Develop a morning routine


I’ll be honest. I don’t like mornings. A “morning person” is someone who easily wakes up early and feels their best in the morning. Unfortunately I’m not one of these people. I usually don’t start feeling my best until late in the afternoon. I’m often tired and stupid in the mornings. In the morning I can easily waste a couple of hours in front of the computer without really getting much work done. I almost feel like I don’t remember who I am and what I want to do in life. It usually takes me several hours to get back to the good state of mind I was in the night before. What a waste of time.

I started to wonder why that is. I often hear that some people are naturally “morning people” while others aren’t. I really don’t like that simple explanation and I have set out to become more of a morning person.

I realized that in order to feel my best, I need to have done certain things that day. If I just crawl out of bed and sit in front of the computer, I’ll feel sluggish (tired) and lazy.

I made a small full-body exercise routine that I do as soon as I get up. After that I take 10 full deep breaths, then I do some stretching. That all takes me about 15 minutes. The purpose of that is to get my blood flowing and give me the feeling that I can move my body easily. This also releases hormones that fight fatigue and make my body feel awake.

After I do that, I jump in the shower, get dressed, and then make a healthy breakfast and one cup of coffee. By this time I’m feeling pretty good physically but I still have some more work to do until I’m feeling at my best.

At this point I read a few affirmations to myself that I think will help put me in a good frame of mind. An affirmation is a statement that you want to believe is true. Here are three example affirmations:

“Today is going to be a great day.”

“I am going to eat only healthy food today and feel great about it”.

“I’m going to be relaxed today and not let little things stress me out”.

You can make any affirmations that you think are appropriate for your own life. I think they are useful to remind me how I want to live. If I read these in the morning, I find I am much more likely to follow them.

Then I ask myself some questions that help me plan my day.

I ask myself some questions like:

“What do I want to do today for work?” “What do I want to learn about today?” and “What am I going to do for fun today?”

After I ask these questions I’m feeling great and ready to get on with my day. The whole morning routine takes me about an hour but I think it is definitely worth it. I suggest making your own morning routine or improving the one you already have. I’d love to hear about what works for you. Maybe I can learn from you and improve my routine.

Andy

13 Responses to “Develop a morning routine”

  1. misako Says:

    Thank you for a wonderful article.
    I think it took much time and energy.

    I’m really enjoying your podcast every time.
    Keep ut the fantastic work for us♡

  2. Beto Says:

    Hi Guys, how are you doing today?

    That’s a great article, I really enjoy your words, I guess that is very important when you have a morning routine, because if you know what you have to do to feel well and did that things you really improve your day!!!

    unfortunately I don’t have this habits, But, You know what, I will think about it!!!

    Have a great day and keep doing this absolutely great work!!

    Best Regards, From Brazil

    Beto

    PS: Would you mind correctec my mistakes? Please!!!

  3. Allen Chao Says:

    It is a wonderful essay you have written. I am a morning lazy guy, too. That is not your monopoly. When I wake up every morning, I usually lie on the bed for several minutes until my wife calls me out it is time to get up. I get used to doing exercises outdoors for a 15-minute jogging. But these days, I have changed a little bit my morning habit after learning the excellent podcasts. When I am jogging, I will put my earphone on. In doing so, I can enjoy exercising and learning more English – killing two birds with one stone. I can really get relaxed all my body. After sweating out, I love walking back home for another 15 minutes, I feel like myself becoming a refresh guy. I will think about the context of postcast that I just heard, and in what situation I can use it. I will get well-energized when I get back to work.

    After lunch, I will take a nap as a power charge. It can really help the wheel keep on turning physically. I love drinking an icy coffee during lunchtime if the weather is not cold even in the winter. Maybe it is a kind of fuel, refilled up my oil tank. I love talking to my co-workers when I don’t understand something about my work. That I believe it can help my brain keep on running. When I get back home, I like drinking beer during dinner while watching TV, it is a form of relaxing for myself after a long-day work. Then I will surf your site to see if any comments on what I wrote the night before. That becomes my recent routine job, and I will not make any change until all podcasts I have studied. I would like to see how my English is going on if I keep this on.

  4. Soo Says:

    Your writing reminds me of the book named “Secret”
    I have watched it with the documentary instead of reading the book though.

    It’s concept is same as yours like keeping on saying to myself about good lifes.

    I have been trying to do it like you.
    feelin good~~~

  5. Bu Says:

    Hi there,
    I happened to jump to this website, and read the article.
    Me, I’m not really a morning person, but I can make myself refreshed with eating good breakfast (I have nice bread, several kids of fruits, milk, yogurt, and coffee) and pooping soon after that!
    It really works great for me. You get the fresh food into your body at the beginning of the day, and eliminate a waste which is from the previous day.
    I actually love to drink 2~3 cups of coffee in the morning, but that might help a lot for me to do the “elimination”.

    Good luck!

  6. jamila Says:

    First I want to thank for your great job …. bravo ! way to go
    I learnt a lot from you. And I apreciate the way you do it. Mornings for me is that time when I’m the most in my best but as soon as I get out of home I get shocked …. Life is rude and circumstances come to reduce your energy … Also negative persons who you meet … at ten I can’t more see the bright side and I feel lost with life I’m desperate I think am I ?

  7. NG Says:

    I’m surprised to find myself writing this, but I was inspired by your post. I was thinking about it and I think I should start doing a bit of yoga in the mornings – a few “sun salutations” and my day might start functioning a bit earlier than usual.

    Thanks!

  8. Adriano Says:

    Andrey my friend… (lol) i really, i think just like everybody, dont like to wake up too early. I use to wake up more or less at 9 am. I feel good doing that.

    look what funny situation!! if i go to sleep at 5:00 in the morning i dont get to wake up after 11:00 am!! i feel bad if i wake up after 11:00 am.This is funny.

    I do a part of one of the 136 contries who listen to you. I am Adriano Brazilian 21 years. Andy i really enjoy to listen you and Add on the podcasts! this is great. I learn english with nice people.

    Can i give u a sugestion?? well why dont you do a podcast talking about phrasal verbs?! it would be great!! that is my sugestion. :)

    c ya!! hey nice subject about wake up early!!

    adrianosaugo@hotmail.com

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  10. niki Says:

    Hi Guys!

    you again have post which impressed me, wake up in the morning is the biggest problem I have, I am lazy person, not exactly, but I am, my alarm is set on 8 am every morning, but I can not wake up until 9 am and usually I keep my bed until my mom begins shouting: stand up! You are late again! every evening I am planning that I will go to the gym in the morning and I will eat only healthy food from the morning, but this are only words and it was a several time I really do my routine. But i have a good news for you (mostly for me), your posts are so impressive that I will try to change my behavior.
    thanks guys for your posts

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  13. Arlean Gwynn Says:

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