9 Morning Habits to Boost Your Productivity (and Wellbeing)

Written by Michelle Ritchie

How you start your morning has a tremendous impact on what you accomplish that day...and also on your overall mood and mental wellbeing. Building good morning habits can help you be more productive and to feel more satisfied at the end of your day. Sticking to a fixed routine also makes you more efficient and saves mental energy. A good thing, right?

Below are our favorite habits to start the day. Of course everyone is different and needs to find what works for them, but hopefully these will provide some ideas for developing your own optimal morning routine.

1. Prepare The Night Before
   Having a productive day starts the night before. By preparing for your day—laying out your clothes, preparing your breakfast, and setting your priorities—you will not only make the next day more efficient, you’ll be putting your mind at ease so you can get a good night's sleep. Writing in a gratitude journal will also help improve your sleep and mental well-being.
2. Get Enough Sleep
   Nothing is a bigger productivity killer than not getting enough sleep! Sleep not only helps the body repair, regenerate, and recover, it also helps reduce stress, improve concentration, and boost productivity. Follow these sleep tips to help create your own healthy sleep habits.
3. Wake Up Early
   Not an easy one, we know! However there must be something to the fact that a majority of highly successful people are early risers. Starting your day early helps set the tone for the day, gives you a sense of control, and allows you to take time for yourself before the distractions and obligations of the day begin.
4. Turn Off Distractions
   When you begin your day scrolling through social media, responding to messages, or checking email, you are starting your day reacting and responding, rather than being proactive and focused on accomplishing your goals. Turn off all distractions so you can stay focused, which in turn will give you a better sense of purpose and achievement.
5. Get Exercise
   Exercise helps boost your mood, energy, motivation, productivity, and physical and mental stamina. In fact, according to Harvard Medical School's journal, working out can help improve mental sharpness and brain function. So get moving!
6. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
   Starting your day with a nutritious breakfast and plenty of water elevates your mood and gives you more energy to tackle your day. Plan and prepare your meals in advance to save time in the morning. For extra nutrition, flavor and crunch, we like to top our morning oatmeal, yogurt, or smoothie bowl with Go Raw Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds! :-)
7. Meditate
   The benefits of meditation are clear: reduced stress and anxiety, better emotional health, improved sleep, increased positive feelings, and better mental focus. With improved focus comes improved productivity. If meditation is not your thing, at least take some quiet time for yourself in the morning.
8. Plan Your Day
   Setting intentions for the day and establishing clear, achievable priorities not only helps you be efficient with your time and feel on top of your goals, it gives you a greater feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. To become even more efficient, make a weekly plan so that all you have to do each morning is to review and adjust your daily to-do’s.
9. Tackle The Hardest Thing First
   Mark Twain is cited to have said, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” The resulting adage “eat the frog” suggests prioritizing and completing your most dreaded task first. This helps you start your day feeling accomplished and gives you the momentum and confidence you need to get other tasks done.

What are your favorite morning routines and rituals? Any good ones we missed above? Let us know in the comment section below!