“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”
– Buddha
- Turning to a clean blank page
- A fresh coat of paint
- Moving day
- Starting a new job
- The first day of summer
Aren’t beginnings the best? It’s something about the sense that anything is possible — that it’s all out there in front of you. Within each morning, there lies a little piece of that feeling and that potential every single day. All you have to do is grasp it.
The start of each new day presents an opportunity to take a step toward a better life by changing something you’re unsatisfied with, making progress toward a meaningful goal or better appreciating what you already have. Today, you could reconnect with an old friend, land a great job, start a new business, quit smoking, save money, lose weight or improve your marriage.
You just need to take action. And the ritual of a morning routine is a great way to make these kinds of necessary actions easier, more consistent and more potent as they build on each other day over day, and year over year like compound interest, eventually forming life habits with the potential to create massive change.
Below is a list of 50 “ingredients” you can mix together to create a recipe for your own personalized morning routine. They’re grouped into life goal areas. You can start with one area — productivity or finance. Or you could pick one or two actions from several groups for your routine — it’s entirely up to you.
By starting slowly, picking just a couple ingredients at a time, and building consistency, you minimize the risk of falling off the wagon by trying to change too much at once. Try solidifying a few habits and a time and adding ingredients incrementally. And schedule a regular reminder to reevaluate your routine to see how it’s working and if it’s still in line with your current goals.
Morning Routine Ingredient List
For Productivity:
- Identify your top 3 actions for the day
- Spend 10 minutes tidying one room
- Review your calendar/planner
- Clean our your purse, briefcase or desk
- Make the bed
- Create or reflect on your vision board
- Take one step toward a long-term goal
- Envision a highly productive day
- Back up your data (you’ll be glad someday)
- Declutter one item from your home
For Finances:
- Pack a lunch, snack or coffee
- Put your loose change in a savings jar
- Review the status your daily, weekly or monthly budget
- Log your receipts to track spending
- Read a personal finance blog or article
- Put one item in a garage sale box
- Track your progress toward a long-term financial goal
- Review the performance of your investment portfolio
- Schedule/pay any pending bills — avoid fees & credit damage
- Listen to an investment podcast
For Serenity:
- Meditate for 5 minutes
- Play or cuddle with your pet
- Spend time in nature
- Watch the sun rise
- Be grateful — write down why you are
- Say your prayers
- Listen to an uplifting song from your a.m. playlist
- Read a poem instead of headlines
- Laugh at a funny video or podcast
- Note 3 personal accomplishments from yesterday
For Health:
- Enjoy a cup of green tea
- Perform some gentle stretching
- Do 10 minutes of yoga
- Take a brisk walk
- Drink a glass of water with lemon
- Do some deep breathing exercises
- Check your sleep tracker app
- Log your weight
- Get in a quick 7-minute workout
- If not fasting, eat a healthy breakfast
For Relationships:
- Put a note in your loved one’s pocket or lunchbox
- Send a quick text to connect with a friend
- Thank a family member for something they’ve done
- Say “I love you”
- Pay a sincere complement
- Help someone with something
- Kiss goodbye
- Say good morning to a neighbor
- Check your calendar — send (real) greeting cards
- Set a coffee or lunch date with a friend
Substitute your own ingredients for any or all of these. And while you want to give any life change a little bit of time before judging its impact, don’t hesitate to rework your routine if that makes sense. Changing isn’t failing — it’s just learning what works for you.
In the comments, please share some if your own ingredients or anything else about your morning routine that you’ve found beneficial.
Good morning!
