Are you looking to streamline your morning routine at home or in your business?
Do you find it difficult to leave the house on time or start work in a timely fashion?
In this article, you’ll uncover how you can easily streamline your morning routine so you can start your day off on the right foot.
What’s a Morning Routine?
A morning routine is a series of regular ongoing activities that are performed in the early part of the day.
Morning routines generally involve preparing oneself or others, taking care of household chores tasks, and leaving home to travel for work or other affairs.
Some common morning routine tasks include bathing, dressing, eating breakfast, preparing a bag lunch, and gathering personal belongings.
Other general morning routine tasks may include preparing others in the household, such as children or adults, and feeding and caring for pets.
Additional tasks may include exercising, meditating, praying, reading, or relaxing.
Why Should You Streamline Your Morning Routine?
As a productivity coach, I know streamlining your morning routine may not be the first thing on your mind when it comes to improving your productivity.
But there are several reasons to do so. Here are some thoughtful reasons to consider taking a second look at your schedule.
Creates a more relaxed start to your day
When you have a morning routine that is both doable and manageable, you may find that you are more relaxed.
As there’s no need to rush or hurry yourself through your activities, you can be more present. This in turn may create a better foundation for your day overall.
Allows you to make preparations the evening before
Once you know which activities are key to your mornings, you can use this to your advantage.
You can use this opportunity to identify and tackle a few activities to make your mornings even smoother. You may decide to pre-pack a bag, select and layout a clean outfit, or set the table for breakfast.
Offers a clear way to integrate different responsibilities
You know you must feed the dog, take a shower and dress, and tidy up the kitchen. When you clearly acknowledge there are activities that must be completed during your morning routine, you’re no longer leaving things to chance.
So, no more wondering when you’ll prepare your bagged lunch or change the cat’s litter box. It will just be part of your regular daily activities.
When Should You Streamline Your Morning Routine?
Morning routines tend to vary over the course of our lifetimes. Your daily routine will be different from when you were a child, student, adult, parent, professional, business owner, to a retiree.
What’s more, it’s not uncommon for our roles and responsibilities to change over the course of a year.
If you’ve recently had some sort of change in your professional or personal life, then you’ll probably want to consider streamlining your routine.
You may decide to streamline your morning routine when you have a:
- Sense you’re overly stressed or pressed for time
- Desire to refresh the way you go about daily tasks
- Recent change in your business, industry, or occupation
- Location or travel change in your business or work
- Family member that has started a new position or set of responsibilities
- Medical or health issue that needs attention and care
How Can You Benefit When You Streamline Your Morning Routine?
There are several benefits to streamlining your morning routine.
First, when you evaluate your morning routine you may find you are spending unnecessary time on unhelpful activities. While these activities must be completed, working on them in the midst of your morning routine may not be the most helpful.
For instance, you may find yourself working on non-urgent tasks such as cleaning your clothes closet or cleaning the hall staircase. Cutting these activities from your morning routine may free up more time in your schedule.
Second, you may uncover key tasks that are regularly ignored, yet are key to your daily success. As an example, let’s say that you regularly misplace your bag and keys. You spend at least 10 minutes looking for them every day and arrive late to business appointments.
You could create a plan to store these items in a centralized spot in your living room or hallway or allow yourself more time to start preparing your belongings.
Here’s a few more key benefits to streamlining your morning routine:
- Reduce stress around preparing for appointments and meetings
- Create a more comfortable routine for yourself and others
- Focus your attention on key activities related to yourself and your household
- Minimize lateness and late starts in your business or work
- Feel confident knowing you have successfully prepared yourself and your belongings for your day
How to Easily Streamline Your Morning Routine
Now that you know a bit more about why you should streamline your morning routine, how should you go about fixing things?
Well, here are some bite-sized steps you can follow right now to streamline your morning routine for the better.
Write down your routine
How many tasks or items do you actually perform in your morning routine?
Three, five, seven?
Get some perspective on what you’re actually doing in the AM and write down each task you perform.
You may be surprised at how much you’re actually trying to do in a small period of time.
Cut out non-essential items
Do tasks seem to pull you away from getting ready in the morning?
A good way to gauge whether or not something is non-essential is whether or not you lose all sense of time as you take part in that activity.
Think about the last couple of mornings.
When did time just seem to fly by?
Check your to do list from above to see what tasks you could cut out of your current routine without detriment.
Don’t think, act
Now’s not the time to think heavy thoughts or ponder the meaning of life.
It’s time to get yourself ready so you can get out the door!
Don’t think about what you have to do, just go, and do it.
Try spending more of your time standing or in motion as opposed to sitting or at a standstill.
Remember, a body in motion tends to stay in motion and a body at rest tends to stay at rest.
Prioritize Self-Care
If you’re caring for others in your family and household, you know what it’s like to get everyone rounded up and out the door.
Consider putting yourself first by taking the time to bathe, dress, and eat something before you help others get ready.
By taking care of yourself first, you’ll be more prepared to take care of others.
Prepare items the night before
Not a morning person? Preparing items the night or evening before can be a lifesaver.
Try getting one or two things ready in advance.
You could lay out your wardrobe for the next day, pack up your purse, briefcase or backpack, and prepare your lunch and snacks.
How about collecting your phone, house and car keys in one place where you’re sure to find them?
All that’s left to be is done in the morning is to pick up your materials and head out the door.
In case we haven’t yet met virtually, it’s nice to meet you! Hi, I’m Rashelle Isip, The Order Expert®, productivity coach for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals.
If you liked this article and want more, here are a few ways you can stay in touch:
Sign up for my newsletter. Every Tuesday I send out my latest blog post with practical tips to help you work and live more productively.
Check out my eBooks. I’ve written four practical eBooks to help you be productive, manage your time, and stay organized.
Learn about my courses. I’ve created online courses to help you tackle your to-do list, declutter email, and organize a notebook.
Read my blog. There you’ll find tons of practical articles with tips, tricks, how-tos, tutorials, and a spot of inspiration, too.
Check out my services. If you want help when it comes to being productive in your business, work, and life, take a look at my services.
Follow me on LinkedIn. I post actionable tips on productivity, time management, and work-life balance.
Book a Strategy Session. If you want clarity around being more productive in your business or life, schedule a free 30-minute video strategy session with me today.
0 Comments