NAVIGATION
Why Have A Routine
Examples
Routine Ideas
Overcoming ObstaclesCommitting to a minimalist morning routine is one of the most effective ways to practice minimalism throughout the day. I’ve learned that following a set of personal guidelines each morning ensures that the rest of my day is streamlined, productive, and fulfilling.
Hi, I’m Ryan
Over the past decade, I’ve developed a minimalist morning routine that energizes me and keeps me grounded in my values before the day even begins. If your mornings feel a little chaotic, creating a simple routine could help transform your life, too.
What Is A Minimalist Morning Routine?
A minimalist morning routine is a set of carefully selected habits that you follow each morning, designed to help you live a simpler life.
To be clear, it’s NOT just another list of to-dos. Instead of requiring that you add a ton of new tasks to your plate, a minimalist morning routine should encourage you to question which activities can be eliminated or replaced with something more purposeful.
The routine you land on doesn’t have to be lengthy, showy, or complex (mine doesn’t include anything especially epic). Its only function is to help you start the day in alignment with your values — and maybe with a little more spring in your step.
Why Is Creating A Minimalist Morning Routine Important?
The idea of an intentional morning routine has become more and more popular in the media. People may hesitate to follow through, though, if they don’t know exactly why having one is important. There are actually lots of benefits to developing a minimalist morning routine!
It Reduces Decision Fatigue
Establishing a minimalist morning routine that can be repeated day after day reduces the number of decisions you have to make as you’re getting your day started, giving your brain an easy start and a much-needed break.
It Grounds You In Your Values
If enjoying time with your partner, organizing your space, or preparing a healthy meal is extremely important to you, approach those tasks first. That way, if you never get to the other stuff, it’s not catastrophic.
It Improves Productivity And Focus
The habits I’ve chosen to incorporate in my life align with my values and help me get closer to achieving my goals. I pretty much operate on autopilot for the first hour of my day — I get a lot done, and I am able to direct my focus toward my work, which is meaningful to me.
When you have a plan for your morning, you can spend less time worrying about if you’re making good decisions and more time accomplishing the things you want or need to do.
Examples Of Minimalist Morning Routines
There are a million variations of what an “effective” minimalist morning routine could look like. To give you an idea of what’s out there, I’ll share my own routine, along with a system that has become wildly popular.
My Morning Routine
- Wake Up At The Same Time Each DayI try to wake up around 8 a.m. each day. I have trouble sleeping sometimes, so the consistency helps.
- Shower Right AwayEven if I’m not going anywhere, I always take a shower first thing in the morning. It gets me into “work mode.”
- Take A WalkWeather permitting, I try to get outside for at least 15 minutes with no sunglasses. The natural light and early movement instantly energize me.
- Drink And Enjoy My CoffeeI love coffee and even roast my own beans, so making a cup for myself in the morning brings me great pleasure. Plus, the caffeine helps prepare me for work.
- Get The Work Day StartedAt approximately 9 a.m., I sit down to work. By this time, I’ve tended to my needs and I’m ready to start the day. I typically wait until noon to eat anything.
“Miracle Morning” Minimalist Routine
I can’t talk about morning routines without mentioning Hal Elrod’s book, The Miracle Morning. In his book, he outlines a technique called SAVERS, which I will share here.
SAVERS is a great approach to a minimalist morning routine, and it has transformed the lives of countless people.
If you’re pressed for time in the morning, don’t worry about executing all of these rituals perfectly. Choose the ones that would be most meaningful to incorporate into your routine.
S.A.V.E.R.S.
S (Silence)
Practice silence by engaging in meditation, prayer, reflection, deep breathing, or gratitude.
A (Affirmations)
Speak positive words to yourself to combat limiting beliefs.
V (Visualization)
Close your eyes and imagine the life you want. Consider who you need to be and what steps you need to take to get there.
E (Exercise)
Move your body to increase energy and enhance both your physical and emotional health.
R (Reading)
Pick up a book and gain knowledge, tools, or inspiration from authors you admire.
S (Scribing)
Record your daily thoughts, challenges, accomplishments, and insights as an act of catharsis and demonstration of personal growth.
Ideas For Your Minimalist Morning Routine
My minimalist morning routine is simple but effective. Rising with the sun and then completing a few brief activities that energize me is enough for me to feel calm, grounded, and ready for the day ahead. Adding any more tasks, especially if they do nothing to improve my morning, would feel inauthentic and wasteful to me.
Prepare The Night Before
The evening is an optimal time to get organized for the next day.
Lay out your clothes, tidy your workspace, write down unfinished tasks, or do whatever it takes to make you feel ready for the morning.
Wake Up Gently
Try waking up gently — either with the sun or an alternative alarm. There are so many different ways for technology to rouse you out of sleep these days. You can experiment with a vibrating watch alarm, a sunrise alarm, or a soothing tone.
Waking up slowly and calmly will help you start your day with a more positive attitude.
Make Your Bed
There’s an irrefutable connection between the state of a person’s environment and their emotional wellbeing.
Making your bed first thing in the morning will immediately alter the aura of your room. This visual cue has the power to set a productive tone for the rest of your day.
Set Intentions
Setting intentions for your day can help ensure that you prioritize your most important tasks.
Depending on what’s going on in your life, the intentions you set will probably vary from day to day. Keeping track of these in a journal and returning to them the following day is a great way to gauge how often your actions align with your goals.
Practice Mindfulness or Meditation
If you have a lot to accomplish in a day, it’s natural to wake up feeling anxious about what’s to come. Mindfulness and meditation allow you to clear your mind, de-stress, and focus on the present moment. These practices also provide space for reflection, gratitude, and self-discovery.
Journal
Journaling in the morning can provide an outlet to process your thoughts and feelings while cultivating clarity for the day. You can also use journaling to track tasks, monitor progress, list aspirations, or brain dump.
If you have no idea what to write about or how to start, check out this 21-day journaling challenge, which includes over 50 prompts for you to explore.
Exercise
Exercise doesn’t necessarily have to be vigorous to be effective. Movement of any kind —walking, swimming, yoga, lifting, etc. — floods your body with feel-good chemicals and makes you stronger.
Streamline Your Style
Streamlining your style is an easy way to make mornings feel more manageable without sacrificing your aesthetic.
Start by assessing which pieces of clothing you wear most often and get rid of the rest. Choosing high-quality garments, timeless silhouettes, and classic colors that go with everything will make getting dressed in the morning a much calmer experience.
I’ve gone as far as wearing the same minimalist “uniform” every day, and I hardly ever feel stressed about clothing.
Choose a Healthy Diet To Fuel Your Body
Even if you’re not hungry when you first wake up, at some point, you should drink water and eat a healthy breakfast. Staying hydrated and consuming nutritious foods are vital to maintaining motivation and energy throughout the day. These practices also support the idea of a minimalist diet.
Grooming
Taking care of your physical well-being is essential for long-term success. Practicing daily self-care habits, like brushing your teeth and washing your face, will help you feel refreshed and eager to start the day.
Overcoming Obstacles That Interfere With Your Routine
Everyone experiences roadblocks as they begin to integrate new routines. Don’t let this discourage you from continuing to pursue a minimalist morning. Instead, pay attention to the obstacles as they arise, and adjust accordingly.
Maybe you didn’t have as much time as you thought, so you have to cut a few activities. Or maybe you get really tired during meditation, so you choose to prioritize movement instead.
There is no “wrong” way to have a minimalist morning routine as long as it works for you!
Each time you refine your routine, you get closer and closer to the ideal minimalist morning that’ll help you seize the day and conquer your goals before lunchtime.
Your Turn!
- Which habits do you want to kick or incorporate into your minimalist morning routine?
- In what ways do you suspect your life will improve after implementing a minimalist morning routine?
Thanks for this article. I love SAVERS and its something I already do as part of my morning routine, but now I have a name for it! 🙂