If you know me, you’ll know I’m big on routines and organisation. In fact, the one word most friends describe me as is organised! I have a lot to do and fingers in many pies so I have to be! That’s why I have a morning routine that sets up my day. However, it changes when I need it to. Here’s how to create a morning routine menu that works for you.
Make a list of every habit you’d love to incorporate
This is when you get inspired. Research other morning routines on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube and list all of the habits you’d love to do. You’ll probably end up with a longlist of habits and if you did them all, your morning routine would take you until lunchtime. For now, the idea is to get all your ideas down on paper if you had all the time in the world.
Highlight the ones that mean the most to you
This is the time to whittle down the longlist. If you’re not a morning person, cross off ‘wake up at 5am’ because realistically, it will just never happen. Will you have time to fit in a full workout or a run first thing? Choose the ones that resonate the most to you. You might your mornings to be busy or alternatively, you might prefer to ease yourself into the day. Even if you don’t think you have the time, select the habits that you most want to implement.
Select your non-negotiables
Your non-negotiables are the habits that are a must-do, rather than a want-to-do. Such habits could be brushing your teeth, drinking a glass of water, doing your skincare routine and having a nutritious breakfast. Whatever they are to you, this is basically your minimal morning routine. You might only have half an hour before you get out of the door. This routine is the shortest possible with your have-to-do habits and nothing else.
Group similar tasks together
In order to make it easier, group similar habits together. Maybe you want to take vitamins daily. How about placing them close to your breakfast foods so you take them at the same time? If you plan on going for a morning walk, leave your trainers by the front door and lay out your outfit the night before. Streamline your routine by doing similar habits one after the other. One of my favourite ways to do this is by having a power hour. Set a timer and get those habits done. It works particularly well for housework and sorting out your finances!
Prep more in your evening routine
Evening routines online are often wind down and go to sleep. For me, I’ve always made my evening routines about preparing for the next day. When I worked out of the house, that was giving the house a quick tidy, prepping my meals and drinks and getting my outfit ready. It saved at least half an hour in the morning, which I used to work out most days. Anything you can do to make your life easier in a morning, get it done the night before! Really, the main way on how to create a morning routine menu is to get organised in your evening routine!
Have a different routine for work days and days off
It’s okay to not have an elaborate morning routine every single day. If you work 9-5, have a workday routine and a weekend routine. Maybe you work remotely 2-3 days a week. You could definitely have some extra time to fit in some extra habits. Maybe you like to have a productive Saturday to relax on a Sunday morning. That’s definitely me, hence why I have about five different versions of my morning routine!
Wake up earlier
If you want to extend your morning routine, you have to get up earlier. Unless you can move some habits to an evening, you simply won’t have enough time to get everything done. I wouldn’t recommend going from a 7am alarm to a 5am one though. Try getting up 15 minutes earlier to squeeze in one extra habit and work your way up to the wake-up time you desire.
Morning habit examples
With that being said, you might not know what habits to include in your new morning routine. That’s why I’ve come up with a longlist so you might even be able to skip step one!
- Drink a glass of water upon waking up
- Establish a skincare routine
- Don’t look at your phone until you’re ready
- Make the bed
- Have 15-30 minutes to yourself in the quiet to read, journal or meditate
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Take your vitamins
- Write your daily to-do list
- Move your body by doing a workout, going for a walk or going to the gym
- Get dressed
- Take a shower
- Have a smoothie, cup of coffee or your beverage of choice
- Read a few pages of your book
- Stretch your body out!
Final thoughts
As you can see and like I said earlier, if you did everything here, it would take hours. Take what you need and go from there. Routines were made to change and adapt to your lifestyle. I switch up my routines every season too. In autumn/winter, I go for more cosy vibes and like to have a slower pace. During the spring/summer, I get up earlier, I have more spare time and I just like to start my day earlier. Learn what works for you and make any adjustments.
I would say to stick to the routine for at least a week or two and then figure out what doesn’t work and why (unless it means you’re running an hour late for work or something). If you have children, you might not start your morning routine until you’ve dropped them off at school/nursery! Some days, I’ll roll out of bed straight to my desk and won’t do my morning routine until mid-morning. Take what you need whenever you need it!
If you enjoyed this post all about how to create a morning routine menu, you can check out all my other organisation content here. You know it’s my favourite topic to write about! Don’t forget to check out my Twitter, Instagram and TikTok accounts. I’d love to start posting more organisation content on socials.
