For years, I woke up in the morning groggy and tired like a zombie, stretched my arm out to the pillow beside me, and searched impatiently until I wrapped my fingers around my smartphone.
That would begin a session of scrolling aimlessly until I mustered up the energy to get out of bed.
It turns out there are much better things one could do upon waking.
I’ve abandoned this habit in exchange for a more productive and healthy morning routine. This article contains a list of things to do in the morning before using your phone
Related article: Minimalist habits for longevity and anti-aging
Why You Shouldn’t Use Your Phone Upon Waking
I noticed that my morning phone usage drained me of energy and set the tone for the rest of the day. If I consumed content that was negative, my thoughts would reflect. Since everyone has an opinion they want to share, it’s incredibly easy to get lost in a sea of rubbish thoughts.
Worst of all was the FOMO from seeing other people live what appeared to be a ‘dream life’ on social media.
It was impeding my ability to feel good, to think clearly, and to be productive.
As a writer, my job is to think and transfer those thoughts onto paper.
There’s something ironic about the consumption of media that hinders one’s ability to create content.
Perhaps it was the information overload or the vast amount of triggering content on social apps.
Regardless of the source, I just needed to get over this habit and replace it with other things to do in the morning.
If you’d like to read more about the negative effects of checking your smartphone in the morning, check out this article by Forbes.
The following list of things to do in the morning before using your phone is carefully curated based on their effects. I searched and experimented with different habits and routines that maximized energy, clarity of mind, creativity, positivity, self-care, and health.
Related article: How I let go of emotional clutter with mindfulness
The Best Morning Habits For Productivity
- Get sunlight because it helps with your circadian rhythm.
- Drink 500 mL of clean water to rehydrate.
- Pray and ask God for guidance and abundance.
- Meditate for a few minutes.
- Practice mindfulness and count your blessings to improve your mindset and mood.
- Take a walk outdoors and get some fresh air. It will kickstart your metabolism and encourage the release of feel-good hormones.
- Write a to-do list, prioritizing your most important objectives first.
- Eat a healthy breakfast, preferably high in protein.
- Read a few pages of a book that helps fortify your mind from negativity.
- Stretch your body and foam roll.
- Grab a cup of green tea or coffee.
- Have a refreshing shower.
- Use the restroom and brush your teeth.
- Meal prep for lunch.
- Make your bed and tidy up around the house.
- Do some research for a project you’re working on today.
- Have a light-hearted chat with your family or spouse.
- Do some skincare and grooming.
Choose at least a handful of the items on this list and implement them in your morning routing before checking your phone.
The goal should be to gently support your body as it fully wakes up and regulates itself for the day ahead.
This is why I don’t indulge in rigorous exercise first thing in the morning. My body doesn’t feel good afterwards, which is why I prefer a relaxing walk in the sunshine instead.
I hope that with a few changes, you too can have a productive and positive morning every single day.