10 Morning Habits You Need in 2024 for a Productive Morning Routine

For most people, mornings are associated with being tired and groggy, dragging yourself out of bed and rushing off to work.

Now I don’t know about you, but that is not my idea of a great morning routine, and it’s certainly not one that will set you up for productivity and success, either.

When filled with the right things, mornings can actually be one of your most joyous times and can set the tone for the whole day ahead.

Once you find the right productive morning routine you will actually enjoy getting up in the mornings rather than dread doing so (shocking, right?!)

And while it might be hard to believe right now, with the right knowledge and information about good morning habits you’ll know how to be more productive in the morning and be well on the way to creating your own productive morning routine.

So if you’re looking for a way to transform your morning, keep reading and you’ll find out how to create your very own morning routine of champions!

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Morning routines of successful entrepreneurs

Don’t just take my word for it, there are real scientific benefits of a morning routine and research has shown that routine in general is beneficial for mental health and productivity levels.

Just look at some of the most successful entrepreneurs… it’s highly likely that they aren’t laying in bed in the mornings snoozing their alarm on repeat for an hour before they stumble out of bed.

Quite the opposite, in fact… almost all of them state that they get up earlier than most, and while their morning routines differ from one another they all have one thing in common – consistency.

The consistency of the routine is arguably the most important factor. It’s not enough to wake up early one day and do all the things to just go back to snoozing your alarm the following morning.

The best course of action is to start off slow and incorporate one positive habit at a time.

You may wish to use a habit tracker in order to track your progress and know when it’s the right time to start adding in additional steps.

Because, believe it or not, bombarding yourself with a million new good morning habits isn’t the right way to go about setting yourself up for sustainable long-term success with your productive morning routine. One step at a time!

With that being said, let’s get into our productive morning routine list so you can get started on your journey to success.

10 Morning Habits for a Productive Morning Routine

Different routines work for different people, but there are general habits that we know are beneficial that you may wish to incorporate into your own routine.

Just remember, whatever habits you decide to adopt in your productive morning routine, the most important thing you can do is be consistent.

With that being said, here are some good morning habits for the most productive morning routine.

1. Wake up early

There is something about waking up early that does wonders for productivity.

It’s obvious when you think about it… it increases the window between the time you wake and the time that the rest of the world starts moving, meaning you have more time to just focus on yourself and do your own thing.

For example, if you start work at 9am but roll out of bed at 8am, you’re only leaving yourself an hour to inevitably rush about and get ready, rather than to start your day slowly and mindfully.

Now imagine you get up at 6am, that’s 3 whole hours that you now have to fill with habits that will set you up for a productive rest of the day.

For this reason, I truly believe that a productive morning routine always begins with getting up early.

To do this, make sure you set an alarm and that you’re not tempted to hit the snooze button. My favourite alarm to use is this Philips Sunrise Alarm Clock because it helps me wake up naturally with light and be less inclined to go back to sleep.

2. Drink water

We naturally dehydrate overnight since we don’t drink anything for around 8 hours (that’s if we’re getting enough sleep of course!)

This means it’s super important to rehydrate our bodies at the earliest opportunity to set ourselves up for a good day.

Water is essential for cell function, and dehydration can lead to reduced energy levels and brain function, which is not what we need for productivity and success.

So take a large glass or resuable bottle of water with you to bed and drink it as soon as you wake in the morning. This will help you to kickstart your day a little easier, trust me.

I like to use a bottle like this one that has a straw because I find it makes it much easier to drink a lot of water, especially when you’re tired in the morning!

And for an added boost to increase hydration and kickstart your digestion you can try adding a slice of lemon or a vitamin supplement like Phizz to ensure you’re boosted with your vitamins and minerals for the day.

3. Make your bed

Starting your day with a small win is a great way to boost your mood and boost your productivity levels.

Even something as simple as making your bed can give you a little dopamine boost that can help you be more productive in the morning.

Yes, it may sound silly, but making your bed really is enough to give you that accomplished feeling and increase your likelihood of success.

It also just makes your room look that much tidier which makes a huge difference to your mood and anxiety levels! Before you’re tempted to knock it, give it a try and see if it makes a difference to creating your own productive morning routine.

4. Meditate

It’s no secret that meditation is an amazing practice at any time of day, but it’s especially effective in the morning. You might have heard it time and time again but there’s a good reason why.

Beginning your day with meditation can completely shift your vibrational level and set a positive and relaxing tone going forward into your day.

If you’re new to meditation, check out this free beginners meditation guide to help get you started. It also includes a habit tracker to really help you solidify a daily practice.

Sign up to get your free beginner’s meditation handbook!

5. Journal

My morning just wouldn’t be complete without journaling, and yours shouldn’t be either. This is one of my favourite tools to get my thoughts out and clear my head to start the day fresh.

Journaling in the morning is great because you’re still in a semi-conscious state, which allows you to tap into those inner thoughts and feelings that are difficult to access throughout the rest of the day.

This makes it a really powerful tool to release stress and anxiety and get you into a good headspace to conquer the day ahead, no matter what you have on your plate.

Before you begin your day, take some time to write out your thoughts and make room for what’s to come. You may also wish to start a gratitude journal to make use of two beneficial practices in one!

6. Practice affirmations

When you repeat affirmations in the morning, you are quite literally announcing that you’re going to have a positive and successful day.

Not only does this put you in a high vibrational state to attract success with the law of attraction, but it also shifts your mindset and boosts your productivity levels.

In other words, morning affirmations are an amazing way to hack your brain and put you in the right headspace for success!

You may wish to incorporate them into your journaling practice, but to really amp up their effectiveness try saying them aloud in a mirror to really connect with the words you’re speaking.

To get started with your affirmation practice, try checking out these affirmations for a productive morning routine. You’d be surprised at the difference that they can make.

7. Exercise

Exercise, and aerobic exercise in particular, gets your blood pumping and releases endorphins. This boosts both your energy levels and your mood, which is the perfect way to start your day.

If you’ve ever exercised in the morning, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Even just ten minutes of movement can get you feeling pumped and ready for the day ahead.

Feel free to substitute aerobic exercise for yoga or pilates too, or even just a nice walk outside in the fresh air – anything that gets you moving is better than sitting around!

8. Shower

I don’t know about you, but showering in the morning makes a huge difference to me. If I don’t shower, I just feel a little less awake and more groggy.

Showering in the morning is that extra step I need to feel cleansed and energised. It washes off old energies and helps me to feel like I’m starting the day fresh (quite literally).

If you’re typically a nighttime showerer, try switching it up to the mornings and notice how you feel. If you’re getting up earlier then it shouldn’t be a problem fitting in a shower.

And even better yet, try finishing your showers with cold water for better energy and therapeutic benefits. It might sound awful and it’s not for the faint hearted at first, but the more you get used to cold showers the more enjoyable they become.

The legendary Wim Hof is a big advocate for cold therapy and you’ll find lots of tips for embracing the cold in his book, the Wim Hof Method.

9. Eat breakfast

You may have heard that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” and honestly, I feel like there’s definitely some truth to this – eating breakfast is really a non-negotiable for me if I want to have a productive day.

You may feel like you don’t need breakfast to function, but that doesn’t mean that you should go without it!

I know that supporters of intermittent fasting will disagree with me on this, and you know your own body better than anyone, but most people will quickly burn out and not function at their best if they are not fed.

We get our energy from food, so nourishing our bodies with fuel before we go on with the rest of our day makes perfect sense if we want to be our most productive.

What’s more, try to avoid high carb breakfasts such as cereal or toast since these really don’t give us much in the way of sustainable energy.

Instead, try to incorporate healthy fats and proteins into your balanced breakfast to fuel your brain and keep you going for longer!

how to be more productive in the morning

10. Plan your day

Planning is an essential part of productivity – if you go about life without a plan then it’s highly unlikely you’re going to stumble into success (unless you’re very lucky).

Make sure that you have a plan in place before you begin your day to ensure that you stay focused on your goals and are moving towards them at a steady pace.

If you want an even more productive morning routine, then plan your day the evening before!

Sure, this technically doesn’t count as a morning habit but it will greatly impact your productivity all the same.

If you plan your days in the evening then this frees up your morning to focus on all the other productive morning habits you love to do, and when the time comes to start work you can do so right away!

And there you have it, these 10 good morning habits are all you truly need to start creating your most productive morning routine.

Hopefully these morning routine tips give you some inspiration to start your own productive morning routine that suits your own lifestyle and is sustainable for you to maintain long-term.

Remember, even incorporating one of these positive habits is a step in the right direction for more productivity and success.

So take things one step at a time and try not to bombard yourself in the process of building your productive morning routine. It will get better over time.

Are there any morning habits that are non-negotiables for you? Let me know!

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Esther is the founder of Through the Phases, a wellbeing and healthy lifestyle blog dedicated to sharing mind/body/soul practices for self-exploration, healing, and fulfilment. She has a degree in Psychology, is yoga teacher trained (200hr), and is currently pursuing a Neuroscience MSc to further study the mind-body connection. Read more about her story here.