How To Develop A Healthy Morning Routine

Looking after our mental health has never been more important. With so much uncertainty in the world and not knowing what each day will bring, developing a healthy morning routine is the first step to having a clear mindset. Starting every day with a routine is known to increase motivation, which in turn will lead to more of your every day tasks being completed. Here are five things you can do to develop a healthy morning routine and get your day started on the right track.

1. Make your bed

As McRaven once said in his famous speech, making your bed in the morning means “you will accomplish the first task of your day” and it’s true. Making your bed first thing in the morning will give you a sense of pride that you have done so and will then encourage you to move on to the next task of your day. This is arguably the most important way to develop a healthy morning routine, as this one simple action will develop a chain of productivity for the rest of your day.

"A made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better" - Bill Mcraven

2. Stretch your body

Not everyone in the morning is an exercise person but just one simple stretch can get your blood flowing and will lift your energy right up. I am not suggesting doing a full Chloe Ting workout or getting the recent Joe Wicks PE video on YouTube on, a simple stretch will do the trick.

There are several mornings stretches you can have a go at to kickstart your day, some of which include; the upper back stretch, the neck stretch and the shoulder stretch. There are even stretches you can do without leaving the comfort of your bed if you really want to get going as soon as your eyes open, these include; the spinal twist, knees-to-chest and the cobra stretch.

It is recommended to do each stretch for 15-20 seconds and repeat each one two to three times. A simple google will tell you exactly how to do these stretches properly to get your blood flowing first thing in the morning.

3. Avoid checking your phone

We’ve all been there. It’s normal to check your notifications in the morning but surprisingly, checking your phone as soon as you wake up can have more of an effect on you than you think.

Without knowing, your phone can fill you with stress and uncertainty through emails, lists, social media feeds and texts as well as tamper with your routine for the day. What some people don’t realise about mobile phones is that they are designed to get you hooked and keep coming back for more throughout the day. If checking your phone is the first thing you do in the morning, change that. Swap it for writing or reading for example. Swap it for anything that will have a positive impact on your brain and mood for that day.

4. Plan. List. Act

Lists aren’t for everyone, but they can help you achieve your goals and get everything you need to be done for that day complete. Especially with a lot more online learning and working from home taking place, now is the perfect time to get into the routine of planning your day as it can be easy to become overwhelmed and give up.

Even if your day is a quiet one, planning everything you want to get done that day will motivate you and as you go along, you can tick off what has been completed. Being able to see your progress and how much more you need to get done, will increase your motivation and keep you going. In the long run, writing lists and planning your day will have a positive impact on your mental health too.

5. Have something to eat

This one may seem obvious but one in five Brits skip breakfast and do not have their first meal until midday which leads to people feeling demotivated for the rest of the day. Making sure you have something substantial to eat is arguably the most important way to have a successful and productive day.

Breakfast kick starts your metabolism, provides you with the energy that you need and increases concentration and motivation. Including this in your morning routine, will benefit you in more ways than you know and allow you to carry on with your daily tasks with a positive mindset.

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." - Zig Ziglar