8 Healthy Morning Routine Ideas to Start the Day Energized

Productivity gurus will tell you, successful mornings breed successful people.

What you do with this time of day sets the tone for your entire day.

While some people suggest a freezing cold shower, this concept might not be the wake-up call you’re looking for.

If you’re in search of more pleasant, healthy morning routine ideas to incorporate into your daily schedule you’ve come to the right place.

Read on to equip yourself with a healthy morning plan to achieve maximum productivity and success throughout your whole day.

Need Healthy Morning Routine Ideas? Try these.

Need a tune-up to your morning ritual? Looking for ways to wake up earlier? Need a little morning motivation?

The steps for improving your morning habits are simple and can be achieved by anyone with a little bit of motivation.

Here’s some expert advice, examples, and exercises to help you make the most out of your time in the morning.

#1 – Drink warm lemon water

If you’re looking for a healthy way to start your day, drink a glass of lemon water when you first wake-up.

Lemon juice has anticancer properties, supports healthy weight loss, and stimulates your metabolism. It’s also loaded with vitamin C which is important for a healthy immune system.

Hydration is important for the mind and body. Drinking lots of water can improve clarity, mood, and energy while preventing kidney stones, constipation, and overheating.

Drinking water with lemon is simply an efficient way to reap the benefits of both.

Combine the juice of half a lemon into eight ounces of warm water as part of your morning routine and you’ll set the tone for a healthy day.

#2 – Eat a healthy breakfast

One surefire way to improve your morning routine is to eat a healthy breakfast after a full night of rest.

When you’re asleep, your body uses up your energy stores to perform vital restorative processes. 

When you wake-up, replenishing these lost nutrients should be one of your top priorities so you have the proper energy levels to take on the day. Don’t wait until lunch, start the day off with some healthy calories.

Like former Olympic athlete, Summer Sanders, says,

“Proper nutrition is the difference between feeling exhausted and getting the most out of a workout.”

Avoid highly-refined foods with added sugar and high levels of saturated fat. White toast with strawberry jelly won’t cut it. These foods play havoc with your digestion.

Healthy breakfast recipes consist of high fiber, whole foods with no added ingredients.

Try these healthy breakfast ideas:

• Avocados
• Bananas
• Berries
• Eggs
• Greek yogurt
• Leafy greens
• Nuts
• Wholegrain cereals

If you get in the daily habit of eating a healthy breakfast first thing in the morning you’ll likely practice better eating habits throughout the day as well.

#3 – Write in your journal

Writing in a journal has been shown to boost the quality of your life. Why not start your morning jotting down a few thoughts in a notebook?

Journaling is a form of narrative writing where people express their feelings and thoughts on paper.

A recent study found that journaling for 15 minutes a day about important life experiences improves physical and mental health. It also helps prevent unpleasant emotions while strengthening problem-solving skills.

Researchers found that writing about emotions and feelings is effective in reducing the symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety

Moreover, journaling has been shown to increase motivation — an important factor to becoming more productive.

If you have a bit of extra time, journaling is a quick and inexpensive way to improve your morning routine by adding a little inner calm and gratitude to your day. Make sure you sit in a quiet space without any distractions so you can truly focus your mind.

If you’re not sure what to write about and need some inspiration, consider starting a dream journal or gratitude journal. You could even write a to-do list, sketch out a calendar, plan a daily strategy, or create a list of your worries and concerns.

Once you get in the rhythm of writing daily, you’ll find your voice and it will become second nature.

#4 – Start the day with a meditation

Meditation has a whole bunch of benefits that can help to kick your day off right. It allows you to start the day by being present in the moment.

Countless studies show that meditation can improve mental and physical health by reducing stress, improving sleep, and increasing focus.

If you’re feeling the effects of the chaos of modern-day life, getting in the habit of practicing daily meditation is part of a perfect morning routine.

It doesn’t take much effort to get started — you can find plenty of guided meditation videos online.

All you need is a quiet space and an open mind.

If you don’t know where to begin, you can find countless guided meditation routines on YouTube.

Or, if you’re a Netflix subscriber, consider tuning in to Headspace Guide To Mediation.

One of the best things about meditation is that it’s a great morning activity for whole families to do together.

#5 – Get on your yoga mat

If you’re looking to boost your moss and focus your attention at wake-up time, make the decision to take up yoga.

Yoga is a physical activity that fosters mindfulness and helps you set your daytime intention while improving flexibility and blood flow through controlled breathing and stretches.

Yoga is linked to improved mood, increased relaxation, and promotes overall wellbeing. It’s also one of the best morning rituals to decrease stress and anxiety.

The holistic yoga process promotes physical and mental health — what a great way to kick off your day.

Try a simple 15-minute yoga and breathing practice before heading to the office. Not only will these breathing exercises and restorative stretches set a positive mood for your day, but they also have lasting benefits for your long term health.

You don’t need an expensive gym membership or any equipment to get going (although a mat is helpful).

Similar to meditation, all you need is a quiet space and the motivation to improve your wellbeing.

You can find yoga routines online for every age and level of physical capability.

#6 – Try a creative activity

Don’t start your day by immediately checking your email on your phone. Get creative instead.

If you’re looking for fun, productive healthy morning routine ideas, consider partaking in a creative activity before heading to the office.

Engaging in creative activities first thing in the morning will help you stay positive throughout the whole day.

A recent study found that using creativity as a tool for improved wellbeing was extremely effective.

The 13-day study found that participants who engaged in creative activities daily reported having improved positivity and quality of life. Researchers concluded that regular creative activities cultivate positive psychological functioning.

A creative activity is anything you do that involves developing new ideas and encouraging the brain to think creatively. Try something off this list:

• Sketching, drawing, or painting
• Writing a quick story
• Jotting down a poem
• Listening to podcast
• Crafting
• Playing an instrument
• Reading an inspiring book

When it comes to creativity it’s like Maya Angelou said,

“You can’t use up creativity, the more you use the more you have.”

#7 – Repeat morning affirmations to yourself

One of the most simple healthy morning routine ideas is to repeat morning affirmations.

A morning affirmation is something you say to yourself to promote positive thoughts that translate into positive feelings, behaviors, or opportunities.

If constructed properly, they can be an extremely powerful tool for accomplishing your goals and limiting negative thoughts.

The idea is when you repeat positive thoughts you are helping your mind prioritize those thoughts as your day unfolds.

The science behind it is simple.

Human brains are equipped with something called the reticular activating system (RAS). One of its functions is to align your focus with your thoughts.

For example, if you think of the color blue and then look around the room you’ll notice blue all around. That’s your RAS hard at work.

Similarly, if you repeat the morning affirmation, “My life is full of prosperous opportunities.” You might start noticing more prosperous opportunities than you would have otherwise.

At the very least, if you repeat positive affirmations, you’ll drown out negative thoughts — that’s a win.

#8 – Include a morning workout session

If you want to become a morning person you should consider starting the day with action. Get into the habit of exercising first thing to get your heart pumping.

Early morning movement may seem like a tall task at first but once you find that drive and power, you’ll start to feel energized by your morning exercises.

Physiologist at San Diego State and the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Fabio Camana says,

“Research suggests that people who exercise early in the day are more likely to adhere to their fitness routine because their willpower is stronger then and the pressure of the day hasn’t yet accumulated.”

A workout session first thing in the morning is also linked to greater productivity and performance, blood pressure, increased energy levels, and better sleep.

If you’re feeling stressed about getting up and breaking a sweat, you’re in luck — exercise has also been shown to reduce stress.

You can choose any type of exercise to get those muscles working, but a 15-minute core or high intensity (HIIT) workout is a great option to start your day on the right track. Alternatively, do a quick mile on the exercise bike or put your best foot forward with a brisk walk.

Summing It Up

After a good night of rest, most successful people wake-up and hit the ground running. Now you have a whole list of healthy morning routine ideas to add to your daily routine.

Remember, you’ll also need a consistent night routine to make sure you’re getting a restful night.

Whether you’re looking for a boost of energy, improvement in confidence, reduced stress, or just a better attitude, the key is healthy habits.

If you find it’s difficult to get up and get on with your morning routine, try checking out our article packed with tips on how to wake up feeling refreshed.