Love working late at night but feel like you’re missing out on a morning routine to set a foundation for your day?
Morning routines don’t just need to be for early risers. Here are a few ways you can start your day successfully, no matter when you have your best energy:
Anchor your day with evening quiet time
Many productivity experts recommend waking early to fit in personal time, quiet time for meditation or prayer, or another activity first thing that allows you to start your day with a period of intentional focus. For night owls, this may not be the best idea. Not only does waking up earlier than necessary feel like punishment, if your mind is fuzzy in the morning, you may not take as much benefit from your quiet practice.
Instead, try to anchor your days with a closing period of quiet time before bed. This could look like writing down 3 things you’re grateful for that happened that day, reading a favorite book, time for meditation or prayer, or even a personal hobby that helps you unwind and reflect, such as knitting or working on a puzzle.
By slowing your mind from the busy day, you’ll achieve similar benefits to a morning quiet time, and you’ll likely enjoy it much more than you would by trying to shoehorn it into an early morning.
Look forward to something
If you know mornings are a struggle for you, find something to look forward to each day. Perhaps it’s a favorite blend of coffee you splurge on at your local roaster. Maybe it’s a cozy bathrobe you wear for the first hour of your day. Or a luxurious body wash that makes stumbling to your morning shower a treat. It can be something simple or silly, but having something to look forward to each morning will make getting out of bed a little bit easier.
Eat breakfast
Having a regular breakfast sends a signal to your body that it’s time to get started with your day. Whether it’s a granola bar, quick oatmeal, or a more substantial meal, make sure you’re preparing a breakfast that’s easy to make or grab and take with you, so you don’t end up starving and reaching for something that will make you feel worse, not better.
Evaluate why
Some people are night owls because they have the best energy in the evenings. Others resist waking because they’re not happy with their job or other circumstance. If you’ve tried and tried again and can’t find a morning rhythm that works for you, maybe it’s time to consider what’s creating the negativity in your brain. If you’re getting up to go to a job you hate or to a cluttered mess of a home, you might need to take a closer look at other elements in your life and make a change to something bigger than your morning routine.
Where are our night owls? What tips do you have to share for starting each morning fresh and ready to focus? We'd love to hear from you!
