10 Slow Morning Habits to Transform Your Day
Are you tired of feeling rushed in the morning?
Do you feel like you’re always playing catch-up?
If so, it might be time to slow down and rethink your morning routine with these 10 slow morning habits.
Slowing down, especially in the morning, will help you live more mindfully and intentionally.
If you’re striving to improve your life, it’s key to give yourself the time and space to focus on your well-being.
And this is exactly what we will cover today with these 10 slow morning habits!
Ready to slow down and finally take the time to live?
Let’s dive in!
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What’s a Slow Morning?
Slow mornings are all about taking your time and being mindful of your actions.
This means setting aside time for yourself to do things that make you happy and fulfilled.
It might sound like a luxury, but it’s really just about taking control of your life and making time for what matters to you.
Implementing a slow morning routine will help you focus on your well-being and personal growth to achieve your goals.
You can basically add every habit you enjoy to a slow morning routine as long as it helps you live a more balanced, healthy, and intentional life.
However, having a slow morning does not mean waking up and spending hours watching TV or scrolling on your phone.
Because slow mornings are still meant to be productive.
Implementing a slow morning routine will help you redeem your time and start the day with more clarity.
And this is exactly what you’ll need to transform your life.
Now that our definition of a “slow morning” is clear, let’s discuss 10 slow morning habits that will help you live a more balanced life.
Related read: 12 Benefits of Slow Living
10 Morning Habits to Slow Down
1. Wake up Early
When implementing a mindful morning routine, it’s important to set your alarm early enough to have time for the new habits you want to commit to.
Usually, this means waking up at least one hour before leaving the house for work.
If you’re not a morning person, this might seem impossible.
I get that. I used to wake up 20 minutes before leaving for College and would have breakfast while commuting.
But waking up so late can only stress you out.
Mornings can make or break your day.
So starting your day in a hurry is definitely the best way to prepare for an unproductive day.
To transform your life, you need to make every day count.
If you struggle to wake up early, gradually increase your daily wake-up time until you reach your goal time.
A few tips can also help you wake up early and not feel tired:
- Avoid screens one hour before going to bed to fall asleep faster and improve sleep quality
- Go to bed early enough so you can get 7-8 hours of sleep
- Change your alarm to an energizing song you like
- Put your phone across the room to stop hitting “snooze” and using your phone while in bed
- Meditate before bed or listen to a sleepcast with Headspace
- Wake up and go to bed at the same time every day
Once you’ve mastered waking up early, you can move on to the next step: creating a morning routine that works for you.
2. Define Your Slow Morning Routine
Implementing a routine is one of the most important aspects of a slow morning.
Waking up early is a great way to improve your life. However, you must ensure you use this time wisely.
Your morning routine should be based on your goals and what you want to achieve in life.
It can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be, but no matter the habits you decide to implement, writing your routine down will be key in the first days of following it.
Until you turn these new activities into habits, it will be easy to skip or forget about some of them. Hence, writing down your routine will help you stick with it until it is well-established.
To do so, you can either write it in your journal or use a to-do list app.
If you decide to use an app, I recommend Ticktick.
Now that you have decided how to keep track of your routine, let’s discuss the other habits that will help you create a more intentional morning routine.
Related read: 12 Benefits of Slow Living
3. Set Your Goals for The Day
Setting goals for the day is part of every productive morning routine.
It will be hard impossible to achieve your life goals without a clear plan.
So sit down for a few minutes every morning and write down your 3 main goals for the day.
These can range from working on a project to spending more time outside.
When completing the tasks on your list, try to start with the hardest or your least favorite one.
Eating that frog is a great way to be productive and kick off your day as it will give you a sense of relief and an instant confidence boost.
Related read: How to Write a Goal Action Plan
4. Work Out
Including some form of exercise in your morning routine is a great way to boost your energy levels.
It doesn’t have to be too strenuous, just something that gets you moving and raises your heart rate.
You can go for a run, do a quick workout at home, or even just walk around the block.
Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you enjoy so you’re more likely to stick with it.
Need help to get started?
If so, you should definitely try FitOn. This free app offers a wide range of exercises, from yoga to HIIT workouts, making it super easy for beginners to start exercising.
5. Have a Nutritious Breakfast
One of my favorite things to do in the morning is to cook a healthy breakfast.
Breakfast provides you with the energy you need to get through the day and helps you stay focused and productive.
Eating healthy at home is a simple but effective way to avoid eating junk food while commuting or in the office.
Include a mix of healthy fats, proteins, and complex carbs in your breakfast to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.
If you are afraid of being short on time, you can make plenty of quick and healthy breakfast recipes the night before.
Doing so will help you have enough time to enjoy your breakfast and eat mindfully, which is one of the best slow morning habits to implement.
And if you really don’t know what to cook, Pinterest will help you find new recipes to try out!
6. Listen to Upbeat Music
Listening to music is a great way to start your day on a positive note.
Make sure to choose upbeat, positive songs that will put you in a good mood. This will help you set the tone for the rest of your day.
You can listen to music while you’re getting ready, during your commute, or even at work if it doesn’t distract you from the task at hand.
If you have trouble finding motivation in the morning, listening to music can be a great way to boost your energy levels and get you going.
7. Listen to Podcasts
Podcasts are a great way to learn new things, be entertained, and stay informed.
They’re also perfect for listening to while you’re getting ready in the morning or during your commute.
If you’re not sure what to listen to, many different podcasts are available on a wide variety of topics. Nowadays, you can find podcasts about literally everything.
Here are my 5 favorite podcasts at the moment:
- I Will Teach You to Be Rich with Ramit Sethi
- Ten percent happier with Dan Harris
- Happier with Gretchen Rubin
- The Lavendaire Lifestyle by Lavendaire
- The Tony Robbins Podcast by Tony Robbins
Podcasts are also great for learning while doing unproductive tasks.
Listening to podcasts while doing chores or commuting is a great way to use your time wisely.
It will also improve your understanding of the world around you and exercise your thinking ability.
If you are the type of person who doesn’t like to read, podcasts will also help you improve your education daily.
8. Spend Time Outside
Spending time in nature is a life-changing habit.
This simple activity can help you clear your mind, relax, and feel refreshed.
If you have a backyard or access to a park, take some time to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air as often as possible.
Even just a few minutes every day can make a big difference.
If you struggle to stay productive throughout the day, spending time outside during your lunch break is a great way to recharge your batteries and take a real break before getting back into serious mode.
Spending time in nature will help you calm down and refocus on your busiest days which is why it’s such a great habit to add to your morning routine if you can.
9. Organize Your Space
Living in a clean, organized space can help you feel calmer and more in control.
If your space is cluttered, take some time to tidy it up before leaving the house in the morning.
There is nothing worse than coming home after a long day and having to spend hours clean around.
Cleaning in the morning will help you feel less stressed and more productive in the evening, giving you extra time to work on your personal projects or rest.
Our environment has a huge impact on our mindset. An organized space will help you focus your energy on what matters to you.
10. Read
Reading is another great way to unwind and learn new things.
If you have trouble finding time to read, try reading for just 15 minutes every day in the morning.
You will rapidly feel the benefits of reading and will make time to read more.
What you decide to read is really up to you. You can read an article, a chapter of a personal growth book, or anything else that interests you.
I love reading books that can somehow improve my life. If you need ideas for books to add to your reading list, here are some of my favorites:
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest
- The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest
- You’re a Badass by Jen Sincero
- Quit like a millionaire by Kristy Shen
- The subtle art of not giving a f*ck by Mark Manson
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
- You’re a badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
According to research, reading for as little as 30 minutes per day positively impacts blood pressure and stress levels.
And that’s definitely another great reason to read more.
If you are not used to reading, give it a try for a few days, and you will rapidly notice how beneficial a few minutes of reading will be.
Chances are that it will become a habit you will love to stick to.
Final Thoughts
Implementing a slow morning routine should be one of your priorities if you want to focus on your personal growth and improve your life in the months to come.
Taking time to reflect and increase self-awareness first thing in the morning will help you live intentionally and ensure that you make each day count.
The secret to a successful slow morning routine is to have a plan and use your time wisely.
So give these 10 slow morning habits a try to increase productivity, take care of yourself, and create a life you will love.