I personally adore waking up early and getting all the things done before 10 am. However I tend to practice morning routines that create a counterproductive mindset for the rest of the day. 7 am turns into 10 am in the blink of an eye, work piles up and productivity goes down.

Therefore I did a little research on morning routines that will set us up for succes and introduced these into my morning:

1. Plan your day ahead (preferably the night before)

Our mind has a limited decision-making ability every day so making too many important decisions in the morning will slow down your brain for the rest of the day. Transferring some decision making to the night before will therefore save you time and energy that can be used throughout the rest of the day. Writing out your to-do list the night before might do wonders for your productivity.

This is one I find very helpful myself. As an independent entrepreneur I have a lot of different tasks to get done at all times. Preparing myself the night before for what’s to come the day after is extremely helpful. It calms my mind and gives me a sense of mental structure that guides me through the day.

2. Clear your head

As tempting as it may be, checking your phone, reading emails or scrolling down your Instagram feed may not be the best activities right after waking up. Clearing your head is not a one-practice-fits-all kind of routine, rather it involves an activity that relaxes you, and only you. It could be meditating, journalling, listening to a podcast or doing some light reading to distract your mind before a productive day.

A practice I find calming is listening to a podcast or an audio book. Even on days where I don’t have the time to actually read, I can still enjoy it while getting ready for the day.

3. Get in your greens first thing

A healthy mind starts with a healthy body and nothing nourishes our bodies more than natural and fresh fruits and veggies. Whether it is a juice, a smoothie, a yoghurt bowl or a tofu scramble with veggies, make sure to get in some greens in the AM. If your day turns out differently than you expected and a healthy lunch is not an option, you already got in some vitamins in the morning.

Our Green Immunity Smoothie is a great way to get in all the good stuff.

4. Get moving

A HIIT session or a 10k run are definitely not required, but getting in some gentle movement that you love will help you get the energy you need to get through the day. While this practice may not seem the most appealing, it will do wonders for your physical and mental state. Don’t forget to hydrate along the way.

Check out our Working Out From Home Guide for some inspiration.

5. Complete your most challenging task first

We all have a task each day that seems less exciting than others and we tend to leave it until the end of the day. In the meantime this task gets even less appealing as we get closer to having to perform it. Getting it out of the way first thing will ease your mind for the rest of the day and set you up for succes.