Morning Routine: 10 Things to Do First Thing in the Morning

Today, we’re chatting about what makes a good morning routine and ten things to do first thing in the morning to get your day off on the right foot.

What do you do first thing in the morning? Do you have a solid morning routine? Or do you just go with the flow?

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Good Morning Routine: How you start each day matters.

I’ve got news for you. How you start each day matters. I mean, it’s vitally important.

Our early morning self-care habits set us up for the day ahead and can make or break our energy, mood, and more.

This isn’t just a list of healthy habits to add to your morning routine but morning routine ideas that can increase your wellness, health, and well-being from the moment you wake up.

If you want to start each day on the right foot, here is a play-by-play list of morning self-care ideas to incorporate first thing in the morning.

10 Morning Routine Ideas: Things to do first thing in the morning

1. Drink Water First Thing

One of the healthiest changes you can make to your morning routine is by drinking water first thing.

Of course, you don’t have to completely give up your caffeine if you don’t want to, but drinking a full glass of water before you drink anything else is essential for your body and health. 

The main reason is that you will wake up dehydrated. After sleeping for 6-8 hours or longer, you have no water, so you will probably be thirsty.

Many people make the mistake of having coffee or other beverages in the morning because they are thirsty and get a jolt of caffeine.

The problem is that these can often make dehydration even worse. 

The best thing you can do for your body in the morning is drink water first, then head for the coffee pot!

Related Article: How to Know Your Drinking Enough Water

In the meantime, take a few minutes to watch this inspiring speech delivered by Admiral William H. McRaven, author of Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World.

In his 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas, he stressed the importance of bed-making, among other world-changing strategies.

It’s so inspirational!

3. Reward Yourself.

Based on the fact that you are reading this right now, I’m assuming that you want to develop healthy habits in the morning.

As you strive to make every morning count-don’t forget to reward yourself.

In his book, Atomic habits, James Clear talks about the four steps of a habit:

1. Cue 2. Craving 3. Response 4. Reward

The fourth step to a habit is the reward. Reward plays a crucial role in developing new habits. The reward tells us which habits are worth keeping.

If I reward myself for drinking water, meditating, and making my bed in the morning, then it’s more likely that I will continue performing those morning habits.

In the morning, coffee is my reward. But for you, it could be anything.

If you haven’t read the book yet, I urge you to do so ASAP. If you want to develop life-changing habits in your life, then this book is for you.

It’s a game-changer.

I also recommend subscribing to his newsletter here.

4. Get Morning Sunlight

Morning light is essential in regulating our natural body clock or circadian rhythms.

Our circadian rhythm tells our body when to sleep, wake, eat, and release different mood-altering hormones.

According to WebMD, we should go outside and get at least 15 minutes of direct natural light as soon as possible after waking up.

The Benefits of Morning Sunlight

• It helps to regulate circadian rhythms
• Increases Vitamin D
• Better sleep
• Improves depression and anxiety

Related: The Best Supplement for Women 50+

5. Ground Yourself

According to Psychology Today, Grounding is used with the energy fields around us.

Being grounded means that we’re content with who we are. We are at peace.

Sounds good to me!

Becoming grounded is about getting rid of excessive energy in the body, allowing clean energy to come through. When we ground ourselves, we’re calming or slowing down our emotions and getting more in touch with our internal and external worlds.

Grounding our energy can be helpful when we feel either unbalanced or nervous.

Learn more about being grounded and grounding:

• How to ground yourself: 14 Techniques to try
• 10 Ways to ground yourself and what it means
• Grounding techniques to help with distressing thoughts

6. Meditate + Affirmations

I highly recommend meditating first thing in the morning!

Meditation or meditation is a state of mental and emotional calmness. 

Meditating helps us focus on the present moment without allowing outside distractions to enter. And without judgment.

There are many benefits of meditation, including:

• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Can boost mood
• Improves sleep quality
• Increase focus and productivity
• Improves overall well-being

Consider adding meditation, mindfulness, and positive affirmations to your early morning routine to help boost your positive energy flow for the day.

Related Article: The Best Self-Care Apps

Positive Morning Affirmations

Affirmations are statements or phases that can challenge and help us think more positively and overcome negative thoughts and self-talk. 

There is no room for negative, destructive thoughts when we fill our hearts, minds, and spirits with positive affirmations and honestly believe them. 

So, when we practice positive affirmations, we are essentially changing our mindset, which, in turn, can change the trajectory of our lives.

Pretty cool, huh?!

You can check out my articles on affirmations and mindset here.

7. Journaling + Planning

Journaling is a big part of my daily morning routine. Journaling and planning my day both help me get my day started on a positive foot.

There are many types of journaling to consider adding to a morning self-care routine:

• Morning Pages Journaling
• Dream life journaling
• Gratitude journaling
• Art Journaling
• Bible Journaling
• Bullet Journaling

Taking a few minutes first thing in the morning to journal and plan your day is a practice that many successful productivity gurus recommend.

Related Article: How to Start Morning Pages Journaling

8. Play a Game

Yep! Play a game or two.

Playing games like Wordle or doing puzzles like cryptograms or the crossword first thing in the morning is a great way to wake up your brain and get those juices flowing.

9. Shower + A Blast of Cold!

I love a nice long shower or bath to kick off my day. I do my best thinking, praying, and meditating in the shower!

It’s multi-tasking at its best!

I like to start with nice hot water, followed by a blast of cold water at the end of my shower.

The hot water soothes my sore and tired muscles, and the blast of cold water is a nice WAKE-UP and is good for you, too!

Check out this article about the benefits of a COLD BLAST OF WATER in the shower.

Related Article: The Benefits of Dry Brushing

10. Morning Skincare Routine

My skincare ritual takes only 5 minutes or less! And it is worth every second.

A solid skincare routine in the morning and at bedtime is essential to age gracefully and keep our skin healthy.

Here’s a quick rundown of my morning skincare routine:

• Cleanse your face using a gentle face wash
• Clarify and tone
• Apply facial serums
• Sunscreen. (50 SPF+)
• Apply Moisturizer on the face and body

Related Article: Skincare + Beauty Articles for Women over 40+

10. Find Movement.

We all know that exercise is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. But did you know that moving in first thing in the morning has many additional health benefits?

Benefits of Daily Movement and Exercise:

Better Mood. 

Checking exercise off your list first thing in the morning not only starts your day with a sense of accomplishment but will also reward you with a rush of feel-good chemicals like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine.

Better Focus. 

Moving your body helps jumpstart your brain! There are a lot of studies out there now that exercising in the morning can help you focus better throughout the day.

More Energy. 

By starting your day with exercise, you will feel more energized throughout the day.

When you move your body, oxygen, and nutrients travel to your heart and lungs, improving your cardiovascular system, endurance, and overall stamina.

Manage Stress. 

Movement is a natural remedy for stress by lowering cortisol levels in the body.

Better sleep. 

Daily movement and exercise lead to deeper, longer, and higher-quality sleep.

Related Article: How to Make a Stress-Management Plan

Ideas for Body Movement at Home

Moving your body first thing in the morning doesn’t mean you have to do a full-body workout and cardio. (although that’s a great way to start the day!)

You can introduce body movement into your morning routine with:

• A Simple Stretching routine (there’s an app for that!)
• Riding a bike like a Peloton (on my wish list)
• Walking or Running
• Yoga or Pilates
• Housework (moping the floors, etc.)
• Yard work and Gardening

Good Morning Routine Ideas: The Best Things to do First Thing in the Morning

I hope you enjoyed my morning routine ideas!

What are your favorite morning rituals?

What do you do first thing in the morning? What new habit are you thinking about incorporating into your morning routine?

Please share in the comments below.

Until next time,

XO, Christine