The Ultimate 7-Step Morning Routine Checklist – Rise And Shine Warrior

Goodbye, hectic mornings…hello coffee, hello morning workout, hello self-care time. Set yourself up for success and create a morning routine that sticks. Consider this morning routine checklist as the missing puzzle piece to your morning routine and get ready to take back control over your mornings.

I never thought I would say this, but these days, the mornings really are the best time of my day. I LOVE my mornings and I love taking the time that I need to set myself up for a successful day ahead.

And yes, I will tell you exactly how I created a morning routine that sticks and how you can do the same to step into a happier and healthier version of yourself.

I will walk you through a morning routine checklist and with your commitment and my morning routine checklist this will be a piece of cake.

But before we look at the morning routine checklist…let me tell you a bit about what my mornings used to look like before I had a morning routine checklist in place.

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7.30 am alarm rings.

Hit snooze once, hit snooze twice, hit snooze….just ONE last time!

OMG, I am late! AGAIN!!

A quick shower, getting ready, running back and forth between rooms.

Need a coffee!

Breakfast? ….no time, let’s get a croissant on the way.

With all these croissants, I really need to get back to the gym!

Running out of the door.

Halfway down the stairs, ops forgot my mobile. ARGHH!!!

Back to the flat.

Ok, finally on the way to work, high five!

Standing in the line at Starbucks: ‘S***, did I unplug my hair straighteners?’

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Does this sound familiar to you?

For a lot of people, mornings are the most stressful time of the day. But how you start your day sets the tone for the rest of your day. And if you start your day feeling stressed and rushed, the rest of your day is likely to feel the same.

Benefits of a morning routine

Having an established morning routine can bring a lot of benefits to your physical and mental well-being. Some of the benefits of having an established morning routine are:

• Reduced stress – starting your day slow and with intention can ease stress levels and bring back a sense of control
• Increased productivity – a structured morning sets the tone for the rest of the day; it allows you to get clear about your tasks and set your priorities for the day ahead which will allow for more focus and efficiency during the day
• Better sleep quality – a consistent morning routine often allows a more consistent sleep schedule which helps to improve your sleep quality overall
• Develop a more positive mindset – having a consistent morning routine that allows space for morning rituals that engage in positivity and gratitude help to develop a more positive mindset toward life overall
• Improved physical health – engaging in morning exercises can boost your energy levels during the day but it also promotes physical health and well-being overall
• Personal growth – a morning routine can include activities for personal growth such as journaling, reading, personal reflection, etc. which can lead to self-improvement and personal growth
• Increased self-discipline – sticking to a morning routine helps you to develop self-discipline and you learn to resist distractions that might pop up along the way which can also have a positive impact on your overall life goals

We are all different, and yes, all these benefits can vary from person to person and it also depends on what the focus of your morning routine is, but overall, having an established morning routine can help to improve your mental as well as physical well-being on many levels.

Personally, I can say that starting a daily morning routine really changed my life for the better. It definitely helped to ease my stress levels and helped me to develop a more positive mindset. I now have more time for myself and I can spend the time on things that matter to me most in life.

However, the biggest change and improvement that I saw for myself after establishing a regular morning routine, having a morning routine really helped to ease my anxieties and less anxieties mean more life quality.

How do you start a morning routine?

Starting a morning routine requires a bit of thinking and planning and of course, it requires commitment, but the benefits definitely make it worth the effort.

Firstly, keep in mind that developing a routine is personal, and the more you personalize your morning routine to your lifestyle, preferences, and life goals, the more successful your morning routine will be and the easier it will be for you to stick with it in the long run.

Secondly, consistency is key. This is when your commitment comes in. Keep in mind that you are the most important asset that you have. Commit to yourself and make yourself a priority.

Thirdly, be patient with yourself. It might require a bit of time to fully integrate your morning routine into your daily life, but be persistent and open to change and adapt your morning routine when required.

What is a morning routine checklist?

A morning routine checklist is a list of tasks that will help you to create your personal morning routine to set a positive tone for the day ahead and ensure more focus and productivity throughout the day.

Please treat the morning routine checklist below as an example only and use it as a basis to create your own personal morning routine checklist.

As mentioned earlier, creating a routine is personal, and the more your morning routine is tailored to your personal needs and desires as well as your lifestyle, the more successful your morning routine will be.

Meaning, feel free to adjust the morning routine checklist below to make it suit your personal needs and desires.

7-Step morning routine checklist

Morning routine checklist #1: Define your intention

Behind every action that we take is an intention, your personal/emotional hook, or the reason ‘why’ you want something.

The more clear you are about your ‘why’ the easier it will be for you to establish your morning routine and integrate it into your daily life.

Ask yourself:

• Why do you want to start a morning routine?
• List three benefits that you are hoping to achieve with your morning routine.
• List three challenges you think you might face along the way of establishing a morning routine.
• What can you do to avoid these challenges?
• Visualize your ideal morning: how would you like to start your day? What does an ideal morning for you look like? What emotions are coming up for you when you visualize your ideal morning?

You can contemplate these questions over a cup of coffee, but I would recommend making this a journal exercise. The more you think this through, the clearer you will be about your ‘why’.

Are you looking to e.g. start a healthier lifestyle? Would you like to have more time for your hobbies, personal projects, side hustle, etc.?

Defining your intention is key as this will give you the reason that motivates you to stick with your morning routine in the long run.

In addition to this, it will also give you insight into the activity or activities that you can build into your morning routine.

Morning routine checklist #2: Create a flow

Once you are clear about your intention, let’s come to morning routine checklist point #2 and create a flow that is aligned with your lifestyle and morning routine goals.

As a first step, work out how much additional time you can make every morning. Be realistic about this. And yes, that means you will have to get up earlier, but know that it will be worth the effort and you will get used to it quicker thank you think.

Once you know how much additional time you can make, define how much time you would like to spend on your key activity.

To define your key activity, go back to your intention for your morning routine and take it from there.

Example: My main motivation for my morning routine was to ease my anxieties and have more self-care time for myself during the week. Hence I added yoga and meditation into my morning routine as well as 20 min to journal, or get some life admin done.

If your intention was to spend more on personal development, use this time for personal development activities. If your intention was to start a healthier lifestyle, spend this time going for a run, gym, yoga, etc.

Once you have your key activity nailed down, plan the rest of the morning, having breakfast, getting ready for work, meal prep, etc. around your key activity.

Create a flow that is logical so that you don’t end up running back and forth between your tasks and allow yourself enough time for each activity that is covered within your morning routine.

Morning routine checklist #3: Plan ahead

Planning is key. Think about your morning routine already the night before.

If you are for example going for a run in the morning, put your running gear out and have it ready for the next morning.

For any meal prepping for breakfast or lunch the next day, get it already done the night before so that you don’t need to worry about it in the morning.

And most importantly, go to bed at a decent time, they call it beauty sleep for a reason. A good night’s sleep is essential and will allow you to start your day feeling fresh and energized.

Tip: If you have trouble finding sleep at night, check out my blog post 5 Ways to Help You Relax Before Bed. Already a few simple changes in the evening can make a huge difference to your sleep quality.

Morning routine checklist #4: Don’t hit snooze

I know this is SO tempting, but be strong, you can do this. And if you find yourself reaching for the snooze button, remind yourself about your intention for starting a daily morning routine and think of all the benefits that a morning routine can bring into your life.

For a bit of extra motivation, change your alarm tone to a song that inspires you to get up.

Think ‘Walking on Sunshine’, ‘Are you gonna be my girl’, ‘Could you be loved’, etc., or whatever makes you want to get up in the mornings and shake that beautiful booty of yours.

Whatever happens, stay away from the snooze button.

Morning routine checklist #5: Stay away from your phone

Our mobile phones somehow have become an extension of our physical bodies these days. And the first thing most people do in the morning is to reach for their phone.

And boom! Your mind and thoughts are right back to where you left off yesterday. Whether you want it or not.

Social media puts a lot of pressure on us and can cause feelings of loneliness, low self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression.

You might have experienced this firsthand already. I have for sure.

Make the mornings your quality time and your self-care time and allow yourself a digital detox at least for the first hours of the day.

Morning routine checklist #6: Make your bed

Making your bed might seem like a simple and insignificant task, but it can positively impact your day as well as your mental well-being.

Firstly, making your bed marks the end of the night and the start of a new day.

Secondly, an organized bed means less visual clutter in your head and contributes to a clear and calm mind.

And last, but certainly not least, making your bed in the morning can promote better sleeping hygiene and provides a sense of satisfaction when returning to a made bed in the evening.

Morning routine checklist # 7: Practice gratitude

Starting a regular gratitude practice can bring a lot of health benefits to your life.

Practicing gratitude brings more happiness into your life. You will notice yourself feeling more positive toward life, and having more compassion for yourself as well as the people around you.

A regular gratitude practice can also increase your motivation, decrease anxiety, ease depression, and contribute to better well-being overall.

If you are new to practicing gratitude or would like to dive deeper into the topic of practicing gratitude, make sure to check out my blog posts listed below.

• How to Start a Gratitude Journal
• 5 Ways to Practice Gratitude Daily
• 44 Daily Gratitude Journal Prompts – Unlock your Inner Joy

Morning routine checklist – bonus tip

Changing or establishing a habit takes time, patience, and commitment.

Have compassion with yourself along the process and don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day.

Keep in mind that tomorrow is a new day.

The only thing that matters is that you keep showing up for yourself.

Morning routine checklist – questionnaire

How long do you spend on your morning routine everyday?

My morning routine is approximately 2 hours long. Saying that I have to admit that I am SUPER slow in the mornings.

I like to take my time with things so in order not to rush my mornings, I learned over the years that getting up earlier works in my favor.

I start my day at 5 am, make my coffee, do my yoga, meditation, and journaling and then I get ready for the day.

Keep in mind that creating a morning routine is personal and it is completely up to you how much time you would like to spend on your morning routine. There is no right or wrong or a set time for your morning routine.

You create your morning routine and you decide what works best for you and what feels in alignment with you.

What is your morning routine on weekdays?

Now this is a tricky one, as your morning routine ideally should always be the same on weekdays as well as on weekends.

When it comes to establishing a morning routine, consistency is key so I would recommend continuing with your morning routine also at the weekend.

Personally, I do the same routine at the weekends, only longer. This means I add in another journal exercise, a bit of reading time, listening to a podcast, a self-care beauty activity, etc.

Try your best to stick with your morning routine every day, also at the weekend. This way it will be easier to make your morning routine a daily habit and you are likely to feel more benefits of your morning routine in your daily life too.

Does it make sense to add an evening routine as well?

Similar to a morning routine, an evening routine can provide a sense of stability and consistency to your daily life. So yes, adding an evening routine can be a great addition to your morning routine.

An evening routine can include tasks like e.g. meal prep for the next day, getting clear about your to-do’s for the next day, additional self-care time, etc. But most importantly, an evening routine allows you time to slow down before going to bed which will improve your sleep quality.

In addition to this, an evening routine also allows for a set bedtime which will also improve your sleep quality allowing you to wake up fresh and early the next morning to start your day with your morning routine.

Morning routine checklist – special

If you like yoga or have been thinking about adding yoga to your morning routine…I think you will like this!

Below is one of my free morning yoga flows that you can find on Youtube YOGATX.

Grab your yoga mat and your water and let’s flow. I am ready when you are.

There are a lot of benefits of yoga in the morning such as boosting your energy levels, starting your day with intention, creating happiness from within, starting your day with self-love, etc.

How do you feel about a 3-Day Morning Yoga Challenge? Intrigued? Amazing, find all the details right here. I can’t wait to see you on the mat.

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As with everything in life, consistency is key. I know, I say it all the time, but if you are looking to start a new healthy habit consistency and commitment make all the difference.

Below are a few more additional resources that will help you to establish the perfect morning routine:

• Ignite Your Wellness Journey: 5 Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle and How to Stick with It
• 7 Ways to Overcome Procrastination – Unleash Your Potential
• From Couch to Lotus: 7 Proven Hacks on How to Start a Home Yoga Practice

Hopefully, you got enough inspiration for morning routine ideas, morning habits, etc. to help you develop your own morning routine from here.

Oh, one more thing: stay open to change. What is your ultimate morning routine today might not be your ultimate morning routine in a year’s time. Change is part of life and daily routines as well as morning routines can change.

If this is the case, feel free to come back to these morning routine checklist ideas and keep in mind that your morning routine starts with your ‘why’.

In case you have any questions about the morning routine checklist, please feel free to leave me a comment below. I always like hearing from you guys and I will make sure to get back to you.

And please do keep me posted on your morning routine journey and let me know how it goes.

Here is to fresh, smiling, and happy mornings ahead!!!

Thanks for your time and thank you for your space beautiful warrior.

Stay wild,

Nicolle

Featured image: Photo by allison christine on Unsplash