The internet is full of alleged “CEO morning routines”, social media influencers trying to convince us that drinking algae is the ultimate elixir of youth, and perfectly imperfect individuals preaching that your life should always be organized. No wonder we are all conditioned to believe that a 5 AM alarm kickstarting a productive morning routine is the key to success. In a previous article on the IseeQ blog, we mentioned the real magic of effective morning routines, and of course, in theory, the benefits of these routines sound desirable for everyone. But do they actually work in reality? If a morning routine is that important, why do most of us fail to implement one?  Well, because it’s one thing to realize a morning routine’s benefits, integrating it into your daily life might still pose quite a challenge. Here are some tips that might help you form healthier habits while remaining realistic and gentle to yourself! After all, we are all humans.

Stay consistent until keeping the morning routine is not that hard anymore

All beginnings are rocky and challenging, especially when they affect most of your days, but dedication is the key. According to a 2009 study it takes 18 to 254 days to form a habit, so we promise, it gets easier with time. But what can you do until? Try to wait it out and stick to it, using lists and habit trackers might help along with this phase. You can also set up small challenges and a reward system for yourself in the beginning to have even more motivation to implement the desired changes.

Practice mindfulness to keep up the motivation

Good morning routines come in all shapes and forms, however, including a little mindfulness is always a great idea. Among other benefits, a mindful morning routine can boost your energy which is something you will definitely need to keep your motivation while your new routine is becoming a habit.

The most popular ways of practicing mindfulness in the morning are journaling, meditation or yoga, but you can go with basically anything that you find helpful.

A great morning routine and mindful habits correlate and further each other’s positive impact in the long run, so we highly recommend keeping the latter in your schedule as well, even after you have already established a system that works for you, and perhaps want to improve on it.

Focus on your health so you can keep the ultimate goal in mind

Why do you need a morning routine in the first place? Being more productive is nice, but being healthier should always be your ultimate goal. Watching what you eat, drink, how much sleep you get, and how much stress you’re exposed to can influence your life. Try to stick to multiple positive healthy habits while forming your new morning schedule, so you will see results quicker and have an easier time adapting to your new routine.

Creating a morning routine is no competition, not even against yourself. It shouldn’t be about creating a checklist and struggling to keep yourself to it, furthering the number of stress factors in your life. Instead, it is about allowing yourself to begin your day with confidence, peace, and a positive attitude. It’s about controlling your schedule, and not letting it control you. IseeQ wishes you the best of luck!