Creating a Successful Morning Routine - a Three Step Approach

The concept of a morning routine is undoubtedly a popular one.

If you do a quick search on YouTube, you will find hundreds of videos that either present the “perfect” morning routine, or discuss what successful people do in the morning. However, I want to present a slightly different approach. Yes, having a set list of things that you do in the morning is really helpful. Unfortunately, the issue that many of us run into, is that we’re not all content creators or entrepreneurs who have the flexibility to set aside three hours in the morning. Most of us are students who have a busy schedule. That being said, I want to introduce you to my idea of what a successful morning should really encompass - from a student’s perspective. First off, I don’t think that we should throw the concept of a list of consistent steps entirely out the window. I simply believe that it is absolutely essential that we strive to scale this idea to be tailored precisely to our lifestyle. Any type of routine is beneficial for our mental health. It reduces stress and anxiety, simply because we have that time during the day when we can focus on ourselves. During that time, we know exactly what is going to happen, as well as what we have to do… knowing that completion of this action will put us into a more positive mindset. This also aids in increasing productivity on the days that we “have off” from either work or school. Too often, and I can definitely include myself in this, when we have a day on which we have nothing significant going on, we end up wasting a lot of that time. Instead, we could be doing something productive, such as working on a business, or even just going for a hike. Remember, productivity should only be defined by you! From my experience, as a college student who is pretty much always busy, I don’t have a lot of time in the morning. Therefore, I like to keep my morning as simple as possible, through a three step method. 

#1 Forget Snooze

white and black alarm clock on gray table


The first step is to not hit snooze, no matter what! I struggled with this one forever. Especially as a student, when that morning alarm often served as a reminder that I had to get up for an exam or a presentation. The issue with this, was that the first thing I focused on was something stressful or negative, so I really had no motivation to get up. Essentially, what would feel like an extra ten minutes in bed, would result in rushing out the door and not eating breakfast. However, creating a simple routine of things you enjoy doing is often enough motivation to get going. Through forcing myself to get up the first time the alarm rings, not only do I have a small win early in the day, but I also have enough time to actually wake up on my own terms and prepare for the day. 

#2 Transition

person pouring black coffee in white ceramic mug placed on brown wooden table during daytime


The next step is to do something that transitions you into an awake state. For me, this is making a cup of coffee. While it seems simple, it is extremely satisfying. I embrace the whole experience. I almost always like to grind the beans myself, and I use a pour-over coffee maker. I feel that this process creates an atmosphere and ambiance of both peace and mindfulness; both of which are essential to a productive day. Realistically, this takes only about five minutes to complete. If coffee isn’t your thing, you could take this time to meditate, make tea, or even watch the sunrise. 


#3 Move with a Purpose

man walking beside the foot of the mountain during daytime

Finally, do something that gets you moving. Now, I know many people suggest hitting a workout first thing in the morning. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this, if that's how you choose to engage this time. For me though, I don’t feel as though this is the best approach for how I choose to begin my day. Again, it’s all about figuring out what works for you - no else's opinion really matters when you’re the successful one! I almost always like to go for a short walk while I drink my coffee. What this essentially does, is it gives me time to reflect on the day, and control my thoughts and emotions before I have to actually deal with the world and start facing my day. One could even say that this simple step actually builds a foundation for the structure that your day has the potential to become. Sure, you could binge-watch Netflix for an hour, but what kind of house will that build? What if instead, you start the day out with intention, knowing that YOU are the architect of your day, and YOU are the only one who has the power to truly affect meaningful construction on the life that you want.

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