5 Warning Signs Your Morning Routine Is Broken (And How To Fix It)

I’m pretty sure it’s just the season, but lately I’ve been in a perpetual rush. From the moment my feet hit the floor each morning, it seems I’m already late for life. It’s a bit of overachieving, and just lot of seasonal activities that have left my life in a jumble.

It’s time to take back some control. Do you feel like this too? Read on.   

Here are our top five warning signs that your day just isn’t starting out right, along with ideas about how to get it back on track. 

1. Hitting the snooze button – That wonderful, yet completely horrible snooze button. Delaying the inevitable has never been a good idea, so rolling over and delaying that day is just making a hard morning worse. Set a time to get up, and stick to it.

The Fix: Set multiple alarms, or put one out of reach so getting out of that warm bed has to happen. Also, maybe move up that bedtime to make sure you’re getting a solid 7-8 hours each night.

2. No quiet time – Ask just about anyone and they’ll agree: great brains are those that take time before the day begins to read, focus, pray, meditate, or do whatever it takes to start on the right track.

The Fix: Read the biography of someone who inspires you, like Teddy Roosevelt or Benjamin Franklin. Learn to meditate. 

3. Rushing the shower/shaving routine – The morning grooming routine is essential for a successful day, because if you don’t feel like a million bucks, how can you hustle out there chasing it? It’s important to make sure that shower is long enough to get warm, awake, and squeaky clean.

The Fix: Grab some quality grooming products that feel good, smell great, and make that skin looking great. I’m a fan of a good badger-hair brush and safety razor.

4. Skipping exercise – I can tell when life is getting out of hand when my exercise routine takes a dive. It’s like my canary in the coal mine because it’s the first thing to get cut from my schedule. Of course, taking this out of my routine has the immediate effect of lower energy, focus, and overall health.

The Fix: Fit in at least a 20-minute routine to get the blood flowing. Try this – 5-minute stretch, 25 push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, squats, repeat as necessary to fill the time.

5. Skipping breakfast – We’ve all heard it, but I’m going to throw it out there again – Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s the meal that jump-starts your metabolism, and gives the energy needed to dominate that day. If I miss this meal, I’ll jump all over the nearest sugared snack within a few hours, which makes a hard day that much worse. Do yourself a favor and get something in your stomach before heading out that door.

The Fix: Some solid protein, carbs and natural sugars make the best kick-start, prep for the week with some fresh fruit like apples and bananas, boil a dozen hard-boiled eggs, and stock up on bagels for an easy, on-the-go breakfast; or wake up 10 minutes early and fry up some scrambled eggs with toast and jam.

 Getting back into the groove of a morning well done will take some time. Keep in mind that habits take time, so give it a few weeks before it’s second nature again to wake up early and Carpe that Diem.