Having a solid morning routine checklist can start your day soft and focused instead of frazzled and overwhelmed! Ask yourself, what is the first thing you do in the morning?
It's a good question that can help you recognize what your mornings even look like. Do you wake up pressing snooze hoping to soak in more sleep? Do you wake up with a sense of dread for the day ahead?
A morning routine checklist is the simplest way to get yourself organized, have a gentle loving start to your day, and end up having a smooth day. Sounds great, right?
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For the longest time I couldn't answer that question, I was either waking up and immediately on my phone or lolli-gagging not knowing what I wanted to do next, or worse case scenario, I would waking up dreading the day.
I started making my own checklists and planner organizers to just feel organized. I couldn't find a morning routine checklist that actually felt good and allowed me to start my day softly, yet filled my cup up.
Here you will see the best morning routine checklist that actually helps you feel organized in the morning, feel empowered in your day, and fills your cup.
This post is all about a morning routine checklist!
Ultimate Morning Routine Checklist
Morning Routine Checklist PDF
Do you want the morning routine checklist PDF? The only morning routine checklist you need (plus a journaling page with lovely prompts). A simple and easy checklist that is guaranteed to align and ground your mood, stress levels, and energy.
What could be better than that?!
Be sure to read about the checklist items below so you can get the most value from the checklist! Plus there are some amazing products and ideas that we swear by (and you might just obsess over).
11 Grounding Morning Routine Checklist Items
Let's dive into these morning routine checklist items and see how we can get the most out of them. Because let's be real, we WANT to get the most out of our morning. The morning is the most potent time of day... And, don't miss out on some good ideas and products that will make your morning 10000x better!!
1. 5AM wake up
After understanding the concept behind a 5AM wake up, you might never look back (read The 5AM Club). A 5AM wake up drastically shifts your day, your mindset, your health, and ultimately your wellness.
Beginning to utilize your mind in the morning is crucial and can set you up for ease and softness throughout your day.
You're probably reading this thinking, "Ali, that sounds (and is) so painful to wake up that early how on Earth does that make my day softer??"
Great question and here's the thing. At first it is painful, yes that is true, but after a few times of practicing these waking up early tips you will be unstoppable!
2. Brush teeth and wash face
Not only is this the EASIEST thing to do right when you wake up, but you can almost literally do this with your eyes closed... When I started waking up at 5AM, I don't think I actually opened my eyes until 7am!
3. Make your bed!
Studies show that if you start your day with a simple task, you are more likely to have a productive day. Plus, this can help you with regulating your dopamine.
Often times, we use drinking alcohol, scrolling, food, etc as our dopamine fix. Yet, these are NOT helpful to us and can actually be so destructive (read how to drink less alcohol here).
Though, we can get dopamine from little tasks all the way to grand achievements. So, start to align your dopamine with gentle, soft tasks in the morning like making your bed.
Others include, doing the dishes, cleaning something, etc. Anything that is a task you can complete.
4. Hydrate
Obviously, this one is easy! But, some people (myself included) tend to not drink water in the morning unless I remind myself. Did you know that drinking water actually gives you energy and improves your mood?!
Also, a great addition is LMNT electrolyte powders! I swear by these, and getting a nice dose of vitamins in the morning can help boost your cognitive abilities, energy, mood and more!
5. Start morning coffee!
The absolute bread and butter to a morning routine checklist: you need that morning beverage whether that is coffee or botanical teas!
Coffee is my saving grace, I adore my cup of coffee. So much so, that is usually what gets me out of bed at 5AM, not even kidding.
If you are not a coffee drinker, you could try RIshi Teas. They have botanical teas that are to-die-for, matchas, and more. The botanical powders are so unique, I almost guarantee that it would get you out of bed at 5AM everyday... Just take a look at them and you decide for yourself!
6. Prayers/gratitudes/reading anything encouraging!
This one only needs to take a minute. It could also take up more time, depending on your schedule and if it is a lazy Sunday or not!
Meditate, pray, write your gratitudes, or simply read something that is encouraging like a self-improvement book, scripture, etc.
7. Gentle journal sesh (or use the journal below)
Which leads into the next, a gentle journal sesh. Though, this is somewhat "optional" as I don't always do this only when my readings or meditations prompt me to.
Sometimes I go days or weeks without writing in my journal and other times I write in it 3 or 4 times a day! So, keep it on hand for those moments you want to discern what's going on in your mind.
8. Mindful movements
Whether you want to go crush it at the gym, or do gentle yoga on your porch, or even just taking your coffee outside and stretching. A moment for your body to catch up with your mind.
Sometimes I forget to do this, and then I wonder why my body is aching. I quickly realize it is because I have been stagnant for almost 12 hours!!
9. Make your to-do list
Arguably the best time of my morning, try to prove me wrong! Sometimes this gets done the night before and then I tweak it in the morning. But, ultimately, a to-do list is you saving grace!
I use this planner. It has empty pages so you can fill it all in which makes it ways it easier.
10. Shower/get ready for the day
Don't need to go into detail here, but what I will say, is dress to impress. That is something we have been working on here at GW and let me tell you, it makes a difference!
Doesn't mean we have to go spend $100s of dollars on clothes, you can simply go to your local thrift store!! But, dress nicely, do your hair, etc.
11. Check off the first thing on the to-do list!
Phew, we made it through the morning routine checklist!! My favorite part about any to-do list or checklist is the part of actually getting to check it off.
So, in your daily planner you can check off the morning routine checklist and start your day! Yippee.
There is also something to be said about daily transitions. Moving from one part of the day to the next, and this can be useful in helping your mind and body determine when it is slow morning time to work time.
This post was all about morning routine checklist!
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