The term morning routine has become very popular. Entrepreneurs and the top successful people all seem to have one. It makes you think you should also have a routine in order to have a more productive and successful life. But creating a morning routine that works for you is easier said than done.

Take me for example. For the last 2 years, I have been trying to create a productive morning routine. I have failed and I have succeeded. I have given up for months at a time due to it causing me stress. I have also tasted the happiness of being consistent. After trial and error, I believe I have come up with a method to create a productive and successful morning routine that works.

Do not copy other people’s routine

The first thing most people do when they want to create a morning routine is read an article or watch videos. I personally LOVE watching morning routines on Youtube. You can see how others structure their day. It is inspirational and helps you get a visual image of how peaceful your day could be.

While it can be inspirational, you might make the mistake of taking other people’s morning routine and copying it. Step by step. Minute by minute. But morning routines should be a routine for YOU. It should be based on what you need and not be based on:

• “I should do everything the successful do if I want to succeed.”
• “Challenge Accepted! If (s)he is doing it, I should & could do it.”
• “This must be the way to do it! I should do each step they do.”

But this is unfortunately a formula for quick burnout. You might have challenges with certain tasks due to how much time you have and how long it can take you.

For example, based on what I read in articles and watched in videos, I felt like reading was very important & needed to be on my list. I planned to read at least 10 pages of productive self-help books in the morning for it to feel real. This added an extra 30mins to my routine — on top of 30mins doing other parts of my routine.

I could not have a routine that lasted a whole hour! This caused me stress. If I woke up later, I would skip my morning routine because I knew I didn’t have an hour to waste. And while I would be in the middle of reading, my anxiety increased because I had to start working soon & I haven’t even eaten breakfast yet.

That is when I realized copying what others do does not work for many. Some people read faster than others. Some have kids they have to give their attention to. Others have to get on a call for work at a specific time. In my case, I found that reading a nonfiction book is different from reading a fiction book that flows faster. What I was reading had a lot of wisdom that I couldn’t rush through.

My solution? Keep reading on the list. Since time was the problem. I now put on the timer and stop it when it reaches 35mins. Whatever amount of pages I read by the time the timer went off was it. I focused more on internalizing & understanding what I read. I focused on reminding myself to remember the lessons throughout my day & how to apply them.

How to create your morning routine

As humans, we have certain needs. And in order to feel complete, I find it is essential to focus on having a morning routine that focuses on all parts of you. This can be done by breaking your morning routine using the famous three: mind, body, and soul. And some activities, like walking out in nature, can combine two or more of these focuses.

1. Body

Research shows that stress has an impact on our health. It can even lead to a sense of dysfunction & increase anxiety and depression. But some studies show that relaxing while listening to music can improve the immune system and how it functions.

Hence, taking time every morning to focus on yourself can have a positive impact on your health. A morning routine can help you feel in control of your time when you know you have a lot to do that day. It is your chance to focus on what you need and want.

Here are some things you could add to your morning routine that focuses on the body:

Food

Think about and list what you would like to cook or eat. This could be your 3 meals or include snacks as well. Should you plan to go shopping tonight? If you are working from home, could you spend your lunch break cooking while watching your favorite show?

Exercise

Think about what kind of exercise your body needs. Will you be focusing on strengthening, and flexibility, or just making sure you will do some kind of movement every day? What is the weather and would it impact you if you will drive to the gym or can you work out at home?

Self Care

This can include taking a bath at the end of the day, doing your make-up, making time for exercise, reading a book, and so much more. But making sure it is on your list, makes sure you take conscious moments to pay attention to how you feel & what you need.

Nature Interaction

We spend so much of our days cooked up inside with noise-proof windows & doors, heater/air conditioning, technology, and all things manmade. Make time to interact with nature. Simply open the window, go for a walk, or sit outside. Since I began doing this, I feel more at peace as I see the birds sitting at one spot or the trees gently swaying due to the wind. I notice the world around me is moving at a slower pace and enjoying it.

2. Mind

Plan

This is very important. Planning can set up your day for success. When you list your plans for the day, you no longer have to remember everything. And there is nothing like checking off your completed task as you go. I personally use Teuxdeux which allows me to keep track of my daily, weekly, and monthly routines.

Read or Listen to a book

You don’t have to read a book every month — although you could. You could listen to an audiobook on your long commute to work. Read one section or 5 pages a day. Or listen to an educational podcast. What is important is you engage your mind, learn something new, and/or gain positive inspiration.

Meditation

Everyone says meditation is important. But many have a hard time with it. One tip is to keep it short (5mins), make yourself do it, and try to live in the moment. I would suggest reading more about it or taking a class. This would help you understand what to do & how to do it.

Clean Space

Take time to clear up your space. It could be as short as 5mins. You could turn on music while you do it. Have your kids or significant other do it with you and make it a game or bonding moment.

Write/Journal

This can be really helpful if you have anxiety or have a lot on your mind. Use it as an opportunity to do a brain dump.

Social Media Time

Track your time & see where it goes. You will most likely find that you are wasting so much of your time on your phones. I like to list how much time I spend on social media weekly. Seeing is believing.

3. Soul

Ways to feed the soul greatly depend on your beliefs such as religion, teachers, or paths you follow. But each path has universal concepts that can be applied to everyone. Here are a few ideas:

Disclaimer: The words in parentheses are specific Islamic terms. I have translated them to be more universal.

Prayer (Salat)

They say prayer is a way of getting things off of your chest. Knowing that there is an all-powerful source that can hear & help you out. Having a routine of praying serval times a day, centers you around a higher objective rather than your day-to-day struggles. Holy text reading can do a similar thing.

Mantras (Dhikr)

Frequently repeating certain words can change your intern state. It fights against your subconscious which has been preprogramming with reactions to events & thoughts that block success. Affirmations (Dua) can do a similar thing.

Conclusion

You have read lists of ideas you could add to your morning routine & create one that is perfect for you. You do not have to do everything listed above. If you are a beginner, I would recommend at least 3 for each section. And figuring out how to combine two or three in one activity — such as exercising & nature interaction, writing & listening to music (self-care), and cleaning while cooking.

But creating the perfect routine will require you to take time to think about what you really need and to visualize how to make it happen. It is also trial and error. It might not work after a while and you would have to reorganize it. But the point is to keep trying and you will thank yourself later.