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Do you need a morning routine to have a productive day? What psychologists tell us and what you can learn from it.

Photo by Tracey Hocking on Unsplash

The internet is alive, with everyone sharing their morning routines. Is this something that separates the successful from those that are not? What kind of routine do you need to get more work done, or is that really what your objective should be?

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I recently saw a Twitter thread about an individual sharing their morning routine and others commenting on what theirs was. And as always, there were comparisons, debates, and memes about what a productive morning routine should look like.

We have seen articles about how a morning routine can guarantee a great day, and without one, you are as lost as a boat is without a rudder! But is that true?

What does Science Say?

Science does tell us that having a plan in place will ensure you do not waste time on social media apps, but do you need science to tell you that?

What a morning routine does is create a psychological impact on you that can influence the rest of the day.

If you have a consistent set of steps you take each morning before you start your day, you will be able to:

• Reduce stress because you won’t feel scattered.
• You will feel more in control of your day and be ready to decide what happens next instead of vice versa. This will also increase your confidence.
• Decrease chances of forgetting anything that you need to do to prepare for the day.
• Improve your relationships because you will be less stressed and have more time.
  

But Does it Increase Productivity?

The critical thing to note from what is mentioned above is that having a morning routine is beneficial for your psyche and mood, and that, in turn, can increase your productivity. That doesn’t mean you need to do push-ups before you start your day, work out strenuously, or even wake up at dawn unless that is beneficial to your state of mind.

Having a morning routine doesn’t need to be about being more productive as much as it should have some emotional benefit for YOU. Your consistent, unique, personalized morning routine should be tailored for you and around you and your circumstances.

And the end goal should not be to get more work done or be up at dawn. It should make you want to start your day, reduce stress, and … wait for it, make you happier.

Yes.

Is it even worth it if you don’t feel like waking up for it? Make it worth it. Take a morning stroll, scroll through your phone, and meditate. Do what YOU feel like doing, and enjoy it.

How can you put your Morning Routine into Action Today?

Now we know that having a routine is beneficial. How should you go about it?

Well, the first thing you must commit to is consistency because that will reduce stress and make you feel in control.

Your routine may involve whatever makes you feel more at peace and ready to start your day. To each their own, but science has proven that having a routine can put you in a better state of mind.

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Including an intention of what you must achieve for the day is an integral part of your routine and something you should contemplate. Do it the night before if you have a hectic day ahead, and it will help you prepare mentally for the coming day. Giving your day meaning will help you increase productivity.

This will also help you streamline your attention to the most attentive items you must check off in the day first. You can then list the subsequent essential things to check off so that your energy is focused on those tasks.

The Take Away

You can debate whether having a morning routine is essential, but having a positive attitude at the start of the day will definitely make your mornings and sometimes the rest of the day better. Reducing stress for yourself will improve your relationship with family and co-workers and put you in a positive frame of mind.

Now that’s the kind of Good Morning we all want!

Originally published for New Writers Welcome on Medium on May 19 2023.