10 Ways To Create A Morning Routine

"Morning is an important time of day, because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have."

- Lemony Snicket  

Have you ever struggled with creating a morning routine? Mornings can be the most important time of the day. But let's be honest, mornings can be difficult. We want to get up early. We want to be successful. Some of us want to accomplish so much in the morning. But it is so hard. It might be hard because you are not a morning person. Maybe, it is hard because we just struggle with making a plan that works. I want to help you figure out a plan that is functional for you to make your morning a wonderful experience.

Here are 10 ideas that may work for you and below you will find some helpful tips to adjust to anyone's most hectic schedule.  

1. Take a Walk Outside

Morning walks can be one of the most refreshing things we can do first thing in the morning. It's a great way to get our body moving, which helps start our day out right. But it also can help our minds concentrate on the day that is ahead of us. If you have a dog, then this might be in your routine. How can you make this benefit you personally? It's no surprise every morning our dog needs to go outside. Unless you have a different potty training regimen, of course. This is how it is for me. My dog wakes me up consistently at 5:30 every morning (even on the weekends). Some days, it is earlier than that. He is a morning person and doesn't believe in sleeping in. He does however believe in taking long afternoon naps. All this to say, walks can positively impact your day.

2. Spend Time with God

As I have shared before, I wake up each morning to spend time with God. Over the years, it has been a consistent commitment. I like to wake up ready to talk with God and hear from Him. It is the best thing we can do each morning. Even if you are not a morning person, there are other ways that you can still do this. I fully believe it sets our day off right.

Some options include listening to the scripture through the Bible app, prayer journaling, or sitting in silence for 5 minutes.

3. WORKOUT

Adding just a few minutes of physical activity is sure to start your day bright. According to experts at Harvard University, exercise in the morning can also improve cognitive functions, like attention and decision-making. Try whatever speaks to you: stretching, running or walking, a simple yoga session, or even a fun dance party around your bedroom. Some of my favorite workout programs include:

• Yoga with Adriene
• POPSUGAR Fitness
• Beachbody

Similarly, there are some really great online programs that make exercise at home so easy. But I know there are also gym memberships that are fairly affordable. If a gym is close proximity to your home, then get started on a healthy workout regimen.

6. JOURNALING

Journaling is a great thing to start. I mentioned prayer journaling above, but there are lots of ways you can journal. If you think that journaling sounds a bit overwhelming, then just attempt a gratitude journal. I have gone through many different journaling seasons. One way that I have journaled is through walking through my day. Maybe that is where you need to start. I think it can be really rejuvenating in the morning to do a complete brain dump before beginning any work. It helps to see everything in print. If you're new to the concept of journaling, then follow this simple format. After you have done it for a few days, I think that you will see a huge difference in it.

• 3 Things I Am Grateful For
• 3 Things I Need to Attack
• 3 Affirmations

If you want some fresh ideas for journaling, just do a quick search on Pinterest. They have many journaling prompts to use.

7. LISTEN TO MUSIC

I don't know about you but music is a great motivator for me to get started. This could be a worship playlist on Spotify or Apple Music or maybe it is some heavy metal. If you have to commute to work, this could also be a great way to listen to God through a short worship session. Here are some of my favorite artists and playlists to meditate on before a work day:

• Maverick City
• Elevation Worship
• Red Rocks Worship
• Worship Initiative
• Bryan & Katie Torwalt

8. REPEAT BIBLICAL AFFIRMATIONS

Stating self-affirmations can be a great way to boost confidence as you begin your day. When you start your day with God's truth, it is sure to bring your into an amazing mood. You are repeating these affirmations and it sticks with you throughout the day. You remember who you are and whose you are. These are simply ways of declaring what the Bible says is true about you.Here are a few examples to get you started:

1. God will never fail me or abandon me.
2. God provides the refuge and shelter my soul seeks. 
3. God is my strength and my shield. 
4. God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. 
5.  I am fully accepted by God. 
6. I am chosen, holy, and dearly loved. 
7. I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. 
8. I am heard by God. 

9. MAKING BREAKFAST

So many of us are on one mode: go. We are texting while we are in meetings. We are cleaning the house and making to do lists in our heads. We are chowing down on our breakfast in the car. And it usually is not the healthiest breakfast. Take the time to make a breakfast and sit down and enjoy it. I know it is a great day when I can savor my breakfast and slowly drink my coffee in a mug. It really is the simple pleasures. This is what it is supposed to be.

If you really are in a pinch, check out this recipe for delicious egg muffins. They are super easy for those of you who are on the go.

Easy Egg Muffins

10. Read Scripture/Lectio Divina

Sometimes we just have time in the morning to sit for 5 minutes. There is also something really significant about spending time digesting God's word in the morning. It seems impossible looking at our morning, but the benefits truly are endless. I know that for some of you , it might make sense to do this when you get home from work. However, I would venture to say starting the day with even a short reading of scripture can drastically change your day. You're putting on a new mindset and attitude much like getting dressed in the morning. You enter the world of your everyday in a different way. One thing that I have loved practicing was Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina is an ancient practice that began in the 6th Century, so it has been around awhile. It's quiet reflection on scripture. You are chewing on the words of scripture not just in the morning but throughout the day. I will make this my morning practice daily and then I do more intentional bible study on the weekends when I have more time.

Here's one way you can get started:

1. Pick a passage (try a shorter passage of 10 verses or less)
2. Ask the Lord to open your eyes and lead you to a word or phrase
3. Use this pattern in your practice:
   1. One Word: What is one word that rises from the passage? Write it down and meditate on it.
   2. Feelings: What do you feel? What questions do you have? How does this relate to you right now? Write them down. I like to imagine myself in the situation of the passage and write a summary of it.
   3. Invitation: What is God's invitation to you? Write it down and quietly reflect on it.
4. Finish your time in prayer. Hold onto these words throughout the day. Maybe even during the week.

Furthermore, you can read more about this practice by going here.

Tips for you morning routine: 

Get Up Earlier

This really is key to thriving in your morning routine. I know that hitting snooze for 10 minutes always sounds better. Although, I'm not really sure there is scientifical evidence that sleeping in actually helps us. It does the opposite. Figure out what time works best for you and practice it in 5 minute intervals. I don't recommend trying it cold turkey. Work up to it. Your body will thank you.

Be Realistic

We only have so much time in the mornings. Be realistic with your time. Think of your outcome before you attempt to revamp your morning routine. What is your best received outcome? What are you expecting out of your morning routine? Now go backward and figure out what the minimum needs to be to accomplish this outcome. Don't do too much. Work up to your perceived outcome gradually. Maybe, it starts with getting up 5 minutes early. It could begin with going to bed earlier. Whatever it is, be realistic with yourself.

Start your day on a positive note

This is where the biblical affirmations could be really helpful to you. Starting out your day with declaring truth. Declaring gratitude might also be a good option to practice. When you practice gratitude, it is really hard to be negative.

Know Your Peaks and Valleys

It's important to assess what works for you and what doesn't. The peaks and valleys are your low and high periods. Ask yourself some of these questions:

• What season am I in?
• What time am I most successful?
• What time of day am I least successful?

If you're really not a morning person, then starting a morning routine might be difficult for you. It may take some assessment and some time to just be realistic. Maybe an evening routine makes more sense right now. Or your morning routine may just look completely different from someone who peaks in the morning hours.

Also, your season may not allow for a successful morning routine. Or at least it will look different compared to someone else. For instance, if you are a new mom, your morning routine is going to be off for awhile. Let's be honest your schedule is inconsistent and dictated by your newborn. However, a college student also has a morning routine that is not completely dictated by them. It is a bit overwhelmed by studying and class schedules. It is important to evaluate your season first to be realistic on what you can actually work for you. I believe this is more personal than prescriptive. But you really can't succeed without a plan, which is my next point.

Be Prepared and Create a plan.

In short, preparation is key for success. It's just like Ben Franklin says. "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Come up with a plan. Think through your outcomes and prepare what you think will work best for you. Don't think about other people but create a plan that works for you in your season right now. Once you establish a plan, put it to practice.

I think we can make our mornings successful with the right plan and the right intention. What is keeping you from a great morning routine? What has worked in the past? Keep it all in mind for your future goals. A morning routine is successful with the right plan, the right intention, and the right goals. As is any routine, it will take intentional discipline. It will take repetition and some tweaking to make it truly successful. 

I hope your morning routine becomes incredibly wonderful for your soul. Let me know how your morning routine is going below in the comments