In most cases, the way your morning starts is a good indicator of the way your day is going to go. It may look different each day depending on your schedule, but having your morning already planned out when you first wake up helps the rest of your day flow better.

Successful people usually have a morning routine they follow. If they are parents, they wake up earlier than their children to have time to get things accomplished for themselves. If they are business owners, they wake up early to get things done that will help their day go smoother. The clearest thinking we have the whole day is when we first wake up. Let’s look at some ways you can have your own productive morning routine.

Don’t try to do everything. I have read many other blog posts listing things successful people do each morning. It is overwhelming. Maybe you don’t have time to do all the things recommended by those posts, even when you do wake up earlier than the rest of your family. Your morning routine cannot be effective if you are overwhelmed, stressed, or in a huge hurry. Pick a couple things that you want to try, and incorporate those into your routine before adding anything else. You can always change it up if it is not working for you.

Avoid checking your phone. This is the most important thing to remember and can be easy to forget. For the first half hour that you are awake, avoid picking up your phone. Checking notifications, social media, emails, etc. causes your brain to go in so many different directions and lose focus on what needs to be done. As difficult as it seems, once you start doing this, it will become a habit and you won’t miss it.

Have some quiet time. Using the morning as quiet time to pray, read, prepare, and reflect is one of the best things you can do. Your mind is fresh, and you can think more clearly. Maybe you like to keep a journal or meditate. You will be most effective at these tasks when you first wake up. Creativity can flow more freely and you may surprise yourself at how much more productive you can be by simply doing this first thing in the morning.

Keep in mind: the most effective routine is the one that you actually follow. Having a routine that is not practical for your life will not benefit you and might even bring you down.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ~Lamentations 3:22-23

I hope you found this encouraging. What is something that’s part of your routine and is a must for you to do each morning? Share in the comments below!