11 of the Best Ways to Start Your Morning Off Right

There’s nothing quite like starting your morning off on the right foot; it just sets you up for the best day.  When I have an amazingly productive morning, I feel confident, put-together, and totally unstoppable.  

Think about it: Have you ever started the day by immediately checking your phone and then scrolled in bed for an hour?  By the time you realize what time it is, you have to rush to get ready for class or work, and you don’t have time for a nutritious, filling breakfast.  Before you even step out the door, you’re beyond stressed out.  (Been there, done that!)

But if you had a healthy morning routine (or even just one thing you did every morning to feel your best), then you’d be setting yourself up for a much better day.  You could have a calm, relaxing, yet productive morning that catapults into an even better day.

But how do you start your morning off on the right foot?  How do you set yourself up to have the best day possible?

Those questions are, of course, best answered by you.  However, I wanted to share 11 of my favorite ways to start your morning off right to give you a little inspiration!

11 of the best ways to start your morning off right

wake up early

I’m sure this probably wasn’t exactly what you wanted to hear as the first way to start your morning off right, but don’t click away just yet!  At least hear me out first. (;

An “early” wake-up time is entirely relative, so just because I like to wake up at 5:00 does not mean you have to start getting up that early.  Early for you may be much later (or earlier!) than early for me, so don’t stress out about the exact time you’re waking up.  Instead, put more energy into the actual act of waking up earlier than your normal time.

If you’re not sure how an earlier wake-up time could help you have a better morning, I encourage you to just try it out for yourself!  Give it a shot for one morning, and see how it feels.  

Personally, I find it challenging to get out of bed at 5:00 nearly every day, but it’s so worth it once I’m up.  I love the quiet time it provides me, and it also feels like I have so much more time to get things done because I’m more productive and motivated in the morning compared to later in the day.

Waking up early is definitely something you have to work at in order to do it successfully (and not feel like crap), so if you need some help, check out this post where I give you 5 tips on waking up earlier!

make your bed

I’m sure we’ve all heard that we should be making our beds every day, and yet, how many of us do?  Definitely not me… but I’m hoping to change that!

Because making your bed is often the first thing you do when you get out of bed (if you do it), it sets your day up in the best way possible!  It puts you in a tidy, put-together headspace, which is a great way to start your morning because you can then take that headspace with you into your day.

Plus, one healthy habit (such as making your bed) leads you to making another one (maybe it’s working out) and then another one (a nutritious breakfast)!  Our whole lives are just a ripple effect that starts with ONE action, so make that first action a good one!

no-screen time

Recently, I’ve started to avoid my phone for as long as possible after waking up, which has only strengthened my love for early mornings.  Starting my day off with no social media scrolling or no checking random notifications puts me in a such a clear headspace.  Plus, it allows me to do more productive things right after waking up, which means I don’t have to worry about them later!

Some days are better than others when it comes to no-screen time.  Every once in a while, I do need to use my phone for something soon after waking up.  Maybe I have to work that morning, so I check my phone before I go, or maybe I wanted to record a Reel of myself making breakfast.  Either way, no day is perfect, so don’t beat yourself up if your no-screen time doesn’t go the way you planned.  You can always try again tomorrow! ((:

If you’re finding it difficult to replace your old, unhealthy phone habits, try incorporating some of these healthy phone habits into your daily routine!

workout

I know, I know.  I just told you to wake up earlier, and now I’m suggesting you do a workout after dragging your half-asleep body out of bed.  But it’s worth it, trust me!

Most days I do not want to do a workout early in the morning, no matter how excited I was for it the night before.  But once I get to the gym or step outside for my run, I feel so much better. 

Not only does working out in the morning help me feel more awake and energized, but it also takes a little weight off my shoulders because that’s one less thing I have to worry about fitting into my busy schedule later.

Plus, as I mentioned earlier, my motivation levels are higher in the morning, so if I wait until the afternoon or evening to work out, I’m probably going to procrastinate a lot more than I would have if I did it in the morning.

If morning workouts aren’t for you, don’t worry!  But do try to give them a chance a few times before ruling them out completely.  Remember: everyone is different, so just because morning workouts make me feel amazing doesn’t mean they’ll work for you.  

read a book

One of my favorite screen-time alternatives, especially when I’m trying to avoid my phone early in the morning, is picking up a good book!  

Reading gives me something to do that works my brain without tiring me out, and it also helps clear my mind.  Something about reading is so calming yet motivating at the same time.  Can you think of any better way to start your morning than with a calm, refreshed, and motivated mind?!

stretch for a few minutes

I’ve been loving my morning stretch sessions lately!  It not only wakes me up, but it’s also the perfect way to release the built-up tension and stiffness from a night of sleep.  There are so many benefits of stretching, such as releasing stress and increasing your flexibility, so starting my day off this way has been quite refreshing!  

Plus, you can stretch in whatever way you’d like; you don’t have to follow a workout video or a class instructor (unless you want to!).  You can also stretch for however long you want; I usually do about five minutes, and it’s the perfect amount of movement early in the morning.

journal

If you know me, you know I love journaling!  I’ve been journaling on and off for about two years now, and it’s brought so much more to my life. ((:

A few months ago, I used the last page in my first “official” journal, so I went back and flipped through all the memories I jotted down from the previous year and a half.  It was so sweet to read about my travels, my engagement, what I said I was grateful for each day, and so much more.  

My go-to journal prompt is listing at least five things I’m grateful for, but I also love brain-dumping and recounting the events of that day.  Whatever I end up writing, I know I’ll love revisiting it in a couple years when I finish going through this journal.  It’s a good way to remind yourself of where you’ve been, what you’ve done, and what you want to do in the future.  

Journaling soon after waking up can be a great way to start your morning because you can remind yourself of all the things you’re grateful for, write down your to-do list, or dump all your thoughts onto paper and release that stress before conquering the rest of your day.

If you don’t know what to write about and need some extra inspiration, check out these 30 5-minute journal prompts! 

make a healthy breakfast

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with oatmeal… before that, it was yogurt bowls.  Whatever your current breakfast fixation is, start the day with it! 

A yummy, nutritious breakfast is one of the best ways to start your morning because you’re fueling your body in a way that feels good for you!  Pay attention to how certain foods make you feel, and make an effort to put together breakfasts that make you feel your best every day. ((:

dance to your favorite song

Dancing to one of your favorite songs is an amazing way to release stress, get some movement in, and just have fun!  It’ll put you in a good mood faster than you’d ever believe.  

This is definitely one of my top recommendations to start your morning off right!

take a hot shower

Hot showers are the perfect way to start your morning if you need to relax, clean up, and take a breather.  Let the warm (or boiling hot) water relax your muscles, and release the tension you’re holding within.  

Use your favorite body wash, shampoo, exfoliating product, or whatever beauty items make you feel the best!  For me, it’s using my dry brush before I hop in the shower and then applying coconut oil after I’m done.  

If you want to step your shower up a notch, dance to your favorite song before, during, or after your rinse.  Be prepared for a super fun, rejuvenating morning if you do this! (;

wear something you feel confident in

If you want to feel good, look good!  This saying may not always ring true, but I think most of us can agree that looking good definitely does not hurt. 

Before you step out the door or sit down to work at your desk, take some time to start your morning by getting dressed in something that makes you feel confident (or at least something comfortable).  You don’t have to do a full face of makeup, curl your hair, and strap on fancy heels (unless you want to), but wear something cute that makes you want to stare at yourself in the mirror all day. 

And then take some pictures of yourself to look back on later in case you need a reminder of how hot you are.

I hope you find these ways to start your morning off right helpful; let me know if you tried any and how you liked it!  Do you have any other morning habits that make you feel unstoppable?  Let me know in the comments!