How to Create a New Morning Routine
How you can create a new, more positive morning routine that brings you greater energy, focus, and calm — compiled from the collective wisdom of over 250 morning routine interviews
“Routine, in an intelligent man, is a sign of ambition,” wrote W. H. Auden in 1958. The question of how to form a morning routine, or any routine for that matter, is more a question of how to form a collection of consecutive habits.
Welcome to My Morning Routine. For five years we have interviewed the best and the brightest about their mornings, including Arianna Huffington, M.G. Siegler, and former Navy SEAL Lieutenant Stew Smith, in an effort to discover how they spend their first few morning hours. Through interviewing these individuals we’ve collected together the habits and routines that come up time and again that help lead our interviewees into a calmer, more productive, and more enjoyable day.
So, what are these habits? They vary for everyone, of course, but from our experience the following seven habits offer you the greatest chance of success when you’re looking to create a new, more positive morning routine:
Seven habits you can use to create a better morning routine:
- Wake up earlier (just five minutes at a time). Take this early-morning ‘win’ with you into the rest of your day.
- Get some fresh air, drink a glass of water, or get in a light workout to wake up your body.
- Do use an alarm, but don’t hit the snooze button. Get up and at ‘em!
- Keep your phone (if it’s your alarm) outside your bedroom overnight. (You’ll have to get out of bed to turn it off.)
- Don’t beat yourself up if you fail to follow your routine. Think of your new morning routine as a skill that needs to be honed. Try again tomorrow.
- Allow for changes in your routine. Adaption is key; your routine will and should evolve over time.
- Have a relaxing evening and go to bed to allow for 7-9 hours of sleep.
For a more detailed picture on how to form (and stick to) a morning routine, consider getting our book! You can start reading the introduction by becoming an email subscriber today.
