7 Productive Tips to Transform Your Morning Routines Even if You’re Not a Morning Person

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You need these productive tips. Why?

You know the scenario – it starts as a distant hum, then grows louder and louder. You try to ignore it, but no matter how many times you make it stop, it always comes back.

It’s your morning alarm, and if you’re not a morning person, your relationship with this little device is often a love/hate thing at best.

You hit ‘snooze’ two or three (or six) times, drag yourself out of bed, then realize how late it really is and race through your morning routine, rushing out the door with barely enough time to get where you need to go.

Sound familiar?

Let’s be honest – if you’re not a morning person, and I mean not in any way, shape or form, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever jump out of bed at 6 a.m. bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (as old folks used to say) and ready to take on the day, no matter what you do.

It’s tough to fight our natural instincts, but there are ways to make them less of a hindrance to our daily lives. Even if morning is your worst time of the day, you can follow a few productive tips to make it smoother, less hectic and maybe even enjoyable. If you could use a little help in the early a.m., try these:

7 Productive Tips to Revive Your Morning Routines Even if You’re A Grump

1. Start the Night Before

Yes, I know. This is not the first time you’ve heard it, and it seems very simplistic, but dang-it not everything is mysterious and complicated.

One of the best productive tips you’re ever likely to get, and one of the best ways to have a better morning is to start preparing for it on the night before. As much as possible, get things ready ahead of time.

This can include: planning and getting out what you will wear (including shoes and accessories, jewelry, etc.), making lunches, packing up baby’s bag (if you still have young children), finding your keys, setting the timer on the coffee pot, etc.

One of the best things I’ve ever done for my morning routine was years ago (after I’d watched an episode on organization on the Oprah Show) when I re-organized and color-coded my closet.

My clothing is separated roughly into categories (dresses, pants, blouses etc.), then into subcategories (work/career wear, casual clothing, lounge-wear, evening wear etc.), then separated by colors.

It may sound tedious, but you only have to do it once, then simply keep your clothes organized in this manner when you place them back into your closet after washing or having them dry-cleaned.

Most often, I select my outfits the evening before, but now even when I choose an outfit in the morning when I get up, it’s much easier and faster to make my choices from an organized selection.

It’s surprising how many minutes you can save when all you have to do is grab and go. Plus, it lets you avoid having to make too many decisions early on when you may or may not be totally awake.

2. Simplify

This productive tip is helpful not only for hectic mornings, but for life in general. The more ‘stuff’ we have to take care of, the more we have to do and the less time we have to do it.

The same principle applies to morning routines – simplicity is key.

Do you really need the two-step mascara and the five-step hairstyle every day? Probably not.

Save the fancy stuff for date night and stick with the basics for your daily routine. The fewer steps you have to take to get out the door can make for a smoother, simpler, less crazy morning.

3. Delegate

In spite of what every woman’s magazine or talk show may tell you, you do not have to do it all.

Nor should you.

Women are incredibly strong, but we all have our limits.

When it comes to your morning routine (if you don’t live alone), delegate some duties to others and take a little weight off your shoulders.

If you’re married or live with a significant other, enlist their help.

If you have a family and children in your home, have older children prepare their own breakfasts and possibly those of younger ones as well.

They may also be able to help with other tasks such as feeding pets or clearing the table. You don’t have to be Superwoman every minute – give yourself some help.

4. Get up 15 Minutes Earlier

It really isn’t rocket science.

If you find yourself rushing because you’ve run out of time day after day after day, you need to make an adjustment. It seems like an insignificant amount of time, but you’d be surprised what an extra 15 minutes can do for you in the rush of your morning routine.

You will most likely never feel the difference in getting up only 15 minutes earlier, but you will definitely notice having that much extra time to get ready for the day.

At the very least, it’s a little slower pace or backup in case things don’t go as smoothly as planned. One less ‘snooze’ can make a big difference.

5. Find Some Inspiration

In the routine of day to day life, we can all use some inspiration to keep us going.

Especially first thing in the morning when the call of your body pillow is stronger than life itself.

Find those things that drive you, that motivate and excite you, and make them a part of your morning routine.

Place an inspirational quote on your bathroom mirror.

Read a short devotional or motivating blog post (Hint, hint).

Even reciting a list of your goals or dreams from your vision board out loud can turn your mind toward the bigger life picture and motivate you. Change it up every few days if you need to, but keep the inspiration alive!

6. Give Yourself a Special Treat

I don’t know about you, but I can remember many a day when the only thing that got me out of bed was the promise of a cup of coffee soon. If I would have had Salted Caramel Macchiato creamer to put in it, I may have gotten up even earlier.

Give yourself a small treat in the morning as motivation to get up and get going. This may be a self-bribe, but it has a purpose.

We’re looking for ways to make our mornings better and if it’s Warm Vanilla Sugar shower gel or a coffee shop creamer, use it. A little treat for yourself before heading into a busy day is okay.

This may be a self-bribe, but it has a purpose. We’re looking for ways to make our mornings better and if it’s Warm Vanilla Sugar shower gel or a coffee shop creamer, use it.

A little treat for yourself before heading into a busy day is okay.

7. Get an Accountability Partner

Okay, I hesitated including this tip because if it really is this bad, you may have some other, deeper issues with getting your morning started.

It may be that you have a health-related issue or something else is going on that needs investigation. However, if that’s not the case and you still struggle in getting through your morning routine after making adjustments to improve the situation, consider getting an accountability partner.

This can be a spouse, roommate or good friend that you talk to regularly. Ask them to help you – either by making sure you don’t abuse the snooze, by helping out with morning duties or just by being that little (friendly) nudge of motivation you may need.

Simply knowing that someone else is watching out for us, or just watching us, can sometimes be motivation enough to get things done and done well.

Morning routines are exactly that – routines. But that doesn’t mean they have to be drudgery. Find what motivates you, what wakes you up and energizes you and use it to your advantage to begin your day. Even though you may not naturally be a morning person, you can follow these tips to create a better morning for yourself and for all those with whom you live.

It really only takes a little effort to see a big difference and when you change your morning for the better, you can change your whole day (and possibly that of other people with whom you come in contact) for the better. Make that effort and see the difference it can make in your life!

Was this post helpful to you? Let me know in the comments. If so, please think about who you know that needs to read this and would be encouraged and benefit from this information in their personal journey. Then share this message with them. Thanks!

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