The word “Morning Routine” has become a buzz word of late. This is partially thanks to articles floating around on the internet about the morning routines of billionaires, and Robin Sharma’s The 5AM Club. There’s just something about those few quiet hours before the day begins that can help you to reset your mindset and set you up for a successful day.

Creating routines are something many scientists believe are good for us. Routines help us to be more productive, plan better and reach our goals quicker. A morning routine can help you begin your day with peace and confidence. It allows you to nurture a more positive mindset that helps you deal better with stress throughout the day. Waking up before everyone else gives you some golden quiet time to align yourself for the day ahead.

Successful people who follow morning routines

Routines form habits, and habits enforce consistency. This is how many successful people have managed to work towards and follow their dreams. Once you create routines and habits set to help you achieve and reach your goal, you become consistent in pursuing it. According to author Tom Corley, successful people have this, and getting up early in common. Here are some famous people who live by their morning routines:

• Warren Buffet
• Oprah Winfrey
• Steve Jobs
• Richard Branson
• Jeff Bezoz
• Elon Musk

Finding a morning routine that suits you

Creating a morning routine for yourself isn’t about seeing how many things you can get done before the day starts. It’s about giving yourself a chance to spend time with you, check in with how you are feeling and do something you enjoy without any outside interruptions. Here’s some ideas to get you started on creating your own morning routine:

• Start your day off with a few minutes of stretching followed by a meditation session
• Do intentional or visual mapping and repeat a few positive affirmations for the day to yourself
• Journaling
• Do an exercise routine
• Get up and out – go jogging or walking in the fresh morning air
• Go for an early morning swim
• Spend time in nature and being mindful
• Create a morning coffee routine and spend some time actually making and enjoying your cuppa in peace

When we wake up, our brain waves are in a state that allows us to be closer to our subconscious mind (alpha waves). This means that in the morning it’s easier to train our brains into positive new habits. If you set up a routine to help you start off your day organised, goal-orientated and productive, chances are that you will spend the rest of the day in that zone. The opposite is also true. Think of a day you overslept – the whole day seems out of your control, stressful, unorganised and your productivity are probably not at its best.

If you are not a morning person and find it difficult to wake up early, don’t stress. Being a morning or night person is actually genetically determined by your genes. Even if you prefer to wake up later, you can still work in a quick morning routine to help you feel organised. If you want to work on your goal setting and productivity, most night owls feel more clear-minded later in the evenings right before they go to bed. You can create a ritual around this time that also includes reading, journaling or meditation.

There are numerous benefits in creating routines and getting up earlier. Here are some of the main ones:

• Cultivates positivity and better handling or stress throughout the day
• Helps you to feel more organised and increases productivity
• Helps you to problem solve
• Encourages a healthier lifestyle (i.e. exercise, meditation)
• Gives you time to self-nurture so you have the energy to give back to others
• Encourages a state of calm and peacefulness

If you want to try and create a morning ritual, just start by setting your alarm clock half an hour earlier and avoid the snooze button. You will soon realise what you are able to do for yourself during this quiet time and start creating a new positive habit that will bring you so much more benefits.