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How to Build a Productive Morning Routine That Sets You Up for Success

To have a productive morning routine, get enough sleep, plan the night before, and start your day with the best morning habits.

Waking up can feel like a struggle, especially when you have much on your plate. You might be tempted to stay in bed and put off the day's challenges. But if you have a productive morning routine, you can tackle your goals one by one with energy and enthusiasm, making it easier to stay on task and get the most out of your day. This article will help you create a sustainable morning routine that boosts energy, enhances focus, and sets a positive tone for a highly productive day without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. So, how to become a morning person?

SunSeek’s daily sunlight exposure tracker can help you achieve your goals for a productive morning routine by getting your body on track with nature’s rhythms. Creating a calm, focused environment for your morning routine can boost your energy and enhance your mood.

What is the Most Productive Morning Routine?

ready for the routine - Productive Morning Routine

What makes a morning routine productive? Simply put, a productive morning aligns with a person’s goals, maximizes energy, and fosters consistency. It’s not rigid, allowing for flexibility based on individual needs. For instance, Winston Churchill stayed in bed until 11am most days.

Beyond Productivity

This shows you don’t need a productive morning routine to succeed. But it certainly helps. Besides fostering wellness, a healthy daily routine can do wonders for your self-care. You’ll feel more energized and happier before starting your workday. A consistent routine helps:

Save decision-making energy and avoid wasting time figuring out what to do next.
Boost productivity: Begin the day focused and clear-headed.
Improve mental well-being: A structured start reduces stress and anxiety.
Promote healthy habits: Build small, consistent actions into lifelong habits.

Morning Routines of Successful Entrepreneurs

How do entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos start their day? What morning routines do they follow that have made them very successful? Here are some morning routines of successful entrepreneurs: Elon Musk Elon Musk, known for leading Tesla and SpaceX, has a unique entrepreneur morning routine.

Sleep & Showers

Despite being relatively nocturnal and often going to bed at 1 a.m., he wakes up at 7 a.m., finding six hours of sleep optimal for his well-being. Although Musk tends to skip breakfast, which isn’t generally advised because breakfast kick-starts your day, he always makes time for a morning shower, where he says his best ideas come to him.

Breakfast & Creativity

If you’re trying to pick up habits from Musk, consider prioritizing a good shower to spark creativity, but don’t skip breakfast; it’s essential for energy. Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey, a media mogul, wakes up between 7:16 and 7:23 a.m. without an alarm, thanks to a consistent bedtime.

Intentional Mornings

Oprah starts her day with a toothbrush, followed by a brisk walk with her dogs, enjoying nature and fresh air. She deeply values her spiritual and mental exercises in the morning, including meditation and reading motivational cards, followed by journaling while sipping her coffee. She believes in the power of setting an intention for the day. Her morning also includes light physical activities like yoga. Her routine concerns mental clarity and connecting with herself before diving into work. To incorporate her practices, start your day with meditation and a physical activity you enjoy. Richard Branson, the adventurous founder of the Virgin Group, has an active morning routine. Living on his private island, he wakes up around 5 am to the natural light. His mornings are packed with sports like:

Tennis
Kitesurfing
Cycling

Sun, Sweat, and Shared Moments for Peak Performance

These were followed by a high-fiber breakfast with his family. He believes starting the day with exercise and family time boosts his energy and productivity. For Branson, these activities set a positive tone for his work. To adopt Branson’s habits, consider waking up with the sun and incorporating exercise into your morning routine, and don’t forget to spend quality time with loved ones. Jeff Bezos, the mind behind Amazon, values his sleep; he goes to bed early and wakes up early to start his day refreshed. Bezos enjoys “puttering” in the morning, which includes:

Reading the newspaper
Having breakfast with his kids
Doing the dishes

Bezos believes in tackling the most critical tasks in the morning when his energy and focus are highest. His routine is about balance:

Prioritizing family time
Easing into work with a clear mind

To bring some of Bezos’s practices into your morning, try dedicating the early hours to family and planning your day to tackle significant tasks first. Mark Zuckerberg, the force behind Facebook, has a morning routine centered around family and fitness. Waking up at 8 am., he checks his social media platforms before jumping into physical training with MMA fighters, a recent switch from running to keep up with his intense regimen.

Activity & Connection

Zuckerberg also enjoys learning Taylor Swift songs with his daughters, highlighting the importance of family time in the morning. Despite his high-calorie diet to support his training, he keeps his breakfast undisclosed. Zuckerberg’s routine shows the value of mixing physical activity with family moments. To mirror Zuckerberg’s morning, find a physical activity that energizes you and makes time for family interactions.

26 Morning Habits You Need in 2025 for a Productive Morning Routine

woman waking up - Productive Morning Routine

1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep

A good night’s sleep is the start we all need. Most adults need seven hours of sleep every night to refresh themselves. Nevertheless, around 35% of American adults get less than the recommended number. Planning can go a long way in helping you get that much-needed rest. Dim the lights, mute your phone, and take a warm bath to fall asleep easier, and you’ll wake up much fresher.

2. Wake Up at the Same Time Each Day

Our circadian rhythm is like our internal clock, affecting:

The time we start to feel sleepy
The time we wake
What point do we begin to feel hungry

Regulating Your Clock

An irregular circadian rhythm can impact our sleep quality, mental health, and well-being. Going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day (including your days off) are good daily habits that can help regulate our circadian rhythm and make it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning. This means avoiding hitting the ‘snooze’ button. If you find this challenging, consider putting the alarm clock out of arm's reach or using multiple alarms. Waking at the same time each day helps you to feel more focused and less groggy.

3. Don’t Hit the Snooze Button

According to a University of Notre Dame study, 57% of people hit the snooze button each morning. But this common habit isn’t helping us feel more rested. Instead, it may make us sleepier. Dr. Aarthi Ram, a neurologist at Houston Methodist specializing in sleep medicine, says, "The ten more minutes of sleep you're granting yourself over and over and over isn't productive sleep. If anything, all of that interrupted sleep will make you feel more groggy."

Beating the Snooze: Aten's Method

Hitting the snooze button can quickly turn five minutes into an hour. Jason Aten, Inc.’s tech columnist, recommends setting two alarms three minutes apart. Set the second alarm for the time you want to wake up. The rule of two-by-three conditions your mind to get up at a particular time, effectively dissuading you from sleeping in! The next time you want to press snooze when the alarm goes off, try the rule of two-by-three instead and see if it makes a difference to your morning.

Pro tip: Turn off the snooze option on your iPhone. This way, you commit to getting up when the alarm goes off rather than postponing it and potentially disrupting your morning routine.

4. Make Your Bed

William H. McRaven, author of Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World recommends starting your morning by making the bed. That way, you have already accomplished something before the day even begins.

Morning Order, Evening Calm

The positive feeling you get from making your bed can build tremendous success later in the day, as you’ve already established a positive, goal-oriented mindset. It’s also more aesthetically pleasing (and calming) to return to a tidy bed at the end of the day. This might help kick off a more relaxed evening ritual, too.

Pro tip: Make making your bed as easy as possible. Don’t bother with many decorative pillows or throws (unless that’s your thing). Pull up the sheet, blanket, and duvet. Plump the cushions, and voilà, you’re done!

5. Access Natural Light

Ensuring daylight exposure when we wake is another essential part of maintaining a healthy circadian rhythm. Also, vitamin D, which our bodies create upon exposure to sunlight, helps our immune system and can improve our moods. Opening the curtains when you wake up simultaneously each day is a good way to give the body the signals it needs.

6. Avoid Screens First Thing

Eighty-nine percent of Americans check their phones within 10 minutes of waking up. If you’re like me, this can be a huge time-waster and completely disrupt my morning. Nevertheless, if my phone is on my nightstand or bedside table, I might find it difficult to follow this advice and absentmindedly pick it up as soon as I wake up. You can avoid this by charging your phone in another room overnight or tucking it into a drawer on your nightstand. You can also adjust your surroundings. Use an alarm clock rather than relying on your phone to wake you up. That way, you won’t be tempted to:

Open your email
Check your text messages
Catch up on the news first thing

Pro tip: If you must keep your phone nearby for emergency calls or other essential functions, try using app blockers or the “Do Not Disturb” features to restrict access to distracting apps for the first hour after waking up. So, if you do reach for your phone, you won’t get sucked into a vortex of notifications and doom scrolling.

7. Start Your Day With a Glass of Water

With 73% of Americans drinking coffee daily, they likely kick off their day with that first cup. While you may be one of them, don’t immediately reach for the coffee machine. Try a cup of water first. Hydrating after a long night of sleep helps jumpstart your metabolism and flush out any toxins that may have built up in your system overnight.

Dehydration's Drain

Hydrating wakes your digestive system and makes it easier for your body to process food and burn calories throughout the day. You feel awake, alert, and refreshed as a result. Dehydration, on the other hand, could derail your morning. Symptoms of dehydration include:

Fatigue
Confusion
Short-term memory loss
Mood changes, like increased irritability or depression

Actress Cameron Diaz is a vocal advocate for hydrating upon waking up. One of the first things she does each morning is chug a liter of water. (Is that also her secret to never aging?)

Pro tip: Fill your water bottle and leave it on your nightstand. That way, you’ll be reminded to hydrate as soon as you wake up. And if you want to keep the practice going throughout the day, you can set a recurring task in Motion that prompts you to take a sip.

8. Find a Ritual

Sometimes, finding a morning routine that suits you can take a little time. You don’t have to start with something complicated or unfamiliar — your routine can be to wake up, make your bed, and drink a fruit smoothie. Committing to a routine that supports your personal goals and lifestyle is essential.

Personalizing Your Routine

For example, if you aspire to stay fit and healthy, you can build a 30-minute jog into your ritual. Don’t worry if your first attempts don’t quite “click” — experimenting and trying different rituals is part of the process. Once you find one that works for you, consistently practicing it is the key to keeping it.

Pro tip: Start with a small, easily manageable ritual. As it becomes more habitual, you can gradually incorporate more elements. For example, commit to making your bed every morning. Once that becomes automatic, connect this ritual to the next step (e.g., preparing your fruit smoothie or going for a jog). Like “Essentialism” author Greg McKeown says, “If you don’t deliberately make your decisions, someone else will do it for you.”

9. Eat Breakfast (or Don’t)

There’s a lot of debate on whether breakfast is essential. Turns out, the research is inconclusive. Some studies claim breakfast is vital to good health, while others claim the opposite. Those who support eating breakfast believe it is a daily metabolic kickstarter. A morning meal can help burn more calories throughout the day and provide essential nutrients.

Fueling Your Day

Others argue that skipping breakfast is beneficial. Intermittent fasting, or focusing attention on when you eat, improves cognitive function and memory. Ultimately, it comes down to your personal preference and specific health goals. It’s more important to meet your nutrition requirements and appropriately fuel your body with nutritious foods. If eating breakfast helps you accomplish this, eat breakfast. If not, don’t.

Pro tip: Conduct a two-week breakfast experiment. Spend one week eating a nutritious breakfast and the next one skipping it. Then, observe how your body and mind react.

10. Get Active Every Morning

Try to incorporate a morning workout to start your day off right. It could be something as small as stretching, a couple of yoga poses, 30 minutes on your home treadmill, or a walk around the block. Do anything that gets your blood flowing. A bounce in your step shakes off that stiff feeling and prepares you to face your workday.

11. Take Deep Breaths

Conscious breathing has its benefits. Spend time intentionally breathing after you wake up. Be aware of each inhalation and exhalation. Whether working from home or commuting, spend five minutes each morning on this activity. Besides calming you down, deep breathing is a great way to reduce stress, help you focus, and bring positive energy.

12. Rewire Your Brain

Don’t let yesterday’s setbacks define today. Each morning offers a fresh start and an opportunity to reset. Famous life and business coach Tony Robbins has a comprehensive morning routine to reset his mind and focus for the day. For instance, Robbins’ 10-minute “priming” exercise blends yoga techniques and Buddhist mindfulness meditation.

The Power of Gratitude and Vision

He starts by sitting still for a minute, then expresses gratitude for three things he’s grateful for. He concludes with two visualization exercises to help him imagine achieving success. So, spend a few minutes visualizing your goals for the day or the long term. That practice can elevate your mood and create neural pathways that train your brain to stay motivated.

Pro tip: If you find sitting still for long periods challenging, try a “walking visualization.” As you physically walk, picture yourself achieving your daily goals. That way, you’ll kill two birds — exercise and visualization — with one stone.

13. Get the Most Important Thing Done First

This is one of the most essential tips on the morning routine checklist. It’s so simple that you may feel that you already do this. Many people consider themselves productive if they do a lot of daily work. Though, that’s not entirely true. Yes, productivity is about getting things done. Nevertheless, the focus should be on getting the most important things done, not just on any task. You want to approach the day with intention, not randomness. Most of the world’s most famous writers, scientists, and authors consistently do this as part of their morning routine, as per Mason Currey’s book, “Daily Rituals: How Artists Work.”

14. Follow a Dedicated Schedule

Getting up simultaneously each day is good for your circadian rhythm, the sleep-wake-up cycle followed by the body every 24 hours. This natural and internal process controls your body and mind for wakefulness and sleep.

15. Relax Mentally and Physically

According to Buddhist principles, the human mind is like a monkey:

Unsettled
Restless
Confused
Whimsical
Much more

Quieting the Chatter

Therefore, putting our minds to rest mentally and physically is essential. Quiet the chatter within by doing a solo activity in the morning. For example, try reading a book you like or journaling if you prefer to write. Practicing morning meditation is also a science-backed way to relax your mind and body.

16. Focus on Your Mental Health

Prioritize your mental health. Having simple self-care practices to start your day can be an effective way to mind your mental health. For people struggling with depression or anxiety, the simple act of getting out of bed can be difficult. Britt Reints, author of “An Amateur’s Guide to the Pursuit of Happiness,” recommends being intentional about your mornings. Make a conscious choice to put yourself first and have a regular morning routine that makes it easier to get the hang of your workday.

17. Manage Your Energy

Want to focus better? Don’t manage time; manage your energy. Start doing energy management and see how it goes. Energy management is managing your total energy at a given time. This practice recommends doing certain activities at specific times to increase your productivity. For example, many writers find that their work is of a better quality when they write in the early morning when there is the least distraction around them.

18. Focus on What’s Important, Not Urgent

Many people make the mistake of thinking that everything is urgent. It’s not. Try to differentiate between what’s essential and what’s urgent. Then, use an Eisenhower matrix to identify what needs your attention now and what can be done later.

19. Know Your Goal

Having a goal makes everything easier. Before you set or tweak your morning routine for success, think about what you want to achieve in each sphere of your life — personal and professional. Do you want to spend time alone, get healthier, be more productive, or feel happier? For example, scheduling a workout or a walk in the morning is a no-brainer if you wish to be healthier. Consider taking time for your favorite hobby, such as:

Doodling
Journaling
Listening to your preferred podcast episode

20. Bust Stress

No one likes a stressful morning. To focus entirely on the task and goals for the day, you need to be in the moment and not worry about something in the past or future. Stress is the biggest productivity killer. Rushing to get things done in the mornings is a surefire way to get stressed out. Instead, take the time to prep your supplies, breakfast, or workout gear the previous night so that you are all set to rule your morning.

21. Build Habits

Decision fatigue happens. The energy spent on making daily decisions leaves you with less energy for the rest of your day. With simple daily habits, you can easily conserve your energy as decisions have already been made.

22. Listen to Music

So, you have your daily schedule all figured out. Nevertheless, how can you focus your mind to make sure that everything on the list gets done? Try listening to music programmed to help you focus and cut out the distractions from your environment. For example, Focus@Will is an app with scientifically designed music that enables you to focus and deliver higher-quality work. A Cornell University research paper confirms the positive influence of streamlined music, which increased creative thinking and perceived focus and improved the participants’ mood. What are you waiting for? Create a playlist of your favorite tunes and play those songs on repeat!

23. Empower Yourself With Positive Affirmations

Self-care should be a core part of your morning routine. Be your cheerleader by visualizing your goals. Chant a mantra or affirmations to empower yourself in your daily wellness practice. According to the ancient language Sanskrit, a mantra is a positive affirmation. It has been used for spiritual wellness by people practicing Hinduism and Buddhism. Macquarie University research confirms that mantras help to calm the mind, increase focus, reduce stress, and uplift your mood. “I am free to be myself” or “I will choose to be happy today” are a couple of positive affirmations to get you started.

24. Hug Your Pet, Kid, or Partner

A hug is the best way to start your day positively. It’s universally comforting and almost instantly makes you feel good. Scientific research corroborates that hugging reduces stress, protects against illness, and boosts heart health. Take a couple of minutes to pull your partner, kid, or pet close to get that warm, fuzzy feeling and start the day right!

25. Ask Yourself: What Would Make Me Feel Fulfilled at the End of the Day?

This is a simple one that takes no longer than one minute. It is also great because you can combine it with other morning routine elements, such as exercising or commuting to work. Simply ask yourself, ‘What would make me feel fulfilled at the end of the day?’ This has the dual effect of creating focus in your mind and increasing clarity in what you will achieve in the day. Variations of this have been popular with individuals such as Steve Jobs.

26. Be Kind to Yourself

Give yourself ample time to deal with your morning routine before you show up for work. Be kind to yourself and allow yourself the space to get things done. Overworking or rushing through the morning may burn you out and prevent you from having a productive day. Oscar Wilde, the famous Irish poet, used to say, “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

Finding Inner Peace

Stop judging yourself if anything does not go as planned. Everyone makes mistakes. Accept the fact that no one is perfect. Not comparing yourself with others and being supportive also helps you be compassionate and feel at peace. Remember, it takes time to incorporate new habits and achieve work-life balance; keep your head up and maintain a positive mindset!

4 Tips for Building a Morning Routine That Lasts

woman in the bed - Productive Morning Routine

1. Reimagine Your Mornings

Start with some self-reflection. Ask yourself: What do you want to change about your mornings now? What do you want to add to my mornings and why? Which activities leave you energized, and which ones leave you drained? Figuring out your preferences and areas for improvement can help you tailor a routine to your goals and values. Self-awareness empowers you to integrate positive daily habits. Reimagine your mornings as an opportunity to make intentional choices that positively shape your day.

2. Set Yourself Up for Success

Establishing new habits takes time. While consistency is essential, recognize that your effort also matters. Exceptional circumstances, emergencies, and even a malfunctioning alarm clock can pop up, so forgive yourself if you miss a day. Finding the best routine for you also takes time, so be open to trial and error and make adjustments when necessary.

Gradual Routine Building

Roll out a new routine gradually, especially if you want to wake up earlier. For example, try a 15-minute meditation session with a glass of water beside you. Once this feels stable, add 15 minutes for journaling or taking a brisk walk. Prepare your spaces the night before so that you’re ready to go first thing. Set out your workout clothes, put a full water bottle on the counter, or place your favorite pen in my journal. Tidy the common areas in your home the night before, too, so you’re not tempted to do this before starting your routine.

3. Focus on Consistency

If we haven’t stressed this enough, let us emphasize it again: consistency is key. Habits need time to take root. Expecting immediate transformation is like hoping for a supermodel physique after one workout. You have to be willing to embrace the process and be open to adjustments. As you remain consistent, your efforts will become successful over time.

4. Create a Schedule

Don’t stop at a to-do list. Go one step further and build a schedule for your morning routine on your calendar. First, identify how long you’ll spend on each task or habit. Second, document in what order you’ll perform tasks/habits. Then, add blocks of time on your calendar for each task. Scheduling tasks like this, often called time blocking, can triple your productivity.

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