The key to having a successful day starts right at the beginning — more specifically, the beginning of your day. If you can master your morning routine, then you are setting yourself up to be more productive, switched on and to get more out of your day.

So, what does a great morning look like? Well, it all comes down to a routine. Here is some science-backed ways to master your morning.

The night before 

A great morning starts well before you wake up. The National Sleep Foundation guidelines advise that healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. A great night’s sleep will help improve your memory, learning, decision-making, and your creativity — all the things you need for a successful day at work.

Morning exercise

It will come as no surprise that in order to have a fantastic night’s sleep you need to be exercising in the morning. Early morning movement gives your body a healthy kind of fatigue and stress at the end of the day which results in a much better and deeper sleep. But more importantly, it also helps with getting you up and firing for the day, increasing your alert response and focus. 

Start with stillness

Whether it’s meditation, reading or simply sitting with a cup of tea in peace, a quiet morning routine is a great way to clear your mind to enhance your ability to remain focused throughout the day. All you need is five minutes of meditation, journalling or even a mindful walk to get started.

Fuel your body

While research suggests that perhaps breakfast isn’t necessarily the most important meal of the day, it still is important. Fuelling your body first thing improves your energy levels and ability to concentrate in the short term — it also provides you with the energy you need 

First things, first — do something engaging 

Your brain is fresh in the morning, so feed it with a task that is fun and engaging to get the endorphins flowing. Perhaps that’s writing a blog post or LinkedIn post, tackling something creative, or providing positive feedback on a project or colleague. Start your day on a high and with a feeling of accomplishment.