Unfortunately, the majority of the population hit the snooze button, skip breakfast, and start their day reactive to the world around them. This can lead to high stress, low productivity, and living the same day over and over again.
One of the biggest differences between successful and unsuccessful people is a great morning routine.
People like Oprah, Tony Robbins, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and tons of other highly successful people win their morning. They focus on themselves, their goals, aspirations, and intentions for the day.
The cool thing is that you don’t need millions of dollars in the bank or best-selling book to start your morning routine.
Use this simple and effective morning checklist to create a structure for your mornings and create a routine that sets you up for success. While this morning routine checklist is effective, don’t be afraid to make it your own!
Start With an Evening Routine
A great morning routine actually starts the night before. If you plan ahead, you will be able to wake up and start your day focused. Spend five-ten minutes the night before planning these three things:
- When Will You Wake Up?
The night before you need to establish when you will wake up and commit to getting up on time.
Scientifically, hitting the snooze button is a huge mistake. In her book, The 5 Second Rule, Mel Robbins explains why snoozing is a horrible habit to develop.
We sleep in cycles that take about 90 to 110 minutes to complete. About two hours before you wake up, these sleep cycles end and your body starts to slowly prepare to wake up. When our alarm rings, your body is in wakeup mode. If you hit the snooze button and drift back to sleep, you force your brain to start a new sleep cycle that is 90 to 110 minutes long.”
When you hit the snooze button and wake up 15 minutes later you are forcing yourself up in the middle of a sleep cycle. This is why you might feel worse and groggy after snoozing.
- Plan Your Fitness
Are you planning on going to the gym or for a run tomorrow morning? If so, make sure you lay out your clothes, shoes, and any snacks so you aren’t tempted to skip your workout.
Be sure to pack a lunch or figure out what you will need to make tomorrow to get ready for work as well.
- Create a Plan for the Day
What are your intentions for tomorrow? What do you need to do before work, at work, or afterward? Do you have plans the next night with friends or family?
Write down 3-5 main priorities for the next day. Spend a few minutes picturing the day going just as planned and accomplishing everything you need to do.
Remember a great morning routine begins by planning ahead the night before.
Morning Routine Checklist
Here is a list of great morning routine ideas. Don’t feel like you need to do all of these or you will set yourself up for disaster.
Instead, make sure you start with a short evening routine and then wake up on time. The rest you can add to see what works for your schedule. Don’t be afraid to mix up your schedule.
- Wake Up on Time
Winners wake up early.
One of the best ways to feel great each day is to get up 2-3 hours before you have to be at work. This morning time is the way you can get ahead, focus on your goals, and enjoy some “you” time.
Some of the most successful people in the world wake up 3-4 hours before they do any actual work.
- Make Your Bed
As Admiral William McRaven said, “If you want to change the world start by making your bed.”
This simple task will help you feel accomplished and set the tone for your day. This will establish a positive habit to your brain that you get things done.
- Avoid Technology
As Mel Robbins said, “Do you think Oprah or Bill Gates are lying in bed looking at social media when they wake up?”
Make it a point to avoid technology at least the first hour of each day. Don’t look at your phone, check your email or turn on the news. Using technology will make you become reactive instead of proactive.
Instead, use this time to consume new information and spend time on your goals. Block out the rest of the world.
- Exercise Early & Often
As Tom Bilyeu says, “Exercise, in general, has a tremendous impact on helping the brain rewire itself.”
You might not want to work out every single day but if you make it a habit during the week you will create discipline. Anyone who has ever achieved anything great has had a ton of discipline.
Exercise in whatever form you enjoy the most. It could be walking, running, working out, swimming, racquetball or whatever else.
The point to get moving, change your physiology and set up your day for success.
Also, it’s much easier to skip the gym after a tough day at work. Do the hard stuff in the morning so you never skip what matters most.
