Creating The Perfect Morning Routine

Are you a morning person? Do you spring up when the first ray of sunlight creeps through the curtains and the birds start singing? Or do you groan and pull the blankets over your head when your alarm begins its ringing?

(little poem for you there! 🤓 )

How you wake-up isn’t really the issue. It’s what you do when your eyes flutter open that matters. It’s how you planned this morning the previous evening. It’s also what your intentions are. You see, whether early-bird or night owl there is always a way for you to start the day as best you can. Although so-called early birds may have it a bit easier, once you start focusing on what you need to start the day properly, it no longer needs to be a chore to get up in the morning. 

Famous Examples

There are many famous names you can get inspired by when thinking about the ‘perfect’ morning routine. Of course, it’s a no-brainer to look at the people who are at the top of the game in their chosen field. It could be Barack Obama doing his morning weight and cardio routine then eating breakfast with his daughters, or Vogue editor Anna Wintour starting her day at 5:45 am with a tennis match. It might be a morning mantra like Benjamin Franklin’s ‘What good shall I do this day?’ or Steve Jobs’ ‘If today were my last day on earth what would I do differently?’. Jane Austen would get up and immediately play piano, while Picasso’s preferred sleep cycle was from 3am till noon. 

If this all seems like conflicting information, there’s a reason for that… Because everyone is different, silly! Of course, these examples are very useful, and any new mantra to keep you inspired is great! But some people just aren’t ‘5:45am-tennis’ or ‘staying-up-till-3am’ people. And that’s fine! It’s all about working out the morning routine that works for you. Sometimes this takes a bit of trial error. But we’re here to help you find your groove, with our top tips on creating the perfect morning routine!

Time To Fall In Love With Lists

To-do lists? They may not be glamorous or exciting — but often the simplest methods are the most effective. Make a list of everything you want to achieve during the day. Many people find it beneficial to write the list the night before. This means that you wake up to goals already set (and you won’t have stayed up half the night wondering what you’re supposed to be doing tomorrow!) A popular way to order your list is with the ‘Frog’ method. Now, bear with us, it’s a real thing! It is based on a quote by iconic American author Mark Twain:

“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”

How people interpret this seemingly kooky advice, (including author of time management guide ‘Eat That Frog’, Brian Tracey) is that you must tackle the most unappealing task of your day first. And voila! After that everything seems easy. Each night, write down your icky ‘frog’ for the next day — be it asking for a raise, or tidying your bedroom.  

Set Your Intentions

Why is it you feel the need for a change in your morning routine? Do you want to be happier? Healthier? More productive? Once you have worked this out, you can start to map out your perfect routine.

If your intention is for health, you could plan to get up at a set time everyday, drink a large glass of water with lemon, exercise, and have a nutritious breakfast.

If you want to be happier, you could start the day by talking to or hugging your loved ones to release some oxytocin (thats the lovey-dovey feel good chemical). You could speak aloud what you are grateful for — or note it down if you prefer. You certainly can’t go wrong with that old favourite: meditation! These acts will help ground you and tend to your emotional well-being. 

If you aim to be more productive? Set your alarm at a time you feel is your natural waking time — then do NOT snooze — it actually makes you feel less rested. Have your breakfast and outfit already decided on, eliminating choice means you waste less time on decision making. Next, get started with your to-do list.

The possibilities are endless, because a person’s intentions can be too. The first step is to identify what you actually want…

Treat Yourself Like Your Favourite Houseplant

No, really! We’re not so different from our leafy friends…

Water: Like any plant (except perhaps a cactus) hydration is key, especially in the morning. Think about it! You’ve just gone for between 6 to 8 hours without water. Usually the first thing we reach for in the morning is a strong coffee. You don’t have to end your love affair with caffeine, but if you make sure you’ve drunk a glass or two of water before your cup o’ Joe — it will make all the difference. Drinking water improves alertness, energy levels and brain function. Your brain is 73% water after all, so every little helps!

Sunlight: Just like a plant, humans need the sun’s rays to feel good. Long before clocks and alarms it was the sun’s that told us it was time to get up, and get on with discovering how to make fire (or something).  So, it goes without saying that getting up and letting the sun kiss your skin will get you ready for the day. For those in less sunny hemispheres this isn’t always possible — but a daylight lamp can save the day and stop you wilting!

Breathing: Yes! Plants breathe too. They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen through their leaves (you might remember learning about photosynthesis at school…) Us humans, we do the opposite, breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide, in a you-scratch-my-back-and-I’ll-scratch-yours kinda relationship with our houseplants. But, plants aside, scientists have found that when we wake up in the morning we are in a bit of an oxygen deficit. To combat this take some deep breaths when you wake up, and you’ll be oxygenated and fresh to start your day!

A Morning Microdose 

More and more folks are incorporating microdosing into their morning routines. Microdosing is when you take a sub-perceptual dose of a psychedelic such as magic truffles. This means that you do not feel the ‘trippy’ effects of the substance, but you have an increase in alertness, creativity and positive mood. Everything is brighter and less stressful, even your morning commute! From entrepreneurs, to stay-at-home parents, to athletes, this method — once only for an ‘in-the-know’ minority, is becoming mainstream. Whether you microdose every other day, or with the Fadiman method of every 3 days a — microdose is truly something to get up for. Check out our microdosing manual here! 

Your Routine Starts The Night Before

“To fail to prepare, is to prepare to fail.” — you were probably told this by your teachers while studying for an exam. You man have rolled your eyes and huffed. But, it’s true! While we shouldn’t compare every day to a test with the possibility of failure — the sentiment is still useful. It’s certainly true that some of the most productive people’s days start the night before.

Whether it’s writing tomorrow’s to-do list, doing some bed-time yoga, or turning off our devices an hour before sleep, you’ll find it really makes a difference. Not really feeling like going for that jog tomorrow morning? Waking up to find your running clothes already laid out by your bed will encourage you to get going. Sick of rushing around, late, forced to skip breakfast? Make some overnight oats, breakfast bars, or a smoothie the evening before. Oh how your future self will thank you!

Good luck on figuring out your new morning routine. You can do it!