3 Tips to Help You Be the CEO of Your Morning Routines

This post was creatively prepared by Drew Thomas, a nutritional science grad from the University of Minnesota.

It’s no secret that having a consistent morning routine plays an integral part in setting the tone for the rest of your day. Having an effective routine can boost your energy and motivation levels first thing in the morning, while also laying a solid foundation for the rest of your day- allowing you to be at your best as you encounter whatever the day brings you!

There are tons of resources all over the internet claiming to have the perfect morning routine, but the truth of the matter is that there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to morning routines. Finding a routine that works best for you may take a little trial an error. Once a routine is developed the most important thing is to maintain consistency, especially for that first initial time period after starting, until it becomes a habit and something you automatically do every morning.

Making your routine into a daily habit is no small task and is where the majority of people end up failing and giving up. So today I’m going to be sharing 3 key tips for helping you turn your morning routine into a daily habit and hopefully make it something you not only stick to but hopefully something look forward to each night before you got to bed!

Tip 1: Think Big 

Oftentimes people will embark on an activity without considering their motivations or what they even hope to obtain from the given activity. Before even planning or beginning to think about the specifics of your routine you should be asking yourself 3 questions:

  1. Do your mornings energize you and set you up to be your best each and every day? – Think about how you spend your mornings and how these activities influence your day.
  2. What would be the best result from a successful morning routine? Would it give you more energy, help you be more mindful during the day, Increase your focus at work? Know what you want from your mornings.
  3. How will this end result benefit what’s most important to you? Will having more energy allow you to increase your physical activity and meet fitness goals, or will it allow you to focus better and get that promotion at work, will it make you a better mother, father, brother, sister, etc.? Make sure that what you want from your morning routine aligns with what’s most important to you.

Looking at the big picture, and how an effective morning routine fits into this picture, will give you a clear understanding of why you’re trying to get into a new morning routine, how the routine is going to benefit you, and how it will set you up to better achieve the things that are most important to you. When you have a clear picture of these things it’s much easier to stick to a morning routine that, at first, might be hard and unenjoyable, but once it becomes part of your every day will benefit you greatly!

Tip 2: Prep

Extra motivation in the morning is often a hard to come by, so making your routine as easy and accessible as possible upon waking will play a huge role in whether or not you’ll stick with it. If working out is part of your morning routine, then set your shoes, clothes, iPod -anything you’ll need, out and ready the night before. If your goal is to journal each morning then open your journal to a new page, set the pen out, and have it on your desk and ready to go before you go to bed. If eating a healthy breakfast is part of your routine, prepare and set out as much as you can you can the night before.

The point here is to make it as easy as possible for you to achieve your morning goals and accomplish your routine. The less barriers in the way of your routine each morning, the more likely you’ll be able to stick with it and make it a positive every day thing in your life.

Tip 3 Make Adjustments

It’s unlikely that you’ll develop the perfect routine right off the bat so it’s important to gauge and evaluate each part and allow for changes when necessary. If something isn’t working don’t be afraid to take it out. If you find something that sounds interesting to try, don’t hesitate to throw it into your routine! The only way you’ll truly know if something works is by testing it yourself, and remember, just because something works for someone else, doesn’t mean it will work for you.

You’re the CEO of your morning and you have the ultimate power in deciding what the best routine is for you. Keep and implement what works, toss what doesn’t.

No matter how you spend your mornings, or whatever you choose as your routine, these three tips can be used to help you find and stick with a routine that works best for you. You can become the CEO of your mornings!


Drew Thomas was my fabulous, “can do” dietetic intern.

He is fortunate that his job marries his passions of nutrition, business and technology.

Sprig is an on-demand health/wholesome food company that allows consumers to have a hot, healthy meal delivered to in about thirty minutes by ordering from an app on your smartphone.

Land’s End park in SF
Golden Gate Bridge from Fort Mason. 

In Drew’s free time he loves to explore all the sights, sounds, and tastes that San Francisco has to offer. On weekends you can find Drew exploring up and down the California coast, skiing in Tahoe, or backpacking in the Sierra’s.

His goal is to bring Sprig to a city near you.

What habits help you master your mornings? We cannot wait.