It’s so easy to get caught up in all of the influencer routines and feel like you need to start waking up at 5 AM, eat overly optimized breakfasts, work out for an hour, and have a 30 minute journaling session every morning.
But I feel like the most important thing that gets lost in these quick videos is what’s really going to work for you.
You might not even have the energy or time to start your morning off with 2-3 hours of productivity. Or maybe you want to start off small and gradually add more things into your own daily morning routine.
And if you’re looking for realistic morning routine ideas, then I have a few that you can easily add into your week. They’re well-balanced and helpful in making sure that you start your day off right. So whether you want something simple for busy days, you’re looking for ways to take care of your health, or you want to be a bit more productive, these routines will most definitely work for you and your lifestyle.
In This Article:
- Simple Morning Routine Ideas for Busy Days
- Productive Morning Routine Ideas (Without Overdoing It)
- Small Habit Morning Routine Ideas That Build Momentum
- Slow Morning Routine Ideas for a Calm Start
- Morning Routine Ideas for People Who Hate Mornings
- Healthy Morning Routine Ideas That Feel Sustainable
Simple Morning Routine Ideas for Busy Days
These morning routines are low-effort but high return for those days when you don’t have much time. Also, if you’re trying to build a good morning routine that actually fits into real life, small changes really can help you have a more productive day. So give some of these morning activities a try so you can have some quick wins and create a more efficient start.
1. 3-Minute Reset
Before you grab your phone, stand up, stretch your arms over your head, roll your shoulders, write down just one intention for the day, drink a glass of water, and take 3 slow breaths. That’s it. It sounds small, but it’s a simple way to take care of your nervous system and bring a quick sense of calm into your mornings.
2. Sunlight and Sip Ritual
Take your first sip of water, coffee, or tea by an open window or outside. You’re stacking hydration + light exposure which is amazing for your circadian rhythm. Also, it’s just a nice way to intentionally start off the day instead of going on autopilot and not taking any time for yourself. It becomes one of those quiet good morning habits that really anchors your day.
3. Lay Out Tomorrow’s Clothes the Night Before
Laying out the next day’s clothes helps to remove one decision and instantly reduces any morning friction. It really helps you streamline your get-ready routine so you’re not rushing and stressed. Also, it’s great to have the time to think through your outfit so you can feel your most confident and comfortable.
4. Start a No Scroll Until Ready Rule
This means no social media until you’ve brushed your teeth, gotten dressed, eaten something nutritious, and enjoyed a slow cup of coffee. You’re basically setting up a micro-boundary that has a big impact, and strengthening your self-awareness around how you actually want your days to start.
Productive Morning Routine Ideas (Without Overdoing It)
If you need to get more done early in the day, this is where you find morning routine ideas that are productive but not hustle-core.
5. The One-Task Start
So instead of writing out a full to-do list the night before, pick just one meaningful task to complete before noon. If other things get done too, then that’s great, but this one thing should be your main focus. Also, getting it done earlier on in the day is a great way to feel less stressed and more ready to take on other tasks.
6. Do a 10-Minute Tidy Sprint
Set a timer for only 10 minutes and clean one problem space or surface. Then once the timer ends, give yourself permission to stop. This is so great for instant visual momentum that’ll encourage you to keep things tidy and help you feel more relaxed in your own space.
7. Write Down 3 Intentions for the Day (Not 10 Goals)
Intentions feel a lot lighter and more sustainable than aggressive daily goals. So if you want to be more productive, you’re not going to be setting goals like, “Finish every single errand and answer all my emails.” But you might set an intention like:
- “Make progress, not perfection.”
- “Handle what really matters most first.”
- “Stay calm and steady, even if things start piling up.”
This small practice can even change up what you think a perfect morning routine really looks like.
8. Create a Before Email Focus Block
Spend just 20 minutes on some deep work before opening up your inbox. It’s a great way to actually get a little bit of progress done on something important without any distractions. Also, according to research, it’s shown that certain people are most productive right after waking up. And this means it’s so important to take advantage of this focus and energy you wouldn’t have later on in the day.
Small Habit Morning Routine Ideas That Build Momentum
Good habits are a great way to start off your day. And overtime, these should feel atomic and compounding rather than just a box to check off. You can think of them as small upgrades to your wake up routine that build real consistency.
9. Add One Intentional Piece to Your Outfit
Getting out of pajamas is a great way to get yourself into the mindset of, “The day has started.” But adding one intentional piece that ups your confidence is how you get yourself into the mindset of “I will own this day.” How you look and dress really does change your mindset and self-perception. And even if you’re working from home, I would still recommend doing this. It’s gonna help you take on the day, get even more done, and feel better about yourself. Also, you are the ocassion.
10. Drink a Full Glass of Water Before Anything Else
Make hydration an anchor habit. I used to follow a girl who completely changed her life and health just by starting the simple habit of having water before her coffee every morning. It was a way to take care of her health while showing herself that she could keep a good habit going.
11. Read One Page of a Book
One page feels doable and sometimes it can turn into 5. This is a great way to take care of your brain instead of doomscrolling. Also, you can make this something educational or use it as a way to keep your mornings relaxed.
12. The 2-Minute Gratitude Note
Write 1-3 sentence about something specific (not generic) that you’re really grateful for. This helps keep this good habit from becoming just another box to check off while also keeping you mindful of the good things in your life. Also, it’s just a great way to start off your day on a very positive note.
Slow Morning Routine Ideas for a Calm Start
This is for your mornings off when you don’t have to rush and you want to be more at peace in your home and in your life. These are the kinds of good morning routines that make your week feel more well-rounded and not rushed.
13. Have a No-Alarms Morning Once a Week
For just one day a week when there’s no rush, wake up naturally and start your morning off slowly. So instead of jumping up immediately, you’re gonna stay in bed for another 5-10 minutes, stretch, not immediately check your phone, grab something hot to drink, and maybe read a magazine.
This is a great way to get your brain to associate mornings with relaxation and good feelings instead of rush and stress.
14. Make Your Breakfast Feel Aesthetic
Take a bit more time to just intentionally plate your food and light a candle (even if it’s a Tuesday). It honestly makes your breakfast feel a lot more enjoyable and kind of like you’re having a nice meal at a cute cafe.
15. 5-Minute Window Stare
Literally just sit and look outside a window without any input. Notice the sounds, the colors, the light, and anything else that catches your attention. It’s a great way to give your brain a bit of rest from scrolling and relax.
16. Slow Music Instead of Podcasts
Podcasts are great, but sometimes they can be a bit of an information overload. So turn on some good music that instantly puts you in a better mood.
And may I suggest Brazilian lo-fi or Ethiopian jazz?
17. Start a “Tea Before Tech” Rule
This doesn’t have to be tea, but the idea is to have a hot, calming drink morning ritual before any screen exposure. You really do deserve to have a mind that is more at peace and not constantly taking in other people’s opinions, aesthetics, and product recommendations.
Side Note: Here’s how to get your personality back (this month). That scrolling might be keeping it buried.
Morning Routine Ideas for People Who Hate Mornings
If you’re someone who hates alarms, then these ideas focus on making your mornings simpler and more motivating. Sometimes the best things to do in the morning are the ones that make you actually want to get out of bed.
18. Have something nice waiting for you in the fridge.
I promise you, this really does work. If you’re not crazy about waking up in the morning, having some really nice drink and/or dish waiting for you in the fridge can be an amazing motivator for getting out of bed.
So for instance, this could be some really good cold brew coffee or Princess Diana’s overnight oats (IYKYK).
19. Use a Gradual Sunrise Lamp
This is gonna make it so that waking up doesn’t feel so harsh and frustrating.
20. Start a 5-Minute Movement Rule
Just tell yourself that you only need to move for 5 minutes (so think walking or stretching). This is a great way to just start a good small habit and sometimes you might even go over that initial 5 minutes.
21. The Bare Minimum Routine
Don’t overcomplicate things with 30 minute pilate sessions, podcasts, and walks. Just set up a bare minimum morning routine that’ll get you up and going.
So brush your teeth, drink water, get dressed, and open up the curtains. That really is enough and especially on bad days.
Side Note: Here’s how to become a morning person (from a former night owl).
Healthy Morning Routine Ideas That Feel Sustainable
These morning routine ideas focus on health without extremism. So if you want to take better care of your body, but you don’t wanna head to the gym at 5 AM, then this small, doable list is for you.
22. 10-Minute Walk After Waking
Even if it’s just around the block, it’s a great wya to regulate your circadian rhythm and get your body moving. Pair it with a water and some relaxing music and I think you’ve started your day off just right.
23. Protein-First Breakfast Rule
Prioritize protein first thing so you can stabilize your energy and glucose levels. Also, if you need some inspiration for some good recipes, then here are some high protein breakfasts you can try this week.
24. Eat Something Within the First Hour of Waking (Even If It’s Small)
You really don’t need a full wellness influencer breakfast. But waiting until 1 PM and running on just caffeine might spike your stress hormones, and your body really isn’t gonna feel so good. So plan out a healthy, tasty, and visually appealing breakfast that you can look forward to.
25. Check in With Your Body Before Checking the Phone
Before you reach for your phone, ask yourself if your body is feeling tired, sore, anxious, or hungry. And with whatever you’re feeling, you can adjust your morning accordingly.
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.