10-Step Morning Routine For an Energized and Productive Day in 2023
JANUARY 2023
Jay Shetty once said that a morning routine should be the putting on of mental, emotional, and physical armor. This was particularly interesting to me because I had never thought about it in this way before. The more I’ve come to establish my routine, the more I can see this to be true.
An ever-evolving practice, my morning routine sets me up for the day by energizing me, calming me, and priming my thoughts for expansion and positivity.
Important: A morning routine does not have to include EVERYTHING. The purpose is to make you feel less overwhelmed.
Here’s mine:
1) High-five
Ever since I heard Mel Robbins discuss the motivational power of a high-five, I have incorporated it into my mornings. When I get out of bed to turn off my alarm, I look in the mirror above my dresser and high-five myself.
2) Make my bed + open blinds
As I walk around my room to make my bed, I open the blinds when I pass each window. I like to simultaneously have these steps to start my day so that when I come back from the washroom, my room feels clean and ready-to-go.
3) Gratitude
Something I learned from Dean Graziosi, I start this list while I make my bed and open the blinds, and it usually extends into my dental routine as well. Sometimes I think it, and sometime I say it aloud. Either way, it goes like this: what I’m grateful for, a win from yesterday, a win for today. Short and sweet.
4) Dental routine
One thing about me: I am OBSESSED with dental hygiene. That is why I oil pull with coconut oil, without fail, for 5-10 minutes every morning. I follow this by tongue scraping, brushing, and tongue scraping again.
5) Change into workout clothes
For this, I plan ahead by laying out my clothes the night before so there is less decision-making when I wake up. I like to be cozy in the mornings. If I am wearing shorts, I will put sweats on top, and always throw on some kind of comfy sweater in prep for step #7.
6) Hydrate
Before I eat or drink anything, water is always the first thing I consume. Lately, this has been room temperature filtered water, other times it’s herbal tea, lemon water, or water with pink salt.
7) Meditation
Meditation in the morning for me requires a very fine balance of conscious thought; just enough to give myself positive reinforcement but not too much to start believing all of the reasons I shouldn’t (e.g. it’ll take too long, I’m hungry, I have other things to do, I woke up late, I don’t want to). I have come to learn that if I don’t meditate at the start of the day, I am unlikely to do it later. Plus, channeling my future self and thinking about my life at the beginning of the day means that the highest version of me can move through the rest of the day. Re my note in step #5, I like to be as comfy as possible in my meditation, hence the sweat sets.
8) Breakfast
At this point, I am usually ready to eat (although the order of breakfast and exercise does alternate depending on the day). It’s typically a smoothie, eggs, or something with veggies like a lentil soup and maybe some rice.
9) Exercise
Now it’s time to move! It’s extremely rare for me to do anything other than Melissa Wood Health which is pilates and/or yoga, depending on what I’m feeling for that day. I strive for this to be about 25 minutes.
10) Skincare + shower
I start by oil cleansing with my Living Libations cleanser, and then make a point to do something else for my skin as well. This will either be Gua Sha or facial reflexology, and always with a 2-min ear massage (read more about my full skincare routine here). Then, I shower, change and get to work!
What’s your routine like? How has it changed for you? Let me know in the comments below!