A morning routine is a set of actions you do in the morning. Successful people wake up early to do these things before starting their day’s main activity, like work or school.

How you start your morning will dictate how you spend your day. 

If your day starts right, it will be successful. Your day will be affected if you don’t have a plan for your morning.

“Morning is an important time of day, because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have.”―Lemony Snicket, pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler

To kick-start your mornings, establishing a productive morning routine is ideal. 

A schedule provides structure for the rest of your day. It helps you develop healthy habits and improve your overall health and well-being.

Efficient individuals recognize the power of the morning and take a few common steps to set themselves up for success.

For example, Oprah Winfrey wakes up at 6:45 a.m., makes a chai tea or skim cappuccino, and works out at her gym around 7 a.m.

What habits should be incorporated into your morning routine to make it more beneficial? 

Here are six common morning habits successful people practice that you should consider adding to your routine.

1. They wake up instantly

Successful people don’t hit the snooze button.

The extra 10 minutes of half-sleep can do more harm than good. The snooze button impacts the sleep cycle.

Go to bed 10 to 20 minutes earlier instead of hitting the snooze button. This gives your body more time. Finish sleep cycles at night. They typically last about an hour and a half.

During that time, we move through five stages of sleep. 

Sleep gives your body time to repair muscles, grow bones, regulate hormones, and process memories.

Success comes to those who have the willpower to win over their snooze buttons.

The snooze button could be one of the worst inventions of all time.

Productive people know it’s tempting, but don’t use it because it keeps them from their goals.

Once you hit the snooze button, you never go back to sleep. No matter how often you hit it, you do not get restful sleep.

When you finally get up, you often feel half-awake.

Conquer the snooze button and pop right out of bed.

Every day I wake up, I meditate for a couple of minutes. I say thanks for the day. I think positive thoughts about the day.

2. They make their bed

Did you know that 59% of people don’t make their bed when they get up? Making your bed first thing is one guaranteed success every day. Effective people make their beds.

As a result, they are happier. They know making their bed is easy. It gives them an easy win in the morning.

It doesn’t mean you can’t be happy and successful if you’re not a bed-maker.

Nonetheless, the odds are stacked against you.

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.” — William H. McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy 4-star admiral

3. They drink a glass of water

About 70% of the human body is composed of water. Many people know we are made of water, yet many do not drink enough water each day.

Research indicates that you need 4 to 6 glasses of water every day.

Water is even more critical when drinking coffee in the morning. Successful people know coffee can be dehydrating.

After sleeping for eight hours, it’s natural to wake up dehydrated.

Add in caffeine, and you must drink water.

Water can help you overcome feelings of sluggishness. When you first wake up, it’s essential to drink a glass of water before reaching for coffee.

Effective people understand the power of drinking enough water and how it energizes them.

Keep a glass of water by your bed and drink it first in the morning.

4. They eat breakfast

Research indicates that breakfast can help reduce daily hunger and lower the risk of obesity. It also helps with weight management.

Breakfast provides a lot of your day’s nutrient intake.

Productive people eat breakfast. They know it’s more likely to help them meet their daily intakes of vitamins and minerals.

Successful people don’t miss breakfast.

Skipping breakfast has become a familiar and unhealthy dietary habit. It gives you the energy to start the day and improves the quality of your diet.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Efficient people know it gives them the energy foundation for the day.

Breakfast improves behavior and increases the ability to learn and focus.

If your body doesn’t get the fuel it needs, you may not have energy. This lack of energy can make it hard to start your day.

5. They exercise

Working out in the morning can be better because staying committed is easier. Successful people wake up knowing they can achieve a lot before their day’s responsibilities start.

A morning workout can be better because there are fewer distractions.

Effective individuals understand that morning exercise helps them start their day with more energy, focus, and optimism.

You are more in tune with nature and sincerely appreciate the world around you.

If you live in a hotter area, working out in the morning will be more comfortable. This is because the hotter part of the day is usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

If you work out outdoors, you’ll feel better during a cooler time of the day.

After a morning workout, you are more likely to eat a healthy breakfast and stay active throughout the day.

It’s great to see that you’ve already met your 30-minute exercise goal for the day. You can only add more.

Exercise stimulates various brain chemicals, including endorphins, which can make you happier, more relaxed, and less anxious.

These endorphins improve your mood because you have “feel-good” chemicals running throughout your body.

Exercise stimulates the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your body. When your heart and lungs improve, you have more energy.

You can exercise at a time that works best for you. Yet, there are many benefits to working out in the morning.

6. They drink coffee — just not too much

The caffeine in coffee can improve your mood and brain function. It can even enhance your exercise performance.

Research shows that the best time to drink coffee is not immediately after waking up. Instead, it is best to drink coffee an hour later.

I usually drink coffee after exercising and taking a shower. Coffee provides that extra boost to help you start the day right.

Like other things, productive people know that moderation is the key to a successful morning routine. The only thing worse than not enough is too much.

The side effects of too much caffeine can be subtle. You might feel anxious. Your stomach might hurt, and your heart may race. You might also get headaches.

Research shows that drinking too much coffee can impact your health. It can raise your blood pressure. It can also make you more irrational and irritable.

Don’t let your coffee intake mess up your health.

Successful individuals typically limit their coffee consumption to one cup per morning.

Bringing it all together

Successful people wake up understanding the importance of creating a morning routine. It gives them ample time to focus on their goals.

They consistently exercise, drink coffee, and don’t overdo it.

Successful people wake up instantly. They don’t hit the snooze button.

Successful people often start their day by eating breakfast and drinking a glass of water upon waking. Efficient people make their beds.

A productive morning routine is the key to a successful life and career.

It sets the tone for the day. Successful people wake up knowing that the morning is crucial. It’s essential to start every day on the right foot.

“Wake up early and tackle the day before it tackles you.” ― Evan Carmichael, entrepreneurial expert

---

Join my email newsletter for a free eBook and more helpful insights.