if reading isn’t your cup of tea, listen to motivational videos or podcasts. While I typically reserve my journaling for the mornings, there are occasions when I switch things up and save it for the evening.

Physical Activities: On days when you have a bit more time, engage in exercise or yoga to invigorate your body and mind. Once or twice a week I book classes that are early in the morning. To accommodate this, I set the alarm in such a way that I have enough time to quickly get ready and make it to the classes. On those particular days, I deviate from my usual routine and skip some of my customary rituals. 

Tailoring Your Morning Routine

Remember, your morning routine should cater to your individual needs and schedule. Whether you’re a morning person or not, crafting a morning ritual that works for you is key to unlocking your full potential for success.

By now, you understand why a morning routine is important for success. Incorporate these morning routine elements into your daily life, and you’ll find yourself better equipped to seize the day and approach it with a positive outlook. Start your day right and watch how it transforms your life.

What’s your morning ritual that sets you to have an amazing day?