The Six Morning Routines that Will Make You Happier, Healthier and More Productive

Of all the different things you can try to improve your productivity, a morning routine is one of the most effective.

There are a few reasons why morning routines are so useful. The
first is obvious to anyone who has ever procrastinated, just getting
started is often the hardest part. If you can start out with the right
momentum towards your goals, you’ll avoid wrestling with yourself in the
morning to get started.

The second is that the morning, particularly before the workday
officially begins, is a quiet time with fewer social obligations. For
many of us, the rest of the day can present a chaotic, ever-changing
blast of responsibilities, urgent errands and unexpected interruptions.
The morning, in contrast, is often the most consistent part of your day.

Morning routines also set the tone for your upcoming day. Do you
want your workday to begin quiet and contemplative? With vigorous
exercise? Silent meditation? Creative and productive? Your morning habit
can push you along a current which will carry throughout the morning
and allow you to maximize whatever aspect of your personality you want
to be most important.

In this article, I’d like to explore a few different morning
routines you can try. But first, let’s talk about what comes before the
morning ritual: sleep.

When Should You Wake Up? How Much Sleep Should You Get?

When you talk about productivity, there seems to be two camps.
Some argue in favor of waking up extremely early to maximize those
early-morning hours. 

Others say getting enough sleep needs to be the priority. If you can’t go to bed by 8pm, you should wake up only after you’ve gotten 7-8 hours of sleep. I believe the scientific case is fairly clear: when it comes to productivity, getting enough sleep is essential.