A productive morning tends to be rushed and stacked with things to do. Right? That is what makes it productive! But, no wonder why these mornings are hard to keep up with...
Here are secret hacks that are effortless, can actually save time, and still create a lovely productive morning without all the other hassle.
This post is all about a productive morning!
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I have to share these hacks because they feel like hidden gems that make my mornings soooo much smoother!
Choose a couple or choose all of them, but these are productive morning hacks to save your time and still be productive!
Productive Morning
Hacks to Do the Night Before
I swear by these! If you do these the night before you will save so much time in the morning and feel so much less stress.
1. Set up your coffee the night before
If you are a coffee drinker this one is for you! I do this religiously and I am putting this as number one for a reason.
For this, get this coffeemaker. You can prep your coffee pot the night before and set a time for when the coffeemaker starts in the morning.
I mean, c'mon it doesn't get much better than a fresh made coffee already ready in the morning.
2. Set out your clothes the night before
Not only do I find this helps me actually do what I say I am going to do, but saves so much time in the morning trying to figure out what to wear.
Setting out your clothes at night is best for a morning workout, morning work outfits, etc.
You mind doesn't have to think of a dang thing! Just get up, put the clothes on, and viola. Talk about an effortless productive morning!
3. Write your to-do list the night before
You know the feeling when you are all relaxed in the evening and you start to have creative ideas, things come to your mind you usually wouldn't think, etc?
While you are totally relaxed (not rushing in the morning), write down your to do list for the next day.
So many people have various ways they like to approach a to-do list (my husband uses his phone's note app for a productive morning), yet I use good 'ol paper and pen.
Ultimate Productive Morning Routine Tricks
Some of these tricks are meant to literally trick your brain while others are simply little life hacks that are wildly helpful!
4. Make your bed
Studies actually show that making your bed in the morning increases productivity.
It's that little burst of instant dopamine in the morning that sets you up for success. It even increases efficiency, creates better routines, and even financial discipline, per this source.
5. Delay checking your phone
Raise your hand if this is you! You wake up and immediately grab your phone?
For an effortless productive morning, we must refrain from using our phones right when we wake up.
Using your phone immediately flood the brain with dopamine, stress cues, and external demands before it's fully alert. This disrupts focus, increases anxiety, and makes the brain reactive not proactive.
When the brain is reactive instead, it makes it more challenging to prioritize tasks, concentrate, and sustain energy throughout the day.
6. Leave a buffer zone
When you are thinking about your productive morning, I have found that time blocking and reverse-engineering my time works like a charm.
If you leave at 9am, shower/get ready 1 hr, drive 30 minutes, workout and breakfast 1.5 hours, then you are up by 6am.
However, give yourself another 30 minutes buffer zone to keep the stress down and give time for any unexpected situations.
7. Use a morning routine checklist to keep organized
A seriously good hack is to use a morning routine checklist. Stay organized, write your priorities, goals, etc.
I swear by a morning routine checklist, it is so helpful to relax your mind and get done what needs to be done.
However, this morning routine checklist will set you up for a productive morning after your routine! Starting the day intentionally is a perfect primer for productivity.
Get the morning routine checklist delivered right to your email below! And don't worry we hate spam, we won't be sending you any!!
8. Wake up early!
Not only are sunrises the most beautiful, but you will find yourself having the most productive morning if you wake up early.
Use these waking up early tips to find ease with the early alarm.
9. Write down the top priorities for your day
(Hint hint my morning checklist has this!)
There is something about writing down your goals, your aspirations, etc. The research shows you are more likely to reach your goals if you write them down.
Honestly, knowing your top priorities is important, but writing them down is the most critical step.
10. Say no to morning news
Listening (or reading) to news in the morning only creates distraction, overwhelm, and stress.
Can you relate? It is no bueno! And it is such a simple hack: stay away from morning news and you will find yourself 100x more productive and focused.
11. Use this alarm clock to wake gently
Buuuut, a secret hack is to use a sunrise alarm clock. It slowly gets brighter as it nears your alarm time to gently wake you up and work in alignment with your circadian rhythm.
A simple sunrise alarm clock can be the ultimate game changer.
12. Eat a high protein, low sugar, breakfast (you'll thank yourself later)
Believe it or not, studies show that habitual breakfast in the morning is linked to more balanced cortisol levels. While skipping breakfast is linked to higher stress levels later in the day...
Balancing cortisol (stress hormone), helps support motivation, prevents morning anxiety, improves focus and clarity, and more.
So, it is critical to nourish your body with whole breakfast foods!
13. Anchor your morning to one non-negotiable habit
For me, my non-negotiable is brushing my teeth right when I wake up. I have been doing that for 5 years now and it works like a charm.
Having ONE non-negotiable sets a stable foundation for your morning, which leads to more productivity overtime.
14. Limit choices in the morning
Much like the other hacks touch on, but here is it written clearly: Limit your choices in the morning!!
Analysis paralysis usually leads to nothing getting done...
Have your clothes set out, your to-do list made, and give yourself limited options/space to change it up. Trust me, you will find so much more productivity!
15. Go for a walk
Seems so simple, right?
Going for a walk directly helps with a productive morning. Walking helps boost cognitive function, increases blood flow, and supports stress regulation.
If you can't get a good workout in, a walk will do more wonders than you are lead to believe!
16. Use a planner and journal
Whether you use a digital planner and journal or you use paper, this is critical!
I swear by my planner and I don't think I would be able to live my life without it. Or if I did, my life would crumble!
Use this planner, it has open dates to fill in whenever you use it! And this journal that is adorable and perfectly affordable!
17. Hydrate
A lot of energy comes from simply drinking water, if you feel dehydrated then drink some water 99% of the time you will feel immediately better.
Wake up, drink some water, stay off your phone, and that is a recipe for a productive morning!!
This post was all about a productive morning!
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