Why Morning Routines Are Key to Productivity
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THE WARM UP
My alarm goes off and my hand instinctively smashes into my phone to shut off the sound.
Every morning, I look over and see “5:00 AM” flashing on my bedside clock.
I groan and flip off the covers and put my slippers on to start the day.
Why am I telling you this?
To tell you and remind myself why I do this every morning.
While it’s tempting to hit snooze a million times, I remind myself that I wake up so early to create a morning routine that’s mine.
Since adopting a consistent, early, morning routine, I’ve noticed a huge difference in how I feel and perform throughout the day.
Here’s why mornings are the secret weapon for my productivity (especially while attending PA school).
THE WORK OUT
1. Waking up at 5 AM: Owning your time
Why it works:
When trying to be more productive in life, everyone always says, “I never have time to do X, Y, and Z.”
But in reality, if you wanted to actually achieve something, then you’d make time for it.
That’s why, although my classes don’t usually start until 8:30 AM, I make it a priority to set my alarm for 5 AM every day.
These early mornings offer uninterrupted time to focus on myself before the world (and school) demands my attention.
How it feels:
Waking up early has given me a sense of control and clarity.
It’s allowed me to set a positive tone for the day, that, hopefully, carries over to the rest of my tasks as the day progresses.
2. Hitting the Gym first thing: Investing in Myself
Why it works:
Everyone knows that exercise and training has the ability to boost energy, improve focus, and build discipline and resiliency.
That’s why I make sure to hit the gym first thing in the morning to improve each and every single one of these things.
As soon as I finish my workout and hit the shower, I not only feel energized, but I have an immense sense of accomplishment, and it hasn’t even hit 8 AM yet.
How I do it:
To make going to the gym frictionless, I make sure to set out my gym clothes the night before so that when I wake up at 5 o’clock, I can just throw my clothes on and head out the door.
Making things easy and frictionless is a surefire way to develop good habits.
3. Making Breakfast and Coffee: Fueling My Day
Why it works:
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”, as they say!
It’s not only the most important, but it’s also my favorite meal of the day, so this is huge for me.
Making a nourishing breakfast fuels me for a rigorous rest of the day of studying.
This, followed by a nice cup of coffee (or latte), is my “jet fuel” to power through the day’s challenges.
How it helps:
My breakfast usually consists of:
-Eggs w/ spinach (and sometimes salmon/tuna!)
-Food for Life English Muffin w/ Avocado & everything but the bagel seasoning
-Iced latte or hot black coffee
This meal consists of healthy fats, some protein, and some caffeine to keep me satiated and fueled to start the day.
4. Walking to class: Transitioning with Intention
Why it works:
One of the greatest factors of longevity is a person’s ability to walk around their community.
I’m grateful enough to live in an area where my gym is a 5 minute walk and my school is a 15 minute walk.
This allows me to not only foster some longevity but also allows me to clear my head and mentally prepare for the day ahead.
How it feels:
Although we’re currently in the middle of a cold winter, this 15 minute walk every day is my time to set intentions, reflect, and feel grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow.
As rigorous and challenging as my PA program is, I remind myself that I signed up for this program and it’s teaching me resilience, teamwork, and the necessary medical knowledge to thrive as a competent physician assistant in the future.
THE COOL DOWN
In the end, it’s important to realize that a morning routine doesn’t have to mean waking up at 5 AM every day like I do, but it does mean carving out time for yourself each day.
What would your mornings look like if you gave yourself some time?
I remind you to start small and see how a little intentionality can transform your days.
Be well and Keep Pluggin.
-C.
P.S. If you're interested, I created a free Holistic Living Starter Kit that includes a free 1 week training program, a non-toxic swaps database, and a non-toxic grocery store checklist. Check it out here.