The concept of a morning routine has certainly gained popularity lately. However, most healthy, successful people have been utilizing this idea for years.

Starting your day off with some sort of routine is a great way to create healthy habits and establish productivity. And while it may seem that certain morning activities are more popular than others, what you do during a morning routine is entirely up to you.

There are tons of morning routine ideas to choose from.

Any healthy person knows that they can’t maintain a successful lifestyle without structure. Beginning the day with a morning routine is a great way to utilize those crucial first few hours to set the tone for the day.

Although it might feel tempting to snooze your alarm and sleep until the last possible minute, getting out of bed earlier to allow yourself time for a morning routine starts your day off in a relaxed, productive state (rather than those frantic, have-to-get-to-work feelings).

Related: What Happened When I Worked Out Every Morning at 4:30 am

Regardless of whether you arrive at the office before the sun, work from home, have the entire morning to yourself, or need to get the kids ready for school – implementing a morning routine can really help optimize your day and promote happiness.

However, while creating a morning routine certainly sounds appealing to most, getting started is often the hardest part. These 20 morning routine ideas will help you brainstorm activities that will most benefit you in the morning.

Check out these morning routine ideas to create the perfect morning routine for health and success!

20 Morning Routine Ideas for Health and Success

Exercise

What better way to start your day than with an activity that gets your heart pumping? Whether it’s something relaxing like yoga or something more intense, like cardio or HIIT exercises, getting active first thing starts your morning off with some feel-good endorphins.

Even just 10 minutes of exercise in your morning routine has the power to turn the whole day around. Try this Quick 10 Minute Morning Workout to get started!

Meditate or Practice Mindfulness

Some people find that quiet, simpler activities benefit them most in their morning routines. Ease into the activity of the day by practicing mindfulness or meditation when you wake up. Clear your mind of any negative thoughts, taking the time to focus on gratitude and cultivate positive energy.

Journal

Another popular addition to many morning routines is taking the time to journal at the beginning of the day. Some keep gratitude journals or dream journals, while others simply write out their thoughts before the day begins. Try adding journaling to your list of morning routine ideas!

Study the Bible

If you are religious or spiritual, a great way to start the day is with a simple Bible study or spiritual practice. Many people find a great deal of peace and direction by reading their Bible first thing in the morning. Taking the time to focus your thoughts on what is important during your morning routine can help set you up for success each day.

Read

Whether you read a fictional novel, informational textbook, self-improvement book, a blog, article or the news – incorporating reading in your morning routine keeps the mind sharp and provides endless opportunities to learn and improve.

Once the day gets going, finding time to be still and read feels more and more challenging. Try reading during your morning routine to make time for it each day.

Create a To Do List

There is no better way to feel productive and organized than to make daily to do lists part of your morning routine. Sit down with breakfast and create a list of what all you need to accomplish throughout the day. Prioritize what is most important or simply brain dump everything that’s on your mind. You’ll feel confident and purposeful heading into your day!

Plan for the Day

Another morning routine idea that will set you up for success is to plan for the day first thing in the morning. Check your calendar, cell phone and to do lists for any tasks and activities that need to be accomplished. Plan out your schedule, meals, and work during your morning routine to ensure there is time for everything to get done.

Family Time

Whether you have a family of 10 or 2, prioritizing spending time together is a great addition to any morning routine. Spend time helping your kids get ready for school or eating breakfast with your spouse before the chaos of the day begins. You’ll feel more grounded and connected knowing you have some uninterrupted time together each day.

Make Breakfast

It’s no secret that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but finding time to make it can often feel like a struggle between work and family responsibilities. Rather than hitting snooze, get up a few minutes earlier to make breakfast part of your morning routine.

Find a meal that is simple and quick, or spend time cooking something gourmet. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you enjoy!

Related: 10 Easy, Healthy Snack Ideas

Relax with Coffee or Tea

Most weekdays feel jam-packed with activities, work, social outings and hobbies. By the end of the day, it’s easy to feel like you just haven’t gotten time to relax. Make relaxation a priority by adding it to your morning routine each day. Enjoy a warm cup of coffee or tea first thing in the morning while spending a few rare moments in silence.

Take a Cold Shower

If you’re looking to create a productive, effective morning routine, try taking a cold shower. The cold water will wake you up and get your blood flowing first thing in the morning. These cold showers can be incredibly energizing, which is just what you need to conquer another successful day.

Complete an Act of Kindness

When your energy or happiness level feels low, there’s no better pick-me-up than doing something nice for another person. Acts of kindness don’t have to be anything drastic – sometimes simplest things leave the biggest impact.

A great way to start the day is by completing a daily act of kindness during your morning routine. Whether it’s for a family member or complete stranger, you’ll feel great starting your day off with some cheer.

Engage in a Hobby

Many people feel that they have no time to spend on hobbies once work and family obligations are complete each day. Rather than always wishing you had time, make your hobbies a priority by spending time on them each morning.

Play some music, work on a painting, read a book, or practice a sport before heading to work. Taking the time to engage in activities you love is a great idea for any morning routine.

Work on a Side Hustle or Business

Whether or not you work outside the home, many people find themselves cultivating a side hustle or business opportunity at some point in their lives. Try adding some time to work on your side hustle, answer emails, or make progress at work before you leave the house. You’ll begin the day with a feeling of productivity that leaves you motivated to conquer even more as you get going.

Make your Bed

Leaving the house in disarray is an easy way to add stress to your life without even realizing it. The simple act of making your bed will help you feel organized and at ease when you return home. Maintaining a clean, orderly bedroom setting can help the area feel relaxing when you need it most. This simple task is an excellent morning routine idea!

Unload the Dishwasher

Many families fill their dishwasher at night, yet fail to empty it first thing in the morning. An unemptied dishwasher leads to dishes piling up in the sink and you feeling like you’re already behind. Incorporating this simple chore into your morning routine will help you start each day feeling fresh and productive.

Related: 11 Things Healthy People Do Every Day

Organize the Kitchen

Another organizational task that can have a big impact on your stress level at home is organizing or cleaning up the kitchen. After a long night of activities and meals, the kitchen probably never looks its best in the morning.

Putting dishes away, wiping counters or sweeping the kitchen floors during your morning routine will help things feel clean and fresh before many meals and snacks are prepared throughout the day.

Listen to Music

If you’re looking for a simple morning routine idea to improve your mood without requiring much effort, listening to music is a must. Put on some of your favorite tunes first thing in the morning as you get ready. Whether it’s upbeat music to wake you up or relaxing music to keep your stress levels low, listening to music is a great idea for any morning routine.

Walk the Dog

There’s hardly anything more rewarding in life than seeing your dog’s joy when he gets to go outside. Prioritizing his happiness and health by taking him for a walk first thing in the morning will not only keep him calm throughout the day, but it will help you get moving too. Plus, seeing that tail wag with excitement is a great way to start the day.

Meal Prep

Whether you plan your meals weeks in advance or simply decide the day of, spending a few minutes meal prepping or organizing dinner ingredients each morning will help you feel less stressed when it’s time to cook. Chop any veggies, gather any supplies, or simply decide what dinner will be as you get ready for the day each morning.

These morning routine ideas are all activities that have the potential to greatly increase your happiness and productivity each day. Choose just one or two, or compile a list to create an extensive morning routine.

Those extra few minutes in the morning may feel difficult at first when your bed feels awfully tempting, but once you’re up and moving, you might be surprised how enjoyable mornings can be.

Only you can make the choice to invest in your health, happiness and success each day. There’s no better way to start than creating a successful morning routine!

More morning routine ideas:

• What Happened When I Worked Out Every Morning at 4:30 am
• How to Create a Successful Morning Workout Routine
• Simple 10 Minute Full Body Morning Workout