Your Productive Morning Routine: 6 tips to start your day off on the right foot

icon 3 min
©evgenyatamanenko

The alarm clock goes off and you hit snooze as many times as you can. Breakfast is overrated anyway and a granola bar on your way to work will be enough… right? Not exactly. We’ll show you how to create productive morning routines and make the most of your start to the day.

There will always be some mornings when you don’t have time for breakfast or coffee. That’s the perfect time to grab one of our Energy Bars! They’ve got natural caffeine from the guarana plant and are twice as strong as an espresso. Their balanced mix of carbs and fats makes for the perfect energy boost.

A plate of foodspring's Energy Bars in three variations, with each bar broken down into its components at the right side of the plate.
©foodspring

Try our Energy Bars now

Why Is a Morning Routine Important?

We all have some kind of morning routine. It’s the most important part of the day because it determines the mindset you start out with, and it’s when you’re the one who decides what your most important tasks are.

Nevertheless, many people tend to not use this time productively. If you’re leaving the house stressed, that’s often a sign that change is needed.

A white woman lifts her black glasses to her forehead to rub the bridge of her nose.
©gpointstudio

And remember: There’s no ONE productive morning routine. Yours should be fun and motivating for you, while it helps you reach your goals.

How Do I Start a Morning Routine?

A productive morning routine doesn’t have to begin at 5:30 a.m. with lemon water and light meditation. Of course it could…

But other people’s rituals for success – which often seem oh-so-perfect – might not work for you. So it’s important that you don’t just follow someone else’s routine. It’ll only be really productive for you if it’s individually tailored to your needs.

Have the feeling that you’re not making the most of your morning? Answer the following questions to figure out good morning routines for you:

– What does your perfect morning look like?

– How much time do you really need to start the day?

– What tasks do you need to accomplish to feel good about the rest of the day?

6 Tips for a Productive Morning Routine

Wondering if you could optimize your routines a little bit? Check out our top tips for some inspiration.

#1 A productive morning starts the night before

Preparation is key, so lay out your workout gear or your office clothes in advance. Pack your bag and prepare your food.

Suddenly every morning will be less stressful and you’ll have more time for yourself. Not only will you save time, but you’ll also minimize the number of on-the-spot decisions you have to make while hangry or in a rush.

Preparing this Quinoa Lunch Box in advance can help you with a morning routine
©foodspring

#2 Set your alarm clock for the right time

You don’t have to be an early bird to have a productive routine. With the right plan it doesn’t matter if you get out of bed at 4 or 8 a.m.

If you feel stressed and rushed, we recommend setting your alarm clock a little earlier. Sometimes just five minutes can make a big difference.

A white man checks his watch with a windowed roof out of focus above his head.
©BraunS

Did you set an early alarm, but you can’t get up without hitting the snooze button?

When your alarm clock rings, your sleep cycle is interrupted and has to start all over again after you fall back asleep. So if you snooze, you won’t get anything out of it, except that you’ll feel much more tired afterwards.

Avoid jarring yourself awake again and again by consciously setting your alarm clock a bit later from the beginning.

#3 Make your bed

It’s your first task and you can have it done within a few seconds. And we think it’s nicer to snuggle up at the end of a long day under the smooth feeling of a bed that’s been made.

#4 Drink water

Your body needs water, especially after you’ve slept. Make sure to drink water first thing in the morning. It not only gets your circulation going, but also helps you wake up more quickly!

A mason jar of lemon and ginger water. Drinking water is an important part of anyone's morning routine.
©foodspring

#5 Be proactive, not reactive

Don’t read emails, take phone calls or scroll through social media because this time is yours. Make conscious decisions about your schedule and focus on taking care of yourself. Pay attention to the things that you might neglect when you’re only thinking about necessary tasks. 

Is it a workout, reading more, or learning a new language? Doing things you’re passionate about will boost your productivity, and you’ll also feel much more balanced throughout the day.

Looking for workouts you can integrate into your routine? Take a look at our Workout Page for effective workouts adapted to your fitness level.  

Get Started for free

#6 Fuel your body

A healthy and balanced breakfast is essential for kickstarting your day.

Combine proteins, complex carbs, and an extra serving of vitamins, and you’ll not only start the day full, but also with the balanced nutrition you need to seize the day.

a mason jar of overnight oats with bananas, granola, almonds and coconut flakes. Click for the recipe.
©foodspring

Be sure to try our overnight oats recipe for a healthy and balanced breakfast that saves you a few minutes and reduces your stress levels!

Checklist for Your Morning Routine

Want to optimize your morning routine and make it even more productive? Write out a checklist of your most important tasks. With a little planning, nothing stands in the way of a perfect start to the day!

download your checklist now

Our Conclusion

  • A productive morning routine is the ideal way to kickstart the day.
  • There is no one-size-fits-all ideal morning routine.
  • Listen to your needs.
  • Think about what’s important to you.
  • Focus on taking care of those things.

Sources for this article

We at foodspring use only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.