How a Better Morning Routine Can Improve Your Day

The first hour of the day can disappear quickly. One minute you’re turning off the alarm; the next, you’re halfway out of the door with a piece of toast in your hand. On other mornings, you might have time to sit down, remember what you need and start work without feeling as though you’ve already forgotten something. 

The difference may come down to when you packed your bag, whether you checked your phone in bed or how many times you pressed snooze. 

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Why your first hour is important 

Your first hour gives you a chance to get your bearings before other demands start competing for your attention. If you begin by immediately checking emails, messages or social media, you can find yourself reacting to other people before you’ve even thought about your own day. 

Try giving yourself enough time to get ready without having to rush. Even an extra 15 minutes could mean you can eat breakfast at the table instead of grabbing something on the way out. 

Habits that help you feel more alert 

You don’t need a complicated set of morning rituals to wake yourself up. Opening the curtains soon after you get up helps bring natural light into the room, while a glass of water can be an easy addition after a night without drinking. 

An easy breakfast can also give you something substantial to start the day with. Choose something that suits your appetite and schedule, whether that’s porridge at home or yoghurt and fruit that you can take to work. 

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Your usual coffee drinks can still be part of the morning, too. Rather than gulping down a coffee while doing five other things, giving yourself a few minutes to actually enjoy it can make breakfast feel less rushed. 

Make room for a calmer start 

A calmer morning doesn’t have to involve meditation or an hour-long yoga session. Sometimes it simply means reducing the number of decisions you have to make when you’ve only just woken up. 

Lay out your clothes or pack your work bag the night before. You’re then less likely to spend ten minutes hunting for a charger or deciding what to wear. 

If you regularly reach for your phone as soon as you wake up, leave it alone until after you’ve washed and dressed. That creates a natural boundary between waking up and whatever has happened online overnight. 

Build a routine you can actually keep 

If your routine takes an hour but you usually have 20 minutes available, you’ll struggle to stick with it. Keeping a regular sleep routine can help too, with the NHS recommending going to bed and getting up at similar times each day. 

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Start with one change that solves a genuine problem in your morning. If you regularly skip breakfast because you run out of time, prepare it the night before. If you always feel flustered before leaving, set out what you need by the door.

Let me know your thoughts on how to improve a morning routine!