50 Morning Routine Ideas To Start Your Day Off Right

Even if you aren’t a morning person, a simple morning routine can lead to a positive, productive workday – every day. “Simple” is the keyword here – your routine doesn’t have to be anything out of the box! If anything, you’re probably already doing some of the below morning routine ideas. Either way, these morning routine ideas will have you thinking “good morning” to yourself every time you wake up. 

• Why is it important to have a morning routine? 
• 50 morning routine ideas

Why is it important to have a morning routine? 

Nobody’s expecting you to do all 50 of the above morning routine ideas each and every morning, but they’re all good starting points. Here’s why a great morning routine is important. 

1It can prepare you for the day ahead

Your morning routine can help you feel awake, alert, and ready to take on your day. Everything you do during your morning routine can tell you what’s on your plate and line you up to knock it all out. 

2It can boost your energy

All the morning routine ideas above can help you wake up and feel rejuvenated for your day. This way, you’ll begin your workday feeling prepared and ready instead of like you just hopped out of bed. It can increase your productivity and confidence.

Whether your morning routine is a 10-step or three-step process, it’s still a thing you can cross off your to-do list. That can make you feel more confident about everything else on your plate. It’s also your first example of productivity for the day, which can be a direct path to keeping on getting things done.

3It can help you focus

Morning routines can help you start your day with intention. That intention can help you focus and get where you need to go. It’ll also help you keep your hands on the steering wheel as you’re getting there.

4It can help you feel calm 

Our brains thrive on habits and routines. That’s a big reason why your morning routine can put your body and mind at ease. It can create a sense of balance and familiarity – what a way to start the day! 

50 morning routine ideas

Your morning routine doesn’t need to be elaborate or take hours to complete. Often, 30 to 45 minutes is all you need to set yourself up for success. The below list of morning routine ideas can help you create the perfect routine. 

1Wake up early 

Set your alarm anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour early so you have time to wake up slowly and start your day off right. 

2Don’t hit snooze 

To avoid hitting the snooze button, place your alarm across the room so you have to get up to turn it off. 

3Make the bed

Making your bed is a great way to tell yourself that your day is starting – and avoid the temptation to go back under the covers. 

4Open your blinds 

Opening your blinds to let the sun in can help your body wake up and know that it’s time to start the day. 

5Drink a glass of water

Hydrating your body right away in the morning can help you avoid a headache or fatigue later in the day. 

6Journal

Taking a few minutes to journal your thoughts can be a good way to release stress and get your creative juices flowing. 

7Meditate

Practicing mindfulness and taking a few deep breaths can set the tone for your day. 

8Enjoy the silence

Workdays are filled with endless noise and people constantly on the go, so take a moment to enjoy the peace and quiet before it fades. 

9Read a few pages in a book 

Your morning doesn’t have to be anything like “go go go!” Instead, relax and catch up on your favorite novel before planning your day. 

10Watch a bit of TV

For those slower mornings, start your day with a delicious breakfast and catch up on your favorite TV show. 

11Do a morning stretch 

A morning stretch can loosen up your body and make sore muscles feel less painful. 

12Walk on the grass barefoot

Take a deep breath in the fresh air and connect with the earth when you take a short walk barefoot in the grass. 

13Go for a run

Running in the morning can get your blood flowing and increase your energy levels. 

14Take a dip in a pool

Start your day feeling fresh and rejuvenated with a dip in a pool. 

15Eat a healthy breakfast

A nutrient-dense breakfast can keep you full and energized for hours so you can avoid that late-morning energy crash. Try anything from fresh eggs to a homemade smoothie bowl. 

16Make a fresh juice 

Instead of waiting until 8 p.m. for your daily dose of fruits and veggies, start your day with a delicious homemade juice. 

17Opt for tea instead of coffee 

Tea has many health benefits, such as reducing stress and boosting your immune system. Instead of drinking coffee every day, try swapping it for a fresh cup of tea. 

18Find a new recipe to try during the weekend

Finding a new recipe can give you something to look forward to and provide that extra push to finish the workweek. 

19Take a cold shower

A cold shower is a great natural way to jolt yourself awake in the morning and prepare for the day. 

20Brush your teeth 

Brushing your teeth is one simple way to clean up and prepare yourself to leave the house every morning. 

21Draw a bath 

A warm, soothing bath can be a great way to relax and enjoy a peaceful morning. 

22Create a skincare routine

Focus on self-care for a few minutes each morning with a solid skincare routine. Your routine doesn’t have to be a fancy 10-step process – it can be as simple as cleansing and applying moisturizer. 

23Put on a soothing face mask 

If you have the time, pamper yourself with a rejuvenating face mask. 

24Put on some makeup

You don’t need to go full glam every morning – simple lip gloss and mascara can make you feel great for the rest of the day. 

25Put on a feel-good outfit 

Sometimes, when you look and feel good, you can do better work. Even if you work from home, change out of your PJs so you won’t feel tempted to crawl back into bed. 

26Go screen-free 

Social media can make you feel overwhelmed, which isn’t great when you’re planning for the day. Instead, start your day without your phone for at least 30 minutes. 

27Listen to feel-good music

Turn on some feel-good music and dance around your room to get the positive vibes flowing. 

28Listen to a podcast 

If you don’t want to listen to music in the morning, a podcast can be just as stimulating and even educational. Try listening to the Supermanagers podcast, a podcast for managers and leaders who want to excel at the art of leading teams and organizations. Aydin Mirzaee, CEO at Fellow, interviews world-class executives about the habits, thought patterns, and experiences that help them be the leaders they are today.

29Prepare your workspace

Unclutter and set up your workspace so you can have a productive day when you sit down to work on all your important tasks. 

30Tidy up your room

A clean space will make it easier for you to focus and stay productive throughout the day. 

31Run some errands

If you wake up an hour earlier, you’ll have time to run errands so you don’t have to do them after an intense eight-hour workday. 

32Prioritize your tasks

When you prioritize tasks to start your day, you can see everything you need to and get a jolt of motivation to do it. 

33Go through your emails 

Instead of letting your emails pile up, set aside five to 10 minutes each morning to go through them. 

34Think of three things you are grateful for

Practicing gratitude can set the mood for your day and put you in a positive mindset. 

35Self-reflect 

Working through your thoughts is a great way to let go of any built-up feelings so you can enjoy your day. 

36Talk to a roommate

Take a few minutes to catch up with your roommate and let them know how much you appreciate them. 

37Call someone you miss

Calling a loved one who you haven’t spoken to in a while can help you feel happy and start your day on a positive note.  

38Use aromatherapy oils

An essential oil diffuser can bring a calming, zen vibe to your space. 

39Light some candles

If you’re not into essential oils, try lighting a few candles to create a calm, soothing space around you. 

40Head to a local cafe

Take yourself out on a date and head to your local cafe for a sweet treat before heading to work. 

41Water your plants

Just as you need hydration, so do your plants! Take a few minutes out of your morning to give them some love. You might feel it back.

42Prepare your lunch or dinner

Save yourself the hassle later on and prepare your lunch or dinner before you head to work. This way, you can relax more later. 

43Create a bucket list 

Write down what you want to accomplish to give yourself something to look forward to, then each week, aim to cross an item off. 

44Spend 10 minutes learning a new language

If there’s a language you’ve always wanted to learn, take a few minutes every morning to expand your mind and learn it. 

45Work on a crossword puzzle

You can also try working on a crossword puzzle to get your brain flowing as you plan out the rest of your day. 

46Add an act of kindness to your morning

One of the best ways to have a good morning is to give back to others. Your act of kindness can be anything from buying a stranger’s coffee to holding the door open for someone. 

47Work on a side hustle 

If you have a side gig beyond your main hustle, take some time each morning to focus and push yourself forward with it. 

48Read good news

Reading a fun article or blog can put a smile on your face in the morning and set you up for a good day. 

49Sing and dance around your house

Singing and dancing is a fun way to let loose and get your body moving. 

50Recharge at the spa 

Take a morning to yourself to unwind your mind and body at a local spa. Treat yourself!

Use Fellow for your morning routine 

Morning routines can set you up for a positive and productive workday. For example, answering emails and preparing for meetings are great ideas to incorporate into your routine so you can feel prepared for your day. On that front, you’ll need a tool that helps you build meeting agendas and collaborate with other people. With Fellow, you can do all that and so much more right from one platform. Now, you can start each morning on a calm, positive note knowing that you’re lined up for a great workday.