8 Things to Do in the Morning to Improve Productivity

After the sun rises and your alarm clock sounds, the morning often feels like it slips away. If this is true for you, it may be time to implement an effective morning routine. Having a few action items to complete every morning sets the tone for the rest of the day, helping to improve your overall productivity. The most important thing to consider when it comes to creating a morning routine is choosing things you can do habitually. To help you with this, we have some easy changes you can make that won't just improve your morning—but will enhance your productivity throughout the day.

Start the Night Before

One of the best ways to improve productivity is to get a jump start on your morning routine the night before, says Donna McGeorge, productivity expert and author of The 25 Minute Meeting. Before bed, spend time deciding what you will wear the next day and putting it aside, planning out your meals, and reviewing your schedule. Completing these easy tasks at night rather than in the morning will lighten your load when you wake up the next day.

Move Your Body

Moving your body early in the morning can help boost energy levels by increasing blood flow and oxygen to your muscles and brain, says Mia Syn, MS, RDN, a registered dietician and author of Mostly Plant-Basted. "This surge of energy can help you feel more awake and alert, making it easier to tackle tasks throughout the day," she adds. In addition to making you feel more awake, exercise has been shown to enhance cognitive function and trigger the release of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. "Starting your day with exercise can put you in a more positive and focused state of mind, reducing stress and anxiety that might hinder your productivity," Syn says.

Eat a Nutritious Breakfast

Starting off with a high-protein, balanced breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day, says Sherrie Shen, MS RDN CDN, a registered dietician and nutrition counselor. "A balanced breakfast with proper allocations to protein, fats, and complex carbohydrates provides essential nutrients for the body, stabilizes blood sugar, enhances focus, and sustains energy levels throughout, promoting better overall health and productivity," she says.

Complete Mentally Demanding Tasks First

Some activities are best done in the morning, and others in the afternoon. Many people are their most mentally alert in the morning up to about midday, says McGeorge. "Any high levels of intense thinking or tasks that require mental energy are best done in the morning, and the afternoon is better for things that require physical dexterity, or things that you don’t need to think about and can do on autopilot."

Write a To-Do List

Mornings are typically when your mind goes through everything you need to complete throughout the day. Streamline these thoughts with a to-do list. "Creating a to-do list allows you to clearly see exactly what needs to be done, and in order of importance," says Krystal Conner, life coach and host of the How to be a Dangerous Woman podcast. "Allowing yourself to work through the list, completing each task before moving on to the next, and giving yourself adequate time with breaks in between will give you a feeling of being more productive during the day."

Make Your Bed

Making your bed is a simple habit that can set the tone for the rest of your day. "The way that we keep our spaces (room, desk, workspace, etc.) is an indication of how we are feeling on the inside," says Conner. "Making sure that your bed is made in the morning is a great start to clear up your room, and your thoughts. Additionally, when you make your bed, you reduce the temptation to get back into the bed for a quick nap."

Practice Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness—the art of being intentional in your thoughts and actions—in the morning can help you clear and organize your thoughts before starting the day. "When our brains are overwhelmed with thoughts about our endless to-do list, we can begin to suffer from decision fatigue," says Conner. "Starting your day with a regular practice provides structure."

Journal

If you have a hard time clearing your thoughts in the morning, consider starting the day by writing in a journal. "Journaling can clear mental space and also help you intentionally decide what kind of day you will have," says Conner. There are a few different ways to do so—you can write in a gratitude journal, follow daily journaling prompts, or free journal. It may take some trial and error to figure out what works for you.