10 Morning Routine Ideas to Level Up Your Day

When you start your day with a successful morning, you build momentum for the rest of the day. Although the perfect morning routine looks a little different for everyone, the best morning routine ideas can help you stay positive, productive and grounded. Keep reading to learn how good habits can start your day on the right foot.

10 best morning routine ideas

1. Start with gratitudes, not news feeds

Avoid checking your Twitter feed or scrolling endlessly through Instagram first thing in the AM. Ever start out by clicking through just one link or one feed and by the time you come up for air, you’re resurfacing an hour or two later?

Not only can social media news feeds be emotionally draining and have a big impact on your mental health, but they can also be a huge time and productivity suck.

Instead, write down what you’re grateful for. Keep a journal or notepad next to your bed, or use the notes app on your phone so you can jot down your gratitudes first thing. (Some people call this “morning pages.” We just call it a great idea.)

Journaling is an affirmative act that helps you get in a great frame of mind to start your day with intention and positivity, while also supporting your mental health.^[1]

2. Make a next-level cup of coffee

Here’s a great way to clear your head and get focused: Start your day with something just for you. Making yourself a cup of Bulletproof Coffee is one way to boost your morning productivity levels with fuel that keeps you going and helps you feel satisfied.

This isn’t just a cup of butter coffee. It’s a creamy, frothy drink filled with quality fats to energize your mornings and get your day started off right. It’s made with grass-fed butter (or Bulletproof Grass-Fed Ghee) and Bulletproof Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil.

Don’t worry—Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil is flavorless, so it won’t compromise the flavor of your cup of Joe. Instead, it gives you a fat-burning boost of energy. When you pair it with grass-fed butter or ghee, you get a buttery, satisfying cup of coffee that fuels you all morning long. Get the Bulletproof Coffee recipe.

Running behind and don’t have enough time to blend up your favorite Bulletproof Coffee? Just add a scoop of Bulletproof Original Creamer to butter your coffee and get more done.

3. Get some movement in

You don’t need to take a cold shower to get a blast of energy. Just commit to adding movement to your morning ritual. It’ll do more for you than smashing the snooze button on your alarm clock ever could.

Whether you prefer a morning walk or kettlebell swings, what matters is that you move in a way that works for you and your body. Do yoga, lift weights, jump on your stationary bike or have an all-out sweat session. Any morning workout you choose to get your blood pumping is going to have your mind and body thanking you for the rest of the day.

That’s because physical exercise makes your brain work better, according to Harvard Health.^[2] Exercise helps with memory and thinking by reducing insulin resistance and inflammation. Working out releases the chemicals in the brain that support brain cell health.

And as an added bonus, exercise also improves your mood and quality of sleep, while helping to reduce stress levels and anxiety. Find out how to reduce stress and sleep better with exercise.

4. Take your supplements

Supporting your body with essential nutrients in the morning can help set up your day for success, especially if you’re supplementing to fuel your brain, amp up your workout or manage stress levels.

Some supplements work best when taken on an empty stomach (like right when you wake up). Others should be taken with fat so that they are absorbed better into your system, so take those with your morning Bulletproof Coffee. Learn more about when and how to take your supplements.

Here are the Bulletproof supplements that what we recommend taking in the AM:

• To manage stress^†: Zen Mode
• To support immunity^†: Vitamins ADK and Zinc with Copper
• To detox^†: Glutathione Force
• To support brain and joint health^†: Omega Krill Complex
• To boost ketone production: Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil

Bulletproof tip: If you wake up feeling like you need an extra boost of vitamin C, reach for Immune Complex. Along with 1,000mg of vitamin C, it contains elderberry and an herbal Immunity Blend for targeted immune support when you need it.^†

5. Do something for you

Self-care is a key part of your wellness routine, and starting off your day with your favorite self-care practice can be beneficial to your mental health and productivity.

Keep in mind self-care doesn’t have to be extravagant or take a ton of time. You might prefer to meditate, listen to your favorite podcast, have a sit-down healthy breakfast or just take a few deep breaths before starting your day. Whatever floats your boat, block out time to check in with yourself, set intentions and practice something that brings you joy at the start of the day.

Check out this list of 19 self-care ideas to start building your ideal morning routine.

6. Prep your meals (or just snacks)

Meal prep is a great example of how a morning habit can be impactful all day long. Instead of scavenging for snacks as the day progresses, meal prep for the day ahead. This will help you avoid picking at food throughout the day and give you more structure for how often and what you’re eating.

You don’t have to wake up early and cook an entire week of meals, either. Instead, clean and dice vegetables to toss into a salad later. Choose and set aside your snacks for the day (like Bulletproof Collagen Protein Bars). Or make an extra-large breakfast and portion half for the next day. These recipes are great for batch cooking and reheat well:

• Paleo Sweet Potato Hash with Bacon
• Keto Bacon and Zucchini Muffins
• Collagen Keto Bread
• Low-Carb Thyme and Zucchini Fritters
• Keto Coconut Flour Pancakes

Related: 23 Keto Meal Prep Recipes to Help You Stay on Track

7. Schedule your day based on your circadian rhythm

People run better on different schedules based on their circadian rhythm—your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. Being an early morning person or a night owl can and should impact how you structure your day.

Maybe you’re most awake, alert and productive in the afternoon. That’s when you should block out some time to start that new home project, really focus on work or tackle a workout. Or maybe you prefer waking up early, and you want to get all those big things done by noon. Then, focus on some self-care while you feel yourself winding down later in the day.

Whatever your rhythm, if you need help winding down at the end of the day, reach for Bulletproof sleep products as part of your bedtime routine. Stir some Sleep Collagen Protein in your favorite nightcap to sip your way to sweet dreams.† Prefer taking a capsule and calling it good? Try Sleep, a supplement made with 3mg melatonin and a custom blend of traditional sleep herbs.

Whatever your rhythm, finding your fit and reworking your day around it will help to keep you motivated and engaged. Find out how to decode your circadian rhythm for all-day productivity.

8. Set goals for the day

Goals can help you build structure at a time when structure has taken a back seat.

If you want to maximize a free morning (instead of scrolling social media feeds), get started on personal goals or side hustles. Learn a new skill, dig into a new hobby or read that book that’s been living on your shelf for the last year collecting dust.

Let’s face it—we’re wired to love rewards and accomplishments. Checking the boxes when you complete an important task can help propel and motivate you throughout the day.

Take a look at your to-do list and pick out your top priorities. Schedule them into your day or week and create a time management outline. This will form a step-by-step guide to help you stay on track to hit your goals, one morning at a time.

9. Drink water

A good morning routine should include a cold (or hot!) glass of water. When we’re asleep for hours, we’re going a long time without drinking water, which can lead to us gradually becoming dehydrated.

Whether you pair it with a cup of coffee or choose to start your morning with lemon water, staying hydrated is an important step for overall well-being. A 2012 study states that being dehydrated by even 2% can impair tasks that require attention, psychomotor and immediate memory skills. ^[3]

So, drink to your health—successful people like you need to stay hydrated, after all.

10. Get dressed

If you stay in your pajamas all day, you’re setting yourself up for some great lounging—but not necessarily super productive working hours. A study from Northwestern University found that clothes can be used as cues that influence how focused and attentive you are.^[4] Getting dressed can be a helpful cue for you to focus on work, even when you’re working from home.

This simple step will help you keep your daily routine intact, get you in the right headspace to be productive and help stop the days from running into each other. You don’t have to dress to the nines, either—if you normally wear jeans and a T-shirt, stick with what works. The value comes from creating structure in your day by signaling that you’re shifting from one part of your routine to another.

Want more tips to maximize productivity when you’re working from home, beyond a healthy morning routine? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Working from Home.

This article has been updated with new content.