Although I am a personal development blogger by profession, I am in no way a mental health professional. See my disclaimer for more info.
Do you need a better morning routine? In this post, I’ll give you the perfect 9-step simple morning routine!
Are you looking for ways to simplify your morning routine?
I’ve learned that you need a solid morning routine to increase the chances of having overall better days. So, over the last few years, I’ve spent time working to make the perfect morning routine that takes about 40 minutes. I like it because it’s simple and allows me to enter the day with a refreshed mind and spirit.
You can have a refreshing morning routine just like me! In this post, I’ll give you my 9-step simple morning routine. This routine will prepare you to have a productive, successful day.
This post is all about a simple morning routine.
Benefits of a morning routine
First, let’s talk about why you should have a simple morning routine in the first place.
Here are some reasons you should work on your routine to make it work for you:
1. Reduces stress
You don’t want to be overwhelmed by all these demanding tasks.
With a morning routine, you have a set way of doing things on a daily basis, so you know exactly how each morning should go. This helps to make an stress-free morning and creates structure in your life.
2. Promotes productivity
Your morning routine includes productive activities like making your bed, showering, and eating breakfast. These all help to boost your overall productivity.
3. Creates a sense of consistency
As you work on and develop your morning routine, you’ll start to get more and more consistent.
After a few weeks, you will realize that it’s easier to follow through and look forward to your morning routine since it’s simple and easy to follow.
4. Promotes positivity
Having a simple morning routine allows you to be positive and set a good tone for the day.
By setting good intentions, saying affirmations, and overall having a consistent morning regimen, you’ll be on track to have a successful, productive day.
Remember: if you start your morning right, you’ll be more likely to have a positive day. That’s why it’s so important to start from the moment you wake up.
How long should your morning routine be?
It depends.
Everyone has different lifestyles, aesthetics, and appetites.
I see people who have long, drawn-out morning routines and they’re exhausted because their routines are just too long.
You don’t have to spend an hour or more doing all these things in the morning to feel or be productive. Only do what you feel is important in the morning.
Remember: time is precious and you can’t get it back. Use it wisely!
So, your morning routine should really only take you as long as it needs. For some, that’s only 25 minutes.
The morning routine I’ll be talking about in this post is about 45 minutes!
If you’re looking for a general number, the average morning routine is about 30 to 90 minutes. As long as you’re doing what you need to set yourself up for a successful day, it doesn’t really matter how long your morning routine is.
Simple morning routine:
1. Express your gratitude
As soon as you wake up, start your day by expressing your gratitude. No matter who or what you believe in, you can, in some way, show your appreciation for living another day.
For example, you can say an affirmation like this:
“I am grateful that I got the opportunity to experience another day. I promise myself to make it worthwhile and positive.”
This affirmation is great because you acknowledge the fact that you woke up and got the chance to experience another day.
Also, you’re promising yourself that you will put in the effort to make it a successful day.
Start implementing this in your morning routine and see how it can change your daily life. I’ve been doing this lately and it’s made quite a big difference on my overall mood.
You can also say a morning prayer with your hopes for the day. Be thankful for a new day and ask how you can be used in the best way possible.
Showing gratitude is important because it can help you become a happier, more positive person.
When you show your gratitude, you show that you are thankful for the things you have. You acknowledge the things and people in your life that you already have instead of the things you want.
Plus, if you’re constantly wanting something, when will you have time to appreciate what you have?
2. Avoid getting on your phone
I know, I know; it’s tempting to get on your phone and check social media as soon as you wake up.
But, you shouldn’t do this for 2 main reasons.
- You’re not giving your eyes time to adjust — you just woke up! If you constantly expose your eyes to your screen when you wake up, you will hurt them over time.
- Your phone will always be there — don’t worry. Social media, emails, and text messages will still be there 30 minutes later after you’re done a few things to take care of yourself. You don’t need to check your Instagram feed immediately. You don’t need to scroll through your FYP immediately. They can wait!
Trust me; I know it’s hard to avoid the temptation of reaching your phone in the morning.
You can work on this every morning by setting some sort of goal. For example, try to use your phone less. If you have an iPhone, you can check your Screen Time in the settings app with these quick steps:
- Open the Settings app
- Go to the ‘Screen Time’ tab
- Take a look at your ‘Daily Average’ at the top of the screen — this will show your average screen time for all of your synced iCloud devices
If your screen time is high, it’s probably a sign you could use a few hours off your phone.
Another way is to simply have some self control.
I get it; that’s much easier said than done. But, I promise it gets easier as time goes on.
At the beginning of January 2024, I reached for my phone every morning. I would scroll through Twitter, Instagram, Gmail and occasionally TikTok.
Now, in the middle of April, there’s at least 40 minutes between me waking up and checking my phone.
And even when I finally do, I only check my bank accounts and notifications before I dive into a good book.
3. Hydrate yourself
One more thing you should do before you get out of bed is hydrate yourself. You just went about 8 hours without having a single sip of water!
If you’re an avid coffee or tea drinker, listen to this!
You should also do this to prepare your body for caffeine. It’s not wise to drink coffee or tea without drinking water first because you’re not hydrated.
Sure, coffee and tea give you energy, but they’re not the best for hydration.
Plus, they can give you a headache — especially if you haven’t had enough water.
I recommend keeping a glass or bottle of water on your nightstand to make this easier.
Every night, fill your water bottle up with some water and put it on your nightstand. You’ll be more likely to drink it in the morning because it’s right next to you!
Here’s my favorite water bottle that I use everyday (I can’t live without it).
why should you drink water first thing in the morning?
You need to drink water first thing in the morning for hydration and mental reasons.
You don’t want to be parched or go into the day without energy because you didn’t think it drink water during your simple morning routine.
Here are 6 reasons to drink water in the morning:
- It makes sure that you are hydrated after sleeping
- It gives you energy
- It can improve your mental activity
- It activates your metabolism
- It improves digestion
- It fills your stomach in place of food
4. Make your bed
Finally; it’s time to get out of bed! But don’t you dare get up without thinking about making your bed.
Yes, it can be dreadful, but think about this: Would you rather come back home to a clean bed, or a messy bed?
I’m sure you’d choose the first option.
Making your bed makes you feel more put together.
If your bed is made, you’ll be less likely to climb back into it and fall asleep because you won’t want to mess it up. You’ll feel motivated to get productive for the day because your bed looks nice!
Plus, if your bed is made but your room is a mess, at least the focal point of your room looks nice.
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5. Spend time with those around you
This simple morning routine doesn’t have to be all about you!
If you live with a roommate, family, or even your pets, set aside just a few minutes to spend some time with them before you get productive for the day.
Talk to your roommate about their house duties or simply have a good conversation about a random topic.
Ask a family member (like a brother or sister) how they slept or what they’re looking forward to for the day.
And, of course, don’t forget to show your pets some love! Feed them, kiss them, hug them — all of it! They deserve some morning affection also.
Spending time with these people is a crucial step in your simple morning routine because it makes you feel happier and sets you on the right path to have a positive day.
6. Do your skincare/hygiene routine
Alright, now let’s really get into it. You can’t go into the day with bad breath or smelly underarms!
This is the time to take a shower (or bath) and do your skincare. Use your favorite products, which might include a good-smelling body wash or a gentle exfoliator.
RELATED POST:3-Step Simple Skin Care Routine for Dry Skin
7. Eat breakfast
After you’ve freshened yourself up for the day, it’s time to give yourself some energy.
Whether it’s a protein bar or a full-on breakfast platter, you need something to get some fuel in your body.
Please don’t skip breakfast.
You may be tired of hearing it, but it truly is the most important meal of the day. I don’t want you to experience a midday slump, where you start to feel sleepy around 3PM because you didn’t eat breakfast.
Trust me; it’s happened to me way too many times.
So, make sure that you include some kind of breakfast in your simple morning routine.
Here are a few quick, easy breakfast ideas if you’re stuck:
- Scrambled eggs
- Pancake on a stick
- Oatmeal
- Waffles
- Fruit
- Cereal
- Yogurt
- Toast
I suggest eating a filling breakfast (specifically one full of protein) because it will keep you nice and full for the next few hours.
That way, you won’t go reach for a snack an hour after you eat. If that happens, it’s usually a sign you didn’t eat enough, so make sure you have a nutritious breakfast before you head into the day!
While you’re eating your breakfast would be a good time to check your phone. You’ve probably been missing it for some time now.
Check your emails, social media, text messages — anything you need.
After a while of following this simple morning routine, you’ll realize that it’s really not that hard to go without your phone for 30-40 minutes.
It definitely sounds easier said than done — especially if you have a social media addiction. But, if you truly work on it, you’ll be surprised how long you can go without checking your phone!
8. Do one type of self-care activity
I know this simple morning routine can seem a little demanding, so now is the time to dedicate some special time to yourself.
Before you head into the day, spend some time doing any type of self-care activity.
It’s important that you practice self-care before the day starts because it gives you a positive mindset and outlook on the day. You can choose just about anything that you like to do, from coloring to reading.
Here are some ideas:
- Journal
- Meditate
- Do Bible study
- Work out
- FaceTime
- Read a blog post
- Draw
- Check your bank account balances
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9. Head into the day
Finally, the time has come! You’ve finished your simple morning routine. Now it’s time to head into the day!
You’ve shown your gratitude, showered, drunk water, eaten breakfast, practiced self-care, and more.
All of this should set you up to have a productive day (whatever that looks like for you — remember, it’s different for everyone).
Whether you’re about to go off to school or work, this simple morning routine can work for just about any type of person.
Simple morning routine
Let’s recap.
In this post, we talked about the best, simple morning routine for productivity:
- Express your gratitude through self-affirmations or prayer
- Avoid getting on your phone as soon as you wake up
- Drink some water to hydrate yourself after a long night of rest
- Make your bed to boost motivation
- Spend some time with your family/pets/roommates
- Do your skincare/hygiene routine
- Eat a nourishing breakfast (time for caffeine!)
- Do one type of activity to take care of yourself (like journaling or reading)
- Head into the day (work, school, etc.)
This morning routine will help you become more organized and productive, and ready to conquer every day!
Please remember to take time to take care of yourself!
If you’re interested in free self care activities, check out this post: 7 Fulfilling Free Self Care Activities for Your Next Self Care Sunday
Check out this post for a simple skin care routine: 3-Step Simple Skin Care Routine for Dry Skin
In the midst of chaos, don’t forget to smile,
DeMarcus – your self care buddy
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This post was all about simple morning routine.
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