18 Things to Do in the Morning to Increase Productivity

There are so many benefits to waking up early. Once I discovered all of the things to do in the morning to increase productivity, I was hooked.

Waking up early gives you more time to focus on self-care and stress reduction, which leads to improved productivity during the day and better sleep at night.

I feel healthier and happier overall when I wake up early rather than staying in bed until the last possible minute. This is coming from a former night owl.

There are tons of things to do in the morning that might otherwise get left out if you try waiting until later in the day.

These things are simple but super important, especially if you currently lack motivation or struggle to get everything done.

18 things to do in the morning to increase your productivity

This might seem like a long list, but there is so much you can accomplish before 9 a.m. without much effort.

Choose as many things to do in the morning as you think you can to make a big impact on your mood and increase your productivity throughout the day.

1 // Hydrate

I know the first thing you probably want to do when you wake up is grab a big mug of warm coffee, but what your body really needs is water.

Drinking water first thing in the morning is the quickest way to rehydrate after a long night of sleep. Dehydration causes fatigue, which greatly impacts your productivity.

Water helps your body flush out toxins and gives you the type of energy that lasts. 

2 // Exercise

Working out in the morning ensures that you get it done and it helps provide energy that keeps you going all day long.

Some benefits of exercise include better mood, improved sleep quality, less stress, and increased immune function.

The best time to work out is when it works for you, but there are definitely benefits to adding exercise to your morning routine.

3 // Drink a cup of coffee

This is my favorite part of the morning and what gets me out of bed. I love my morning cup of coffee.

After you drink your water, go ahead and enjoy your morning brew. Coffee can improve brain function and physical performance.

A cup of coffee provides you with a boost of antioxidants, which helps your body fight against multiple diseases.

4 // Eat breakfast

There is a lot of chatter these days about intermittent fasting and skipping breakfast.

While there are benefits to fasting, it may be more beneficial to fast at night rather than during the morning.

Eating breakfast improves concentration, focus, and energy levels. These things are essential for peak performance and sustained productivity.

5 // Get ready for the day

I get dressed, put on makeup, and fix my hair every single day, even though I work from home. Doing this improves my confidence and productivity.

Are you showing up as the kind of person you want to be and for the kind of life you want to have?

Science shows that the way you dress can impact your performance. Think about the kind of results you want in your life and dress for success.

6 // Make your bed

Making your bed is something small you can do to start your day off right. Completing this task can set the tone for your entire day.

Incorporating this habit into your morning can lead to creating other small habits that lead to big results.

This is known as The Compound Effect. There are seemingly inconsequential steps that you can take every day that will move your life in a different direction.

7 // Throw in a load of laundry

Laundry is one of those tasks that is never done. We keep wearing clothes, thus we keep doing laundry.

One way to tame the laundry monster and keep it from becoming an insurmountable task is to throw one load of laundry in the washer each morning.

Keeping up with the laundry, consistently, each and every day prevents it from piling up without requiring you to put off other tasks in order to dedicate a whole day to get it done.

8 // Unload the dishwasher

I love waking up to a clean kitchen. Messy spaces cause us to feel anxious and overwhelmed.

Keeping the dishes out of the sink is a super simple way to reduce anxiety and help you feel ready to tackle your to-do list.

Make a habit of loading the dishwasher each night after dinner and unloading it each morning, so the dishes don’t pile up.

9 // Check your bank account

Creating a budget is super important, but sticking to it is what will change your life.

Research shows that money is the number one cause of stress for Americans. How can you expect to be productive when you are stressed out all the time?

If you don’t have a budget, you can start here. Once you have your budget in place, it’s a good idea to log in to your bank account each morning and record your transactions.

This helps you stay in tune with what is coming in and what is going out, so you can make adjustments before it’s too late.

10 // Connect with your loved ones

Relationships are so important to us as humans. It’s easy to get so locked into your to-do list that you forget to connect with the people around you.

Make time in the morning to chat with your spouse or have breakfast with your kids before the day gets too busy.

These connections can improve your mood and increase your energy levels.

11 // Listen to an inspirational podcast

Podcasts are a great way to get inspired before the day starts. This is something you can easily do while you are doing something else.

Pop in your earbuds and listen to a podcast during your morning run, or bring your phone into the bathroom with you and listen while you get ready for the day.

Podcasts can motivate you to make positive changes in your life, chase your dreams, or improve relationships with your loved ones.

12 // Read

If you love to read, but just can’t seem to find the time, the morning hours are perfect for snuggling up on the couch with a good book.

Wake up before your kids to get some quiet time in with your cup of coffee and the latest novel you’ve been wanting to read.

You can also use this time to catch up on your favorite blogs or news articles.

13 // Journal

A great way to reduce stress and increase productivity is to get all of those thoughts out of your head and onto paper.

Journaling can help clear your mind and get your creative juices flowing. You never know what ideas might come out of your journaling sessions.

To get started, grab a pen and a notebook and just start writing whatever comes to mind. Start small by aiming to write one whole page and build up as time goes on.

14 // Pray or meditate

Prayer and meditation are also a good way to clear your mind and begin to visualize the type of life you want to create for yourself.

Release all of your worries and ask for guidance or meditate on a specific Bible verse to create a positive change in your life.

This quiet time will give you peace and improve your ability to approach your day with a calm mind and spirit.

15 // Focus on gratitude

Recognize the things in your life that you are grateful for to improve your outlook on life and change your mindset.

Mindset is everything. One thing I learned by listening to The Life Coach School Podcast is that your thoughts produce your feelings.

How you feel determines your actions, which then creates your results. Focus on gratitude to improve your mindset and, in turn, improve your results.

16 // Work on a passion project

Do you have a side hustle or a dream you have failed to pursue because you think you don’t have enough time?

I love waking up early to pursue my goals. Try waking up one hour earlier to just get started. That will give you the momentum you need to keep going.

Getting started is the hardest part. Once you begin working toward your dream, you will become inspired and motivated to continue.

17 // Review your goals

Goal setting is important because it provides a roadmap for creating the kind of life you desire to live.

Setting and achieving goals is what will get you where you want to be in life. Taking note of your progress reminds you of where you’ve been and how far you’ve come.

It will also show you what’s working and what isn’t, so you can change course before it’s too late.

18 // Plan your day

Plan ahead as often as possible to reduce the number of decisions that you need to make when you’re supposed to be working on your task list.

When it comes time to get things done, you don’t need to waste your time deciding what to do. You can easily increase your productivity by planning what you will do ahead of time.

I recommend doing this each Friday for the week ahead, but you can start small by taking time each morning to plan what you will accomplish during that day.

Now, it’s your turn

Creating an impactful morning routine doesn’t seem so hard now, does it? There are quite a few things to do in the morning that add up to create big results in your life.

You can start by choosing the three that resonate with you the most and waking up 30 minutes earlier to make it happen.

Once you make that a habit, choose three more and wake up even earlier. You will enjoy it so much, you won’t want to stop.

A good morning routine is essential to a positive and productive day and one of the first steps you can take to create the kind of life you desire.

Which will you choose to add to your morning routine?