How to create the perfect morning routine

Routine is a powerful thing – and humans love routine. It provides structure and security, and can do wonders for your mental state.

Your brain has a set amount of decision making power each day. If you have a routine each morning that runs on autopilot, that’s mental energy you can spend elsewhere during the day.

Every morning is like a fresh start. It sets the tone for your day, and it’s always great to start on the front foot. Imagine getting to work feeling organised and in control, rather than late and frazzled. A morning routine done right will set you up for success the entire day.

Getting a morning routine on lock puts you in good company as well. Plenty of high performing CEOs, entrepreneurs, and businesspeople champion the value of a morning routine. In fact, many even start their day well before the sun comes up.

There are no rules to creating a successful morning routine – it’s about finding what works for you. Try standardising what you eat for breakfast and the order you get ready for work in.

Exercise in the morning can be a fantastic way to start your day, and a great way to fit your training into a busy schedule. Others might find it more beneficial to meditate or practice a mindfulness activity.

Reading or writing is also a popular choice and many people find that, contrary to their expectations, they’re actually quite creative and motivated in the morning.

However you choose to design your morning, there’s one thing everyone agrees on – you can do a lot better than lying in bed for an hour scrolling through social media feeds!

"Visualise: what does your perfect morning look like? What do you want to achieve? What are the activities you find value in?"

5 steps for creating a morning routine

1. Visualise

What does your perfect morning look like? What do you want to achieve? What are the activities you find value in, but often don’t have the time or energy to do?

2. Start simple

You’ve got an idea of what you’d like to accomplish, but morning routines won’t magically fall into place straight away. Try starting out with something easy, like getting out of bed at a consistent time and drinking a tall glass of water.

3. Work up to a goal

If you want to wake up at 6:30am instead of 8:00am, don’t throw yourself straight into it. Try waking up 15 minutes earlier at a time until you reach your goal wake-up time.

4. Be kind to yourself

Don’t beat yourself up if you sleep in or deviate from your routine. Remember, routines are formed by willpower, and willpower is like a muscle – it gets stronger the more you use it.

5. Reward yourself

You might resolve to get out of bed at 6:00am Monday to Saturday, and let yourself sleep in on Sundays. You’re almost guaranteed to appreciate it more.