Is getting frightened by your alarm clock the first thing that happens to you every morning? Do you hit the snooze button at least two times before you actually get out of bed? Do you rush to dress up and pack your bag? Is being irritated and tired something you commonly experience when you start your days? If you answered yes to these questions, you probably don’t have a morning routine that’s working. This article will convince you that you should!

According to Harvard’s Continuing Education Division, an effective morning routine will boost your motivation, and productivity and make it easier for you to complete the tasks you set for yourself. Just having a little bit of stability each day, the effects of an actual ritual are remarkable. The benefits include improved relationships, more confidence, less stress and easier concentration and communication throughout the day. If you wish to maximize the positive effect, it’s important to know why exactly it works. We collected the most important bits below:

Having a plan eliminates unnecessary stress

Just by knowing what’s coming and being prepared for the next steps, our brains are programmed to function more effortlessly and efficiently. Stability and clarity result in confidence and a calmer mental state, making us more resilient, reactive and attentive. According to researchers from Harvard Business School and Stanford University, workplace stress can be as damaging to our health as secondhand smoke. When you avoid stress, you improve both your emotional and physical health. For instance, it may decrease your risk of developing depression and anxiety along with illnesses like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

A good morning routine contributes to better habits

A routine will help you not to waste any time spent on tasks that are not important, or things you only do for distraction. As a result, you will soon develop habits that actually serve your well-being, or make you stand out at work. You will find that you have more time a day than you previously thought you did. You may start eating more fulfilling food, practice mindfulness, make time to exercise or generally spend less time looking at your phone.

You can include healthy habits that boost your energy levels

In a culture where abusing caffeine is trendy and an integral part of the “hustle”, it’s easy to feel discouraged by low energy levels in the morning. However, if the beginning steps of your days are scheduled, it gives you an easier time keeping the rest like this, while also feeling satisfaction over completing some things in the morning. If you want an extra boost, try a workout, a cold shower or a short walk outside each morning.

A fixed routine may improve your memory

Repeating the same steps each morning makes you less prone to skipping something important. Your brain will slowly but surely become wired to automatically know the next step, so you won’t have to worry about leaving your phone at home anymore, leaving the heater on or forgetting to pack your lunch. You might even take the automation one step further, and introduce dedicated days for repeating tasks each week.

You can make nurturing your relationships a part of your routine

Sometimes your tasks may overwhelm you. As a result, many families had to get accustomed to expecting a reply from a hard-working relative in 10-12 business days. However, seeing your schedule clearly will show you empty spots of capacity, and you will find more time to nurture the relationships you want to spend your time with. Developing a morning routine will also help to maintain balance in your home, as the ones you live with will know exactly when you like to use the kitchen, the bathroom or look at a shared screen, so coordination will naturally come easier.

As you can see, keeping a healthy morning routine has several amazing benefits, and even though sometimes sticking with the new habits might be hard, it’s definitely worth a try.