My Morning Routine

It took a global pandemic for me to realise how much I needed daily routines to help me reduce stress, create stability, and set myself up for success.

Routines ground us in times of certainty, free us from the burden of making small unimportant decisions, and free our minds to focus on what really matters.

I try to bookend the day with some simple intentional practices that improve my sleep, boost productivity, and enhance my overall wellbeing.

This version is from August 2025. I’ll try to keep this page updated as life changes.

The evening routine

A good morning starts with a good night. Here’s what I do:

• 20:30 Help my son brush his teeth and get ready for bed
• 21:30 Dim the lights just a little to remind my brain it’s bedtime. I have a few Echo routines to make this easier.
• 22:00 My phone and laptop kick me out of most apps using Downtime. I sometimes buy myself an extra 15 minutes to finish something but I like being kicked out again until I get the message and step away from the device.
• 22:15 Do a quick mental scan for anything I’m still thinking about. I have a note called “Tomorrow” on my phone where I add anything that needs dealing with…tomorrow. This helps my brain to let go overnight.
• 22:30 Take a quick shower to clean the body, relax the mind, and lower my core temperature.
• Open the bedroom window a little
• Put on comfy pyjamas
• Play some “dreamy” music – lately I’ve been enjoying Nala Sinephro
• 23:00 Read a book for a while
• Put on eye mask and ear-plugs
• 23:30 Lights out!

To sleep well I need:

1. Coolness
2. Darkness
3. Quiet

Opening the window, wearing an eye mask, and good earplugs have made a huge difference.

The morning routine

If I’ve followed my evening routine, it’s easier to follow the morning one. Times vary a bit with the seasons, school calendars, etc.

• Wake before the gentle alarm on my phone
• Turn off the alarm but don’t look at the phone (this one is tough)
• Breathe, stretch, & sit up
• Drink some water (I keep a bottle by the bed)
• Visit the toilet
• Put on a comfy jumper/sweater (in winter)
• Meditate for 10 minutes with this beautifully simple app
• Do some sun salutations
• Spend a few minutes in shavansana
• Make & eat porridge with fruit & two fried eggs
• Spend 5-10 minutes reading
• Shower & get dressed
• Open the “Tomorrow” note that I updated previously
• Dig in to the first task and carpé that diem!

These routines are slightly aspirational and things don’t always go to plan but I find it helpful to have them written down for reference when things go sideways.

Habits

A routine is a kind of habit. Good habits lead to good results. When I need more accountability to create or re-instate good habits, I use the “Don’t break the chain” technique with a physical wall chart like this:

Having it somewhere visible reminds me to do these things and gives me a little dopamine boost when I look at it.

You can download this template below.

Get your own habit tracker template!

I’d love to know about your routines. Let me know!