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How I start my day often determines how the rest of my day unfolds. For real! Is it the same for you?
As someone who works from home, I noticed how inefficient I become whenever I work late, like 9 AM and beyond. It’s frustrating how I literally get nothing done when I’m off with a late start.
So, over time, I’ve developed a morning routine that *fortunately* prevents this chronic procrastination.
Want to see my morning routine, too? Then I’ll share it with you!
Here we go:
10 Realistic Morning Routine I Do Before 8 AM
1. Wake Up Early
Mondays to Thursdays, I work from home. So, usually, I can safely wake up at 6 AM, and everything starts from there. No rush.
But here’s something important to note: waking up early starts the night before.
A good day tomorrow depends on the quality of sleep you get tonight, so make sure you have 6-8 hours of sleep.
Any less, and you’ll feel like a zombie dragging yourself out of bed!
2. Pray.
The moment I wake up, I immediately do a short prayer.
Some people say praying is just talking to yourself. But you see, prayers are powerful if you know whom you’re talking to.
What I usually pray for:
I thank God Almighty for the new day and pray that He’ll use me as an instrument for His glory.
That He may give me wisdom to decide through difficult situations, and that I may use my gifts and talents as effectively as possible.
It is not my will, but Your will be done.
It sounds very spiritual, and surprise, surprise, it is!
It’s how you care for your mental and spiritual well-being.
In this way, I get reminded that whatever happens, I simply know someone is watching over me and know that He’s in control even in times that I’m not feeling it.
Over time, this kind of trust is one way my anxiety slowly dissolved. A great way to start my morning!
3. Drink a glass of lukewarm water.
I have a tumbler sitting beside my bed for like, forever. So in the morning, along with my puffy eyes, I’d grab it and chug about a glass of water.
See, dehydration naturally happens when we sleep, so if we drink water as we wake up, our body would say, “Thank you!”
Plus, drinking water as we wake up contributes to various health benefits, from better blood circulation and organ lubrication to improving our mental performance!
4. Read a chapter of a book.
In times when everyone is just starting their day with fresh minds, it has a significant effect to take in information that talks about life.
For clarification: my morning routine isn’t about getting all the tasks done in the first two hours; it’s about ensuring mental clarity before I start the day.
And reading a chapter or a book section for 10-15 minutes helps me gain that clarity.
No, I won’t read romance or fantasy books, but either a chapter of a self-help book or a chapter of the Bible.
Make this a habit, and after months or a year, you’ll realize how your hardwired mind evolves into someone brighter, wiser, more secure, and more peaceful.
5. Stretch.
Next, I get out my bed and stretch to fully awaken the sleeping muscles.
Don’t worry, this isn’t some intense workout—just a quick, feel-good stretch to get the blood flowing.
I go from head to toe, focusing on each body part for about 16 counts.
Starting with simple neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, and arm stretches, then moving down to my legs and feet.
Each movement is a chance to shake off any stiffness. It’s amazing how much difference this makes!
6. Brush teeth and wash face.
After stretching, it’s time to freshen up! First stop—washing my face. I like to start by rinsing off the oily residue and the skincare creams I applied the night before.
At night, I usually keep it simple and just use aloe vera gel. It’s super hydrating and soothing and has a natural glow-boosting effect.
No heavy creams—just a straightforward approach that keeps my skin feeling fresh.
Along with washing my face, I also take this time to brush my teeth. I mean, there’s nothing better than that clean, minty feeling that really wakes you up, right?
7. Find people to have short interaction with.
Mornings were a struggle back then. I didn’t have a routine, didn’t care about what was happening around me, and was honestly pretty self-centered.
Plus, I’m an introvert so shush! Keep quiet, ‘kayy???
But that was then. Now, it’s become a habit to interact with the people around me, and check my family’s whereabouts in the morning.
To give you some context, I’m a Filipina, and in our culture, family is central. Here, we typically live with our parents until we’re married or start families of our own.
So, with us four siblings—none of us married yet—our home is always buzzing, especially in the mornings as everyone gets ready for work.
So the very little interactions I have with my mom, dad, sister, brothers, and the cats are actually a priceless treasure I’m thankful for.
Whether it’s helping my mom with a couple of chores, teasing my sister about being late again, or joking with my brother—who’s also a teacher—about why he’s going to school when classes were canceled due to a typhoon.
These small, seemingly mundane moments have become precious treasures that remind me how lucky I am to be surrounded by family.
And let’s not forget the neighborhood. Here in the Philippines, stepping outside feels like walking into Belle’s lively village from Beauty and the Beast—minus the singing, of course!
The streets are bustling, people know each other, and there’s this infectious energy in the air.
So, I encourage you—take time to appreciate those around you.
Even if you’re an introvert like me, you’ll find that these VERY short but meaningful interactions can be a blessing, both for you and for the people you care about.
It’s these connections that make the start of the day not just productive, but fulfilling.
8. Bask in sunlight.
I take a short walk around 6:30 AM.
There’s something mesmerizing about the early morning sun.
Not only does the sunlight give some Vitamin D, there’s a beauty in that moment of stillness, in connecting with nature.
It reminds me to pause and appreciate the simple things—like the endless sky above, the fresh air, and the calm of the early morning before the world fully wakes up.
9. Prepare a light meal.
For my meal, I keep it light. Just some scrambled eggs. Other times, two pieces of pandesal bread will do it. Moreover, I prepare my coffee without sugar.
I don’t want to look too health-conscious, but when I started drinking plain black coffee with no sugar, I could no longer go back!
Lessening my sugar intake and not making myself too full surely kept me more active as the day went forward.
10. Clean home and my workplace.
I work from home, so obviously, it’s a routine to clean my workplace before I open my computer.
A few sweeping and mopping the floor. Washing the dishes or picking up the litter like crumpled papers and wiping off coffee stains.
A clean workplace removes the distraction of wanting to clean during my work hours.
So, once I finish my chores early in the morning, I feel a sense of accomplishment, giving me the momentum to finish more tasks.
Hurrah!
With all these routines listed above, I’ve found that my mornings are more peaceful and productive. And I hope these routines improve your mornings, too!
That’s it. Thanks for reading! 🙂
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