Things to Do In The Morning - A Guide For Women

April 11, 2024

What are some of the best things to do in the morning? What can I do in the morning to ensure a more productive day? What activities are necessary for an ideal morning routine? If you are looking for answers to these and more questions related to ideal things to do in the morning, this article is for you.

Hi, I am Katie Lister, a Registered Nurse and the founder of Growth Gals, a community of women that come together to learn and get support from each other.

At Growth Gals, we provide resources that offer women the support and information they need to lead a more productive and fulfilling everyday life. In this article I will tell you everything you need to know about the best things to do in the morning to set yourself up for a successful day.

Katie Lister

Written by Katie Lister, RN, BScN. An experienced Registered Nurse, Group Facilitator, Life Coach, and Community Leader. Read Katie's Full Author Bio

Why You Should Have a Morning Routine

A morning routine entails the things you do in the morning immediately after you wake up. Most people set an alarm, snooze it a few times, check their phone, get out of bed, shower, have breakfast (if they have time), and rush to work. While some of these activities are unproductive, they can still be counted as part of unintentional things to do in the morning.

A morning routine should be a set of habits that you intentionally set out and follow religiously to reap the benefits. Some of the benefits of having a list of ideal things to do in the morning include:

Prepares you for the day

How you spend your mornings dictates how you spend the rest of your day. If you start the day feeling lazy or rushed, that feeling stays with you until the end of the day. A morning motivation routine sets the day’s pace and tone and puts you in a positive mindset.

Increases productivity

When you follow a morning schedule, you can finish all your important tasks and have some extra time to relax. With well-planned out things to do in the morning, you start the day positively, and your time management skills improve. You are also able to concentrate better during the day and avoid wasting time on irrelevant tasks. The quality of your work also improves, and you are more likely to finish your tasks instead of leaving them half-done.

Reduces stress

Stress kicks in when you don’t have enough time in the morning and you continually feel rushed. With a routine, you don’t feel rushed because you have planned your morning and the rest of the day. Your physical, emotional, and mental health improves when you reduce stress. Experts link stress to conditions like anxiety, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Boosts your energy levels

Most people hate waking up early because they lack morning inspiration. A morning routine increases your energy levels because you are intentionally practicing self-care rather than lazing around or letting your phone dictate what you do. Even if you are not an early morning person, waking up to meditate or do a workout is enough to boost your energy levels and prepare you for a productive and good morning.

What Happens When You Do Not Have Ideal Things To Do in The Morning?

Some people are creatures of habit and prefer a daily routine, while others cannot imagine having predictable schedules. When you do not have a routine, several things happen:

You feel out of control

The lack of a solid routine will likely make you feel disorganized and out of control. A routine is crucial for dropping unhealthy habits and changing your life. Predictable routines allow you to control what happens in your life. You choose what to do and when to do it without feeling pressured.

You can’t meet your daily objectives

You must set a timeline and establish a routine to achieve your goals. Without structure, irrelevant tasks overwhelm you and lead to incomplete bigger projects. Without a morning routine, you can’t prioritize tasks or increase productivity and efficiency

Unpredictability

Not having a morning routine checklist can make your life unpredictable as you mindlessly go through your days. A routine means you know what you are doing at any given time. rest times are also factored into an ideal routine. Without a structured routine, you do whatever comes up. Sometimes unhealthy habits like scrolling through social media creep into your daily routine because of improper planning.

Difficulty maintaining healthy habits

Establishing and maintaining healthy habits is challenging if you don’t have structure. For example, you want to start a cardio program for weight loss. Without a routine, you will encounter difficulties if you don’t designate a time for your workout.

Things to Do in the Morning for a More Productive Day

The most successful people make the most of their morning, ensuring a productive day. Lack of a morning routine can leave you exhausted and unable to do anything in the evening. A perfect morning routine does not need to be complex or jam-packed with too many activities. Here are a few habits you can incorporate into your morning for a more productive day.

Plan ahead

For a productive morning, start the previous night before going to bed. Plan your day by writing a to-do list of what to do the next day and how you want to start your morning. Lay out your next day’s outfit and set out your breakfast ingredients.

These actions prevent decision fatigue and allow you to create habits that don’t require you to stress over decisions. For instance, when your ingredients are ready, you don’t have to wake up and agonize over what to eat for breakfast.

Get enough sleep

Experts suggest that an adult should get at least 7.5 hours of sleep. To get a good night’s sleep:

Avoid stressful activities before bed.
Read a book, take a warm bath, or have a cup of decaffeinated tea.
Avoid electronic devices like the TV, tablets, or phones before bed.
Set your alarm for the same time every morning. With time, your body will get used to it, and you may not even need an alarm.

Wake up immediately after your alarm goes off

The snooze button is always tempting when you have to wake up early. You might not be a morning person, but snoozing the alarm wastes time. It’s easy to fall asleep after snoozing and miss your morning routine altogether. One tip is to set the alarm clock a distance away from your bed, which forces you to get out of bed to switch it off.

Avoid your phone

Avoid your phone when you wake up because scrolling through social media will distract you from your routine. Instead, try something more positive, like writing a gratitude journal, reading, or working out. These activities trigger dopamine, the feel-good hormone, and serotonin, making you feel good about yourself for hours to come.

Drink water

Drink a glass of water when you wake up to avoid fatigue, dark circles under your eyes, and headaches. Hydrating helps your body fight toxins, kickstart metabolism, and increase energy levels.

Drink a cup of coffee

You can have a cup of coffee after you hydrate. Coffee stabilizes your mood and boosts your energy. Drink two cups at the most, as too much caffeine can lead to dehydration, migraines, and poor sleep.

Have a healthy breakfast

Eating a healthy breakfast fuels your body. Avoid sugar in foods like pastries, donuts, or pancakes. Instead, eat nutritious foods like fruits, nuts, eggs, and oats. Consider taking over-the-counter supplements to complement the nutrients you get from food.

Meditation and affirmations

When you quiet your brain, you are more in touch with yourself and your creativity. Meditation helps you think more efficiently and have a more productive day.

Speak positive affirmations every morning to help dispel negative thoughts and limiting beliefs. These activities calm you down and allow you to focus on your day.

Self-care

Self-care is doing the things you love for your mind and body, such as soaking in a bathtub with your favorite book, listening to a podcast, skincare, and anything else that makes you feel good.

Exercise

Exercise is also a form of self-care that triggers your brain to release endorphins. These chemicals help to minimize discomfort or pain and improve well-being. Endorphins also reduce the stress hormone cortisol, improving your physical health. You can exercise at home, or if you love the outdoors and fresh air, run or walk briskly while listening to your favorite Amazon Music or Spotify playlist.

How Growth Gals Can Help

Our aim at Growth Gals is to inspire women to reach their full potential. We also strive to create positive change by giving women the resources to discover their true selves and expand their knowledge base on various issues including self-improvement, healthy lifestyle, and emotional wellbeing.

We aim to connect women with others who share similar values and experiences. Learn more about how we help you incorporate healthy things to do in the morning for a more productive day and life. Subscribe to the Growth Gals newsletter below to access even more resources and helpful guides or reach out to us directly.

Conclusion

Having goal-oriented things to do in the morning gives your life some structure. When you wake up, avoid engaging in unproductive activities. Creating a routine helps reduce stress, manage your time, and prepare you for the day. To jumpstart your morning, you can incorporate some of the healthy habits highlighted in this article. The more you engage in this morning ritual, the more it becomes second nature and propels you towards a better-organized day.