MyProductive 5 A.M. Morning routine that changed my life

Having a proper morning routine is probably the best way to change your life. Not even exaggerating. Because when you have a proper morning routine that allows you to take care of yourself and do things for self improvement right before you take on your day, you set yourself up for success.

Making a morning routine and sticking to it is probably my number one advice when it comes to improving your life.

A few years back I decided to start waking up early(as a challenge) and it was honestly the best lifestyle change I have ever made. In my opinion, morning is the best time to word towards your self improvement goals as well.

And there is a lot of power in working towards your goals and your health and wellness in the mornings. That’s why I wake up at 5 A.M these days.

And no, you certainly do not need to wake up at 5 AM everyday to have a good morning routine. You don’t even need to wake up at 6 AM.

As long as you have some time to invest in your growth and to start your mornings in the right way before starting your work or your TOP PRIORITY TASK of the day, you’re good.

And if you are not in a habit of having a morning routine, the first advice would be to go slow.

A lot of people often want to make a very elaborate morning routine, like you see in a lot of youtube videos. And while it sounds great to have 3-4 hours in the mornings for your morning routine, it isn’t always possible and thus gets quite overwhelming really quickly. And then you give up on having a routine.

So it’s best to start slow. Start by adding a simple habit to your existing routine. And after a few days introduce another change. We’re talking about going slow here because we want long term lifestyle changes that are sustainable.

Why you need a morning routine?

You probably already have a routine. You wake up and do a couple of things every morning. And all these things make up your current morning routine. So why not make one that suits you and that serves you well.

• All you need to do is be intentional about what habits you want to include in your daily routine. Being mindful while making a routine will allow you to include habits that will help you achieve your goals.

So if your goal is to get fitter but you’re not doing anything about it, you certainly won’t be able to achieve your goals, right? So making a morning routine that aligns with your goals is important.

• Mornings are also the best time to work on your personal development goals because it’s so quiet in the mornings. And having this time to yourself when everyone is sleeping feels so blissful on some mornings.

What to include in your morning routine?

Everyone’s morning routine looks different, because we are different people and are in different seasons of life. And what suits me may not be the best for you. So, you decide what you want to do based on what you find joy in.

I feel like knowledge is everything and is quite empowering. That’s why today I am sharing my own morning routine that has helped me immensely over the years.

This is my morning routine and these are the things that I do everyday that help me make the most of my mornings. I hope you will find some inspiration for your own morning routine.

Disclaimer: My morning routine has now changed ever since becoming a mother. But I am hoping I will be able to get back to my routine in a couple of months with some changes to it to suit me.

Wake up at 5 AM

I wake up at around 5AM everyday, on most days. But, I was not always a morning person and know the feeling of waking up in the mornings and feeling exhausted very well. Here is How I started waking up and 5AM and not feel lazy in the mornings.

Once you build this habit, you won’t even have to set your alarm. After a while, your body clock gets used to it and you will start waking up without an alarm. So, no problem with snoozing the alarm as well.

A glass of water

The first thing I always do when I wake up is have a glass of water. And I do this without a fail. I keep a glass of water on my bedside table and I take slow mindful sips first thing as I slowly open my eyes.

When you wake up, you are essentially breaking a fast. Your body has been fasting for the night and simple plain water is the best way to break the fast. We’re also naturally dehydrated in the mornings and hydration is the key if you want to feel good. Our bodies are about 70% water after all.

It is also good to have water before coffee or tea in the mornings because coffee is generally dehydrating.

At this point I will also open the curtains. It’s usually still dark outside, but I love opening up the curtains and watching the sky change hues. We have an east facing window in our bedroom and I feel like it is such a blessing.

I am a firm believer of starting my mornings slow and not rushing into things. So I take my time with the glass of water. I never chug it down.

I also, always make sure to have my water while sitting on the bed, because having water while standing may lead to indigestion. Yes, that’s a fact. There is a wrong way of drinking water (I was surprised as well).

Freshen Up:

Then I go to freshen up and brush my teeth. I usually wash my face with cold water, put on some moisturiser, put my hair in a bun, brush my teeth. I also make it a point to change out of my PJs. I will usually put on my workout clothes in the morning.

That helps me in being consistent with my workouts as well. And when I am already in my workout clothes I am less likely to skip on exercising.

But that will be later on in the morning. But I never stay in my PJs. I believe this action of changing out of my night clothes indicates my brain that it’s time to get the day started.

All this usually takes about 20 minutes. And by then it is 5:30 A.M.

Meditate:

Then it is time for my daily meditation. I usually do a guided meditation out in my balcony for about 15-20 minutes. I think meditation is really life changing and that you must try it to believe it.

It sounds like it won’t really make a difference but it really does. Even if you do not know how to, there are so many apps that offer guided meditations.

But I know it is not for everyone. And if you do not wish to include this in your routine, let me make another suggestion. Do something mindfully for 15-20 minutes.

It could be anything like watering your house plants and taking care of them. Doing something (anything) mindfully is also a form of meditation. In that time you are focussed on what you are doing and not that much on anything else. And I find it really powerful.

It is now 5:50 A.M-6 A.M.

Read

I don’t always read in the mornings but I read for about 20 minutes on most mornings. I think it is such a good habit to adopt. Books can be life-changing and once you get into the habit of reading everyday, it can be quite addictive as well.

Again, what you are reading is really important too. I think in the morning we’re like sponges. There is no better way to describe it. We soak up things better.

So it’s even more important to see what you feed your mind in the morning. I usually focus on personal development and self improvement in the mornings.

And so I like reading books that are empowering and motivating/inspirational.

I am currently reading Atomic Habits by James Clear.

By the time I am done with reading it’s 6:30 A.M.

Journal:

Right after reading I give 10-15 minutes to journalling. I usually write without a journal prompt and I will write whatever comes to my mind during then. However, if you are new to journalling you can work with journalling prompts as well. Here are 50 Journal prompts for self discovery.

I feel like journalling helps you make sense of things and helps you understand your feelings.I often write about how I am feeling and then will go deep to understand why I am feeling a certain way.

But I understand that open ended journalling is not an easy habit to develop and can seem daunting at first. If that’s the case, I highly recommend trying out daily journal prompts and journalling in response to a prompt.

There is no right or wrong way to do it. the idea is to write (about a topic / free ended) and make sense of your thoughts and to get to know yourself better.

One of the best journal prompts I have ever answered is what an ideal day looks like for me. That allowed me to see what things I want more of, in my life. And getting that kind of understanding can help you shape your goals better.

Exercise:

After journalling, it’s usually time for exercise and working out. I workout all through the week. Yes, 7 days a week. I love moving my body and getting my sweat on.

However I will go HIIT or strength training plus cardio for 4-5 days in the week. And I try to mix it with 2-3 days of yoga every week.

You can of course any type of exercise that you like and find joy in. If you do not have the habit of working out, it is one habit that you absolutely need to build. It is life changing to say the least.

And you don’t have to go to a gym too. You can do cycling, dance workouts and there are so many great workout videos on youtube as well. Just make sure you move your body for 20-30 minutes.

It’s around 7:15 by the time I am done.

Shower & Ready for the day:

After getting all sweaty during my workout, it’s time for shower and getting ready to take on the day. I usually set out my clothes on the previous night so that I don’t waste time in the mornings on these decisions. I however am a firm believer that you should get “ready” even if you work from home.

The clothes that you wear everyday have a huge impact on how your day goes. And I often wear something I feel good and confident in. But at the same time, comfort is my priority. So a basic denim and a loose fit linen shirt is my go to when I am working from home. It’s chic and comfortable too.

I do not wear any makeup on the daily, so I don’t spend a lot of time in getting ready. But here is how I make sure I look good without any makeup.

By the time I am ready it’s around 7:30 and that’s when I make myself a tea and sit down at my desk to start my work. I immediately begin with my TOP PRIORITY TASK.

Getting the top priority task for the day done in the morning lets you start the whole work day right. It helps me be stress free during the rest of my day. And it helps me feel more productive and organised.

Your most important task could be anything that’s important to you. For me, it’s usually my blog work. But getting it done first thing in the morning allows you to have a rather relaxed day and have a lot of time to do other things as well.

I usually work on my Top priority task of the day for about 2 hours, with 5 minute breaks every 25 minutes. I use the Pomodoro technique. I started doing this because sitting for long hours at your desk is not great for your posture or your wellbeing. So, I take 5 minute breaks every 25 minutes to get up, take a breather and stretch.

Then it’s time to make breakfast, which is usually around 9:30-10 A.M.

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END NOTE:

So this is my morning routine that helps me be productive throughout the day. These are all the things I do before me actual day begins. How you start your day sets the tone for the rest of the day. And if you do not have a morning routine yet, I highly recommend you start one.

Start by quitting these toxic morning habits that are keeping you from success and start by including these Good Morning habits in your daily routine. Of course everyone’s routine looks different and there is no right or wrong. So make a routine that suits you.

And start small. These habits take time to form and stick. Also, don’t get disheartened if you can’t keep up with your morning routine. Instead, try making one that fits in your schedule. Your morning routine is supposed to make you feel empowered to take on the day.

What does your morning routine look like? What habits have made an impact in the way you start your day? And what is something you really want to start doing in the mornings?