How I Created a Productive Morning Routine

A few months ago, I realized I was kind of a gross mess in the morning. I was snoozing my alarm way too long, then jumping out of bed in a panic, forgetting a bunch of things I needed to do and grab on the way out the door, and starting each day off on entirely the wrong foot.

The day started rough and it stayed rough: I was tired, cranky, and unproductive. Slowly but surely, almost without actively trying, I fixed this by establishing a new morning routine and for the last few weeks, things have been much better. I made a lot of little tweaks, but two really stand out as what has made the difference, so here's what I did.

My morning routine starts at night

I am not a morning person and I never have been, either. I teach a few spin classes each week at 7 a.m. and, for three years of my life, my regular job started at 5 a.m., but these schedules were not my choice. Generally speaking, I'm more alert and productive at night. Back when I used to have to be up at 4 a.m., I used this to my advantage by preparing for the next day every night. I laid out my outfits, packed my bag, and pre-scheduled my Uber so there were fewer things to think about and do when I was bleary-eyed. I started getting eyebrow tints and eyelash extensions to lessen my makeup routine, relied on overnight hair curlers, and kept heels in my cubicle so I could commute in comfy shoes. I had it down.

But when I got a new job and started working from home and logging in with a later start time, all that went by the wayside. A few weeks ago, I brought it back. My clothes are laid out at night again, I invest heavily in my overnight beautification, and I look ahead at everything I'll need to do, then do whatever I possibly can before I go to sleep. I still work from home, though, so I don't have as much commuting to think about. Instead, I've started planning at night for all the other tasks I'll need to do the next day.

I do a brain dump, writing down everything the next day holds. I just stick this in a note on my phone, nothing fancy. Last night, my list included things like "cancel Hulu," "make facial appointment," and "get laptop fixed." Even the simple task of making a phone call gets added to the list so I don't think about it as I fall asleep and don't stress about what I need to do (or am forgetting to do) in the morning. But there's something else on my list, too: The things I'm excited for the next day. Today, that included "go to Tony Moly holiday showcase" and "open online shopping package." Counting these as daily tasks gives me something to look forward to, even though they're fun, not necessarily work. When I wake up in the morning and look at my list, I feel locked in on the serious stuff and hyped up by the fun stuff. That combination of a little anxiety and a little anticipation propels me right out of bed, no more hitting snooze.

Finally, I do a little work—not a lot, just a little. I pre-schedule emails, look around for cool story ideas I can pitch in the morning, and finish little tasks that I have the resources to do. For instance, "cancel Hulu" was on my list today because I couldn't cancel it on my TV and needed my laptop. I didn't have that resource available, so I just saved it for today. I don't let myself worry too much about little things; I just do whatever I can do before starting my wind-down routine, which involves reading a book, playing Fortnite, and luxuriating in various lotions, hair curlers, scent diffusers, and white noise machines. A good sleep is a huge part of having a good morning and God knows I'm serious about that.

I use a reward system to make mornings more productive

I write a lot about the benefits of using a reward system when you have to do something you don't really want to do, like clean the house. Without even meaning to, I started using that kind of thinking in the morning. For me, little treats and enjoyable activities really keep me going. To get through a day, I look for small joys and simply let myself have them; there are too many bad things in the world to justify depriving myself of small bursts of happiness and scheduling some of those experiences for the morning has really helped me prepare for the day. I just allow myself to have one nice thing when I do a productive or tedious thing.

First, I play the NYT Games while I brush my teeth and wash my face. Knowing I get to play Wordle and Mini Crossword as soon as I wake up, provided I get up and head straight to the bathroom, really motivates me. While I figure out my breakfast situation and drink a glass of water, I let myself play Goss, an app where I bet on pop culture to win in-game currency I can eventually redeem for makeup.

Since I work from home, if I'm not careful, I can spend eight hours sitting here without moving around on days when I don't teach an early spin class. It's all too easy to order breakfast for delivery, but staying in one place makes me feel lazy and sad, so I have been forcing myself to get up and walk to Dunkin', even when I don't feel like it. This makes me get dressed, gives me an opportunity to run any small errands I have to do, and yields an immediate reward. On days I teach my spin class, this is especially helpful, since it forces me out of the house earlier. If given the choice between 15 extra minutes of sleep or a pre-workout caffeine hit, I always choose the Dunkin'. I could make coffee or prepare my breakfast the night before, but I know myself and know I need a push out the door, so I don't do that while I'm doing the rest of my nighttime pre-morning prep.

I know myself and what works for me—pre-planning, phone games, and an over-priced iced coffee—and if these work for you, hell yeah. But if you need other rewards or routines, this is the time to play with them. With winter coming, mornings are only going to get colder and darker, which means it's only going to get more tempting to cut corners, stay in bed, and be less productive. Consider your own goals and motivators, then make incremental changes to find what works.