How To Create Work-Friendly Morning Routines That Support Wellness And Productivity

Mornings can be rough, especially on Mondays. Inevitably, there are work calls, but looking at the glass half-full will start the day at its best. By creating a work-friendly morning routine, you’ll prepare your mind, body, and energy for the day ahead. Being proactive in the steps you take before work will resonate throughout your day.

If you’re not sold on this concept, Her Agenda has gathered some suggestions that may work for you in support of your wellness and productivity for the new year and beyond.

“Your morning routine starts the day before,” said Melissa Franks, Fractional COO, Business Strategist, and Advocate for Women Entrepreneurs. “At the end of your workday, create your priority list for tomorrow. Detail the 3-5 things that must be completed, audit your calendar, remove unnecessary meetings, and timeblock your schedule to allow you to achieve your goals.”

Next, Melissa suggests getting at least seven hours of sleep, which means defining a consistent bedtime and sticking to it every day.

“When you have an established bedtime and sleep enough for you (we are all a little different), you naturally wake without an alarm. Waking fully rested is the best productivity hack there is,” Melissa said.

Combining preparation and rest, you’re on the right track to have a productive morning. Waking up to a pre-set workday means you start the day in a positive direction.

It can be easy to overbook, make a list of a multitude of things to do, and oversaturate things needed to be done for your workday. However, making a list and placing them in order of importance makes all the difference.

“Decide your top priorities for the next day (Focus on your top 3 instead of trying to pick 12),” said Ginny Priem, powerhouse keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, and bestselling author. “Set out anything that will make your morning go more smoothly. (Clothes, workout gear, your pre-filled water bottle, etc). Do a quick “mental UNSUBSCRIBE™” (from Ginny’s framework): let go of anything you can’t control or change tonight that doesn’t need to come with you tomorrow. 

Ginny says yes, this might be a hot take, but preparing too much can actually contribute to feeling anxious. You don’t need a military-level strategy session every night. It’s about clearing enough mental space so you feel supported instead of rushed in the morning.

“Start your day by being in community with someone who brings you joy!,” said Bose Akadiri, founder of Goal & Grind LLC. “Call the first person you think of in the morning. Maybe it’s your best friend, maybe it’s a co-worker, maybe it’s a family member. Or maybe it’s someone else altogether,” said Bose.

Bose says there’s a reason this person is on your mind, and a quick five-minute call will brighten both of your days. Ask what they’re looking forward to about the day and share what you’re looking forward to. “As a society, we’re currently experiencing high rates of loneliness. Imagine if you broke that cycle with a simple call?,” said Bose.

Everyone loves being thought about. If you have grandparents, great aunts/uncles, or people that hold a special place in your heart, starting your day by calling them could benefit you more than them. You never know what that call can do for you, they could give you a pep talk, equip you with the tools to conquer the day, or just boost your mood/mental. Make the call and set your day in the right direction.