Morning routines (at least for me) have been flipped upside down since the beginning of COVID. Once, a self-proclaimed early bird, I’ve become one with my bed and slower mornings since the beginning of the pandemic. While I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing to have a slower morning, I do find I tend to have the best productivity in the morning. For me, the key to that would be a solid morning routine.

Here are some tips to have a good morning routine.

I should also note that while these work for me, these may need to be played around with to fit your needs. 

1. Get out of bed when the alarm rings. I am not a snoozer (one who presses snooze on their alarm), I never have been because I have an aversion to the sound of an alarm. I find that if I get out of bed first thing in the morning, the more likely I am to be able to start my day. If you are going to snooze, I recommend setting your alarm for 30 minutes before you actually need to wake up. 
2. Make my bed. One habit I’ve taken up during COVID-19 is making my bed daily. It makes me feel organized and because I am working at home, it helps to see a clean bed. 
3. Brush your teeth. Another thing that helps wake me up is brushing my teeth. Maybe it’s because my mom is a dental hygienist, but brushing my teeth first thing before I do anything is another cue to help wake me up in the morning. 
4. Drink water. I am not a doctor, nor a nutrition expert, but I do know that when I drink water first thing in the morning (and throughout the day) it helps. I imagine that I become dehydrated through the night. 
5. Journal/Meditate. So, for me, this one is easier said than done. On an ideal day, I use the app “Insight Timer” and do a morning meditation. I prefer the unguided ones, but the app is full of thousands of free meditations. Additionally, journaling can be a great way to get your stream of consciousness going in the morning. 
6. Get dressed. I love lounging and lazing around, but I will never stay in my pyjamas. Even if I’m changing to another “pyjama” style outfit, I always have to change in the morning as for me, that separates the nighttime and morning.

What are some morning rituals that help you wake up in the morning? Leave a comment below. 

Written by Alana Kaplan, Project Manager for the I Am Resilient Project.