Today I’m focusing on developing healthy morning habits. Do you have a morning routine? Studies show that those of us who do usually start off our day better and get more done! And it’s so much better for us to make healthy, purposeful choices in our lives! I must admit I often roll out of bed way too early, grab a glass of water and coffee, turn on the news and get to work. Not the best way to start the day. So I’ve been researching a better way to start the day and am sharing what I found. Let’s work together to make a healthy morning routine part of our day!
WAKE UP EARLY AND AT THE SAME TIME EACH DAY
Having a set bedtime and a set wake up time is the best thing for your body! Make sure to get up a little earlier and enjoy a morning “routine” before you face the day! And don’t hit the snooze button. Studies have shown that it does not give us more sleep and only makes us rush through the morning creating more stress.
Wake up and greet the day!
My Bobby rises and goes to bed at the same time every day… even on the weekends! And he has a set routine in the morning before work. I call it “puttering”. But it works for him and gives him time to get set for the day! He’s my “perfect example”!
DRINK WATER
Reach for a warm cup or two of water with lemon or mint first thing in the morning! The warm water won’t shock our bodies. Remember we have been without water for the whole night and need rehydrating before we get our first cup of coffee! Make this a habit EVERY DAY! But do what I say and not what I do. I love ice water in the am!
After water… then we can drink our coffee!!!!
DON’T TURN ON THE TV… LISTEN TO SOME INSPIRING MUSIC INSTEAD
I’m such a news hound that this is hard for me. But I’m starting this new good-for-me habit. I have a Pandora station called INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TO WAKE UP TO. Choose music that gets you going in the am! I got two Amazon Echos for Christmas and it’s so nice to be able to have music fill my home… even early in the morning!
MAKE YOUR BED
This is a biggie! Studies have shown that people who make their bed every day are more successful and are more productive than those who don’t. It’s all about the habit of ritual! So mom was right! Make your bed!
SHOWER
Did you know that showering in the morning is better for your skin than showering or bathing at night? Our skin releases toxins while we sleep so it’s a good idea to wash them off in the am. And it helps wake us up too!
DRESS ALL THE WAY TO YOUR SHOES
I learned this long ago. When we get going and get dressed all the way down to our shoes we tend to start our day with more purpose in mind! This is a really great habit to develop! Dress to face the day!
EAT BREAKFAST
I must admit, I’m not much of a breakfast eater. So, I opt for great protein shake with lots of fruit in them and my Juice + vitamins. Breakfast gets our metabolism going and gives us energy to get started in the morning. But don’t over do it! Studies show that a light breakfast is best!
TAKE YOUR MEDS AND VITAMINS
Take your med and vitamins like clockwork in the morning. My Bobby takes one pill and sets an alarm to remember. It goes off at 6:30 am sharp! I usually forget to take mine until noon. I’ll be setting an alarm like him!
PRAY
Spend time every morning doing some kind of devotion and praying. It’s good for your soul and will start your day off right! Spending time with God is the number 1 way my life has changed for the good!
EXERCISE
The best time to exercise is in the morning! It revs us up and gets our metabolism going for the day ahead.
I can’t say I love to exercise so I like to get it out of the way first thing! Swimming is my exercise of choice. That’s one exercise I do LOVE!
LOOK AT YOUR SCHEDULE
Start each day by checking your schedule and making a to-do list. Prioritize the top 5 things of the day and work on them first!
Did you know that people who spend only 10 minutes a morning planning get so much more accomplished than those who don’t!
PUT IN A LOAD OF LAUNDRY
If you sort a load of laundry at night it’s easy to stick it in the wash first thing in the morning. Make it a goal to dry, fold and put that laundry away the same day! If you do this you will have lots of nice clean clothes and a laundry basket that is manageable!
There you have a dozen easy to do, good for you things to do in the morning! The benefits of a morning ritual will carry on throughout the day!
And don’t forget to create an evening routine too! You might want to read 8 SMART THINGS TO DO EVERY NIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED
Do you have any morning tips that have served you well? Please share!
Yvonne — what fabulous ideas. Do a few, but will definitely need to try some more! Am also going to try some of that True Lime like one of your poster suggested. ALSO — the pix that you have at the top of the post are some bed pillows. Perhaps you have indicated sources in earlier post, but I missed. Can you source them, please? Love the middle one with all the white cottony balls. THANKS. P.
Hi Penny, the bigger pillows are pillow shams from Pottery Barn. I picked up the “cotton ball” pillow at HomeGoods years ago. Hope this helps.
A good reminder to keep up the routine which frankly in these days of staying at home isn’t being kept perfectly. With our older girls now at home, it affects what I do. Guessing moms school aged kids might be struggling a bit. Stay well!
It hit me this morning as I was reading your blog – you have so many good ideas and you are so talented at home decorating. For me, you are the Martha Stewart of the blog world!
OH MY GOODNESS! THANK YOU !!!!!!!! I just hope I’m a little nicer!
It is good to have a morning routine. I like to make my lists of things to do the night before —that way I can get them on paper and forget about them the rest of the night. Thank YOU for the great decorating ideas. I particularly enjoy your devotional. Thank YOU!!!
Love, Darlene
I’ve just gotten up, drinking my coffee and checking emails. I’m doing everything wrong and am a creature of habit! This will be a challenge to make changes.
Hi — I love these ideas, but I am a bit confused about the order of them — why would I shower and get dressed to shoes, and then exercise? Won’t I then be sweaty and need to shower again in the morning?
You can adjust your routine to fit your lifestyle!
I am making small changes to my morning and evening routines. Since I work each day, my morning time is limited, but I always have a bottle of water at room temperature then a cup of coffee. I definitely make my bed each morning before leaving. You have some great morning routine ideas though, Yvonne. Thank you for sharing them.
I love lemon water at all times of the day, but only very recently have started reading about the importance of having it first thing in the morning. I’m glad to see you recommending it, too ~ I’m in there, for sure and will be adding a couple of your ideas to my routine as well. Thanks for always sharing great “life information.”
Thanks for all your tips and the helpful tutorials. I look forward to see what you suggest so that I can copy it or try the tutorial.
Thank you for your suggestions. I am a morning person and I have no problem getting up every morning. I love getting up before my husband and have some “me” time. Starts my day out right.
I agree. It’s so much healthier to have a morning routine. I get up early in the morning and at the same time. I feel like I would be missing something if I “slept in” and I would be in a terrible mood too. I shower in the morning as well and I shower first thing because I feel like it livens me up. I love your suggestion to drink water too, before coffee. From now on, I plan to keep a bottled water near my vanity and drink it first thing. I make the bed too. If I don’t, and I come home to an unmade bed, I feel like I am a lazy person or I have let myself down somehow. It does make a difference!!!
Great reminders of ways to start your day right.
Great ideas to start the day. The water makes such a difference. Thanks Yvonne.
I really need to work on eating breakfast so thanks for the push. With the tip for eating breakfast you show a bowl of strawberries and blueberries with some sort of cake; it looks delicious. What exactly is it or do you have the recipe?
I always enjoy your posts. You have very informative and interesting posts that are always helpful in so many areas of life.
Thanks so much for the good suggestions. I do most of them already but it’s still a good reminder.
My sweetheart has a slow start in the mornings so I used to get up in the morning and bring my husband coffee in bed and I’d drink mine at the table. Then I realized that I could drink my coffee in bed, too. It feels so luxurious. I bring the stainless steel french press and the cute, classy cups and saucers. I’m sort of channeling Myrna Loy from the thin man. 🙂 I found its a great way to make sure I care for myself as well as my family.
I do need to make a checklist to add some of your more productive ideas to my morning after coffee.
I never really considered myself a “morning person” until I came to the realization that early morning was the only time of day I could truly have to myself, away from the stressors each day brings, and before anyone had a chance to make demands on me. I used to look forward to late evenings to pamper myself; sort of a “healing ritual” to help my weary soul recover from the day’s demands. Now I rise early, being mindful to start each day with things that fill my soul instead of deplete it. What a difference! ?
I too am a news junkie . I like one cup of coffee with my creamer in morning . I do water aerobics or water Zumba 2-3 times a week. If you love swimming u would love this ! ? I also drink lots of water in a stainless steel BIG cup with a plastics handle & a stainless steel straw. It keeps the water very cold & I take it with me all day. Have u tried True Lemon or True Orange ?? It is crystalized lemon, orange or lime ?. Very yummy in water !
Great ideas ! I do some of these , but will try to do more.. Especially the music….
I am going to copy these on pretty paper and put It by my morning coffee and meds. Maybe If I read it and follow it for several weeks It will become a hobby. Thank you for the post.
What a great idea to set alarm to take my pills!! I will definitely try this so I can be consistent in taking my meds. Thanks!!
I found your website this morning- Love the tiny house ideas and want to implement them in my RV trailer that I live in much of the year.
Great advise and ideas some of which I have let slide. Although it is mid January I think I will make this my New Year’s Resolution. How can you go wrong. Thanks
Great ideas Yvonne. It feels so good to get up in the morning with everything in order. And thankfully His mercies are new every morning. Happy Sunday!
You are right…been having a morning routine for years, although it has changed since I’m retired…but it’s still a routine and it works to get me started. A to-do list is a must for me…love to cross off things I’ve accomplished during the day. That for me is very therapeutic!
Always an inspiration. Hope you are doing well.
Hello Yvonne! Another nice post and a great companion piece to your post about creating night time rituals.
Routine is the key, I so agree.
Great advice. I am a night owl and mornings are not my friend, but it makes no sense to push the snooze button as it is waaaaay harder to wake up the second time. I also used to push the limit and stay in bad as lonv as possible, but I have learned that Panic and rush is so bad for my whole day. Instead, I rise earlier than I need so I can s- l-o-w-l-y and quietly , peacefully and gradually walk and join the day. I also DO make my bed ( albeit , half comatose at the time) put on my sneakers even though every fiber of my being screams,” Treadmill?!? Yeah, RIGHT!”
My ritual of the kettle and loose tea in the tea pot and the steeping and pouring and sipping my hot tea ( taken with creamy milk and sweet honey) is my morning mantra…. my brain says, ” Wake? Move? Decide ? …. BAHHAHAhahahah !!” but the extra hour I have allowed myself and the comforting ritual of making tea and sitting with my cat, warm and purring coaxes courage and confidence to face the morning. I sit on the floor on a sofa pillow and check FB and my emails – I then stretch and notice – oh! Yeah! I actually have sneakers on my feet…. well, ok I will go and walk just for ten mins on the treadmill. Low and behold, by the time minute ten comes around I am warmed up and awake and think- I am here, this isn’t so bad so I will go for another ten ,then another and pretty soon by the miracle of step by step I have manage to jog for half an hour! Brilliant me! Pleased, clear headed and now light hearted I head upstairs and get on with my day!
Loved all your suggestions – plan to add them in – of course , after tea.
I too love my morning water, ice cold! Sometimes I drink 2 glasses while I am getting ready for work! I can’t have a good start to my day without my breakfast, either!!
Great tips.
This was very helpful, Yvonne. Inspired me to purchase a clock for my mom (who has MCI), in order to remind her of her weekly med she has to take. Often difficult for her to remember.
Julie
I am sorry it’s not called med one it’s called med center pill system
Also I do not work and have anything to do with this company just know how important it is to help our parents with their health
April?
Hello Julie
Before my mother passed away she would forget her medicine I researched on the internet there is a system you can order that has a clock that talk that reminds them it time to take their medicine it continues for 1 hour until they push a button that lets it know they have taken their medicine it also comes with a pill container for each days meds. It was a life saver. It’s called Med One look it up on the Internet it’s worth it.?
I hope this helps we also use it for my husbands dad
April
I do Love to sleep in, and stay up late! I must admit, it sure does seem healthier, and certainly worth a try ☺️
These are very sound and good suggestions…my morning ritual is get up, get ready and run out the door to work. Mornings are hard for me since I don’t sleep well. I would have to get up at 5:00am to get all that stuff done that has been suggested before I go to work. So unfortunately it doesn’t happen. 🙁
However, as I have adopted your evening ritual suggestions I am working on the morning. Thank for giving me something to strive for.
Good advice Yvonne, I’m a morning person, but I’m not a breakfast girl,
I’m more likely to have something around 10, after the news, news paper
and then the tablet…….very bad, right? The only hint I’m good about is my prayer…
I’m going to work on my well being, I promise!
My husband it much like yours, so in some way, it’s difficult for both of us!
Blessings
I’m looking forward to your upcoming post about choosing a coffee table. That’s the next item on my “got to have” list.
Love the morning get my day going in the right direction.
Thank you for the reminder!
I’ve begun drinking the water first before coffe. Love my coffee. I also started eating a banana. I hadn’t eaten a banana in 25 years!
I wake up at the same time due to work, drink my water, and have breakfast.Very good idea on having some a.m. music, which I will try.
Great thoughts to start the day off on the right foot. Love the warm water with lemon/mint. Will have to try that idea before drinking my coffee in the morning.
Thank you for the am advice! It can be extremely hectic with the kids, dogs, and life in general! I love that making God part of the morning really helps put perspective on the day, so true!! Thank you StoneGable!
Yvonne, would you please report back in 6 months or so on the Echo? Do yours have the remote? I took a look and the less than 5 or 4 star reviews are disturbing and don’t sound like sour grapes to me. Amazon’s fix of offering $20 off to purchase a new Echo when the previous is defective or the support team can’t figure it out is bogus and doesn’t reflect well on Amazon.
Thank you.
I guess we all have out time in the mornings….I get up about the same time every day, listen to a quote from the message, and then go to my knees in prayer. Nothing better than putting our Lord first. Liked what Nancy said about working on prayer cloths. For the bible says it’s still Hebrews 13-8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever….by His stripes we are healed.
I am a night person and definitely not a morning one. I do make my bed and shower. I need to drink warm water in the morning. My friend says 2 glasses in the morning gets everything moving. I also need to stretch in the mornings. My physical therapist says he exercises at least an hour first in the morning.
HI Bev – Your response caught my eye – I am like you – night owl too. Do you watch Project Runway ever – know Tim Gunn? Anyway I read once his advice was to stretch first while literally still laying in bed. I have tried this and it is wonderful. Before I even open my eyes I do very simple stretches – legs out straight and arms up over head. Flexing feet – rolling ankles. Twisting bent knees to one side with upper torso and arms going other way and then reverse.Pulling one knee to chest one at a time and breathing deeply all the way to bottom of lungs and then out again. Really easy and simple and slow. Then I sit and stretch, and btw time I stand I am ready to reach to ceiling then reach side to side. Even doing this little 5-10 min stretch session makes a huge difference compared to rolling off bed and struggling across the floor. Good luck!
I love this post, especially everyone’s great ideas that go along with it❣️ Thank you.
I always read your posts with enthusiasm….and while I readily agree with all the points you made today, I really hate routines and scheduling. I actually promised myself in retirement, I would schedule as little as possible! Might have been due in part to writing “bathroom break ” into lesson plans.
I am a list person so I do my list every morning.
I really need to work on the getting up at the same time every morning. I’m a night person who has a horrible time falling asleep. I will have to try going to bed at the same time each night to see if it helps. Thanks so much for all the great tips!
Not a morning person.I don’t sleep well so getting up early is a tough one.
I do make the bed,coffee and then computer.I an definately a routine girl.
Always trying to improve myself.Sounds like your routine works well for you.
My husband and I kept the routine while we were working nor retire for almost two years. We get up early have breakfast and I have my devotional and read my Bible, but one thing that you mentioned that I like and I have to work on it is to drink water early and drink more water during the day. Thank you, you are the “best”!
Since retiring from teaching, I have maintained a very similar morning routine…except for one thing. Getting dressed down to my shoes fell by the wayside. Shedding my shoes was always a wonderful treat at the end of long days on my feet. I will put that one into practice and report back in a month or so. Thanks for a great post!
Great ideas for morning ritual. Thank you!
I am not a morning person at all. I do my best work in the evenings, and I love to sleep in til 9 a.m. My husband is the prime example of a morning person, up at 6:30 ready for the day.
I have tried to be a morning person, but I feel like a zombie if I get up that early.
Great list – here are two add-on items – Stretch before getting out of bed…gets the blood moving and readies your body for movement. Journal…I have kept a gratitude journal for years, just five things I am grateful for every day. Sets the tone for the day that my life is abundant just as it is now.
I don’t dress until after 2nd cup of coffee.. I’ll try getting dressed first thing per your suggestion
These are excellent tips. I follow (for the most part) your list and the one I have the most trouble with is exercise. We keep a pitcher of spa water (cucumbers and lemons) in the refrigerator and drink that all day. The bed is made every day…can’t stand to get in an unmade bed. A touch of lipstick and a bit of fragrance sets my day off right. You always have such practical and doable advice.
Hi Yvonne! This are some great tips and getting into habits like this can really help. I was recently looking at The Fly Lady stuff and so much of what you’ve said goes along with her routines. You must be a Fly Lady 🙂
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Thanks Yvonne kinda do most of these each morning but not good with the exercise though. I love too walk in the morning but living in Michigan in the winter can be hard getting out there.
Just got a couple of walking DVDs so going to try to use those this winter.
What kind of protein shake do you drink in the morning?
PS Please do a post on “light breakfast” you mention in this post.
Also, remember some of us are on the MOVE week days with wee ones.
So it needs to be healthy, quick, and travel well.
I know this info may be other places but you are the ULTIMATE on giving us the truth about a recipe and the facts! Thank you
Real similar to Flylady’s regimen.
love this post. So very true. My husband is like Bobby, goes to bed same time etc and has done that for 45 years and is extremely fit. I have always maintained that character is built from the mundane. I on the other hand are more like you and your rituals but this post really got me thinking. Thank you Yvonne
I have been doing all of these things for years – here’s another idea – fill a water bottle and put it on your counter – use it to take morning meds, and to drink during the day – my husband and I both have them and we use room temp filtered water. There is a little twist thing on the top 1 – 2- 3 . and each time you fill the bottle during the day you advance the gauge. It’s kind of fun to get an exact count of how much water you are drinking and it pushes you to get your daily amount. My husband really doesn’t want to drink water and this way I can see how he’s doing!!! Also, I shop a big shop once a month – and just yesterday bought 5 boxes of cereal so there is always a good selection. Just add fresh fruit and you are set. We babysit our two granddaughters – 1-1/2 and 2-1/2 sisters Monday thru Friday so that keeps us extremely busy and active. I love all these ideas and just love Stone Gable! Thanks for being there!
My dear late grandmother would drink a full glass of water each morning and again each evening when she finished washing the dishes. She would also tell us to eat our “roughage”- today what we refer to as fiber. We would roll our eyes at grandma’s wisdom. Fast forward and I’m now about to become a great grandmother myself and now realize how wise my grandmother’s advice was. Thanks for the tip to drink water first thing in the morning – it will be a pleasant reminder of my grandmother’s habit that I myself need to do each morning.
Thanks for these great tips for a better morning. If I could incorporate just a few, I would call that a success!
YOU are my daily inspiration!
Well, aren’t you so sweet Sheila!
I am the Ultimate Morning Person. I love mornings. It is a new start a new day. I never use an alarm clock, awake at 6:15 AM. My husband is polar opposite, and this drives him crazy!
Thanks for this helpful post. I do try a good deal of these suggestions every morning. And, I do think it helps me get more done every day. Have a wonderful day!
This is a great post! I really like Fly Lady. She has morning and evening routines. She also has routines for teachers for the beginning and end of the day.
Excellent post! I am a morning person but don’t have a great morning routine so I am going to incorporate your suggestions into my morning! Thank You!
I’m so inspired! While I do some of the 12 things mentioned, I plan to incorporate more. Thank you!
It sounds like a routine in the morning makes for a better day. Now that I am retired, my routine has changed a little bit by doing things slower and enjoying the moment. Your ideas are great.
I just turned off the news and put on the music. It lifted my spirit and totally changed my outlook. I think I just found a new part of my morning routine! Thank you. And it’s a perfect background for prayer!
EXCELLENT Post! Those of us who do not need it are already doing this.
We are morning folks. Don’t look for me after 9 pm unless you are knocking on the bedroom door.
Those who need it, I hope it helps reading you today. They are reading you everyday because you are the BEST and highly recommended.
My question of the day! Please explain how the ECOH gives you music all over the house?
I would like my OWN music with me, HOWEVER in an old home, surround sound doesn’t make it!
Improve my life. HELP!
These are great ideas and a good reminder to be intentional with our time. Thank you!
Thank you. I already do most of the suggestions, but there are a few I need to work on
Enjoyed your ideas and reading those that others posted as well. I am not the best at the routine some mornings, but have been trying to work on that. 🙂
Great ideas – I am a morning person so these are natural for me.
I wish I could have a little more relaxing way to start my day during the week. But I work 5:15am to 1:30pm during the week so I’m up 3:50am to shower, dress but I do take time to put on my moisturizers and makeup and fix my hair! Then it’s to walk my little dog fix coffee, grab my breakfast and lunch that I fix the night before and out the door to work! Exhausting sometimes!
Oh, do I feel quite successful after reading this post! My routine includes many of these tips already. Switch a few around and I have all that are suggested! Thanks, Yvonne!
I actually love early mornings! Of course on work days I am up very early and have a strict routine so I can be out the door by 6:00 a.m. but the routine works – even on “hair wash days”! On the weekends, I cherish the time when I can get up and enjoy my coffee and “piddle” on my computer and not have to rush to be anywhere. Since I am out the door so very early during the week, it is nice to get up and just enjoy some quiet time. My husband and daughter sleep in, so I enjoy the quiet of the house. It’s just me and the dog, Luke, up early! Even on church days, I don’t have to leave until 9:00, so I still get some quiet morning time. I drink water throughout the night, because I wake up a couple of times and I keep ice water by my side 24/7. I’m with you, I love cold filtered ice water! The morning is the best time, it’s when I am most energetic and I always clean up my kitchen before I walk out the door.
Starting your day off the right way sets the tone for the day. Thanks for the great tips.
I agree with everything (and do it) EXCEPT for showering in the morning. There is NO way I’ll get under those nice clean sheets with a dirty body. No Way!! Frankly, I would put clean sheets on our bed every day – love the clean crisp feel of them. And after working all day plus doing my workout would I cuddle next to my Honey without being sweet shower clean? Uh!Uh! Now there is also another study favoring being nude or clad in bed. I won’t say at this time which I prefer 😉 Have a nice weekend, Yvonne.
I teach a student success class for college freshmen, and one of the things I have on my TIPS sheet is “make your bed”. Most of the kids think I am crazy. This semester I am going to have a team make their beds every day for a week and report back to the class…let’s see how that goes!!
Seriously, it is the best habit to get into because the bedroom always looks so good. Mine is right off my dining room, so it is on display often.
Yvonne, this is a great post. So important to start our day in a routine and to be thankful to the Lord for all the blessings we enjoy
God bless you.
You are so absolutely right! Your sweet encouragement reminds us of those intentional steps we should make every morning to live a healthy, Godly life! I am excited to try the instrumental music to wake up to this morning on my Amazon Echo Dot! I have one for you! Have you tried the Italian cooking music on Pandora? It’s delightful!
These are some great ideas. I will try Yvonne. Thank you!
Great tips for getting a good start to the day. Thanks.
Pat
Thanks for sharing these are some wonderful tips. Always look forward to your posts.
Since I spent 40 years getting up in the middle of the night to get to the restaurant open I decided when I retired I would have my coffee in bed every am. And I do. I watch the news and work on prayer cloths nd email. Then it is off to the gym. I take my kindle along and read my 4 bible chapters on the treadmill and bike. My doctor recommends my pills are taken at night. I miss our pool, but May thru Sept do water aerobics at the Y. I missed most of this past year taking care of my father in his passing. However we do it the important thing is that we get going! Have a blessed day Yvonne.
I am so surprised to find that I start my day just like this but in a little different order….and I am up every day at the same time too! Hurray!! First time I’ve read someone’s outline for a way to do something and I actually do it!! Thanks so much for all your helpful tips! I so look forward to your daily post!
I go to bed and get up roughly the same time every day, even though I’m retired. I like routine. It keeps me on track.
I turn the dishwasher on every evening and empty it in the morning while the coffee is brewing. While drinking that first coffee, I check my email, calendar and to do list for the day. I always make my bed before leaving for 9:00 am exercise. I make some form of exercise a priority in the morning. Leaving it for later in the day may result in it not happening.
I never thought of the necessity of rehydrating in the morning. I’ll make that part of my routine. Water first, coffee second. ?
Great ideas to start the morning!