You’re only a few sentences away from discovering that my morning habits are far from revolutionary not even remotely close to becoming part of the 5 a.m. club, hitting the gym before the sun rises, or writing journal entries before work. In fact, the 12 habits that have changed my life are so easy to execute that they can be part of anyone’s morning routine. And you can finish all of them before 8 a.m.
Before we dive in, let’s start by reflecting on a deceptively simple question: Why do small habits matter? Why, Dear Reader, does collecting my dog’s poo matter? (Although it may come as a surprise, this is one of the most important habits of my morning routine, if not all day. Stay with me; I’ll explain it in detail below.) But first, I want to shed light on the bigger picture. According to James Clear, “atomic habits” are regular practices, or routines, that are not only small and easy to do, they’re also the source of incredible power.
So, although it may not seem as groundbreaking as running a 5K every weekend or waking up at 5 a.m. each day, picking up my dog’s poo affects the rest of my day, and that of anyone who walks the same trail as me. The fact that I have to do it every day and that it’s a low-level task doesn’t make it any less significant to me.
Of course, my morning routine involves more than the 13 habits I mention below, but you won’t see me writing about hopping in the shower, doing my skincare routine, getting dressed, or putting on my makeup. That’s because I don’t feel as accomplished after doing those activities.
With that being said, here are my 13 not-so-glamorous morning habits that I do to kickstart each weekday. I bet you do some of these, too.
My alarm goes off at 6:15 am.
Habit #1: I turn off my alarm anywhere between 6:15 and 6:20.
Most people wouldn’t think of turning off their alarm as a habit. But when you reflect on the nature of a habit, there’s no rule that states it has to be complex. If anything, habits are reflexive and automatic; they’re behaviors that are completed without having to think through the steps involved.
In that way, turning off your alarm is a habit After my alarm starts blaring, I automatically – albeit groggily – reach for it to turn it off.
Sure, it’s a simple task, but it’s a habit, nonetheless. In fact, for most people, it’s their first habit of the day, and when I shut my alarm off, it sets me up for the day. The alternative would be hitting “snooze, i.e., choosing to lounge in bed versus getting up and starting my day.
Habit #2: I get out of bed by 6:20.
Of all the things I have to do in the morning, this one is the most difficult. Because of this, I feel so accomplished when I finally break away from my duvet, put my feet on the floor, and cue up my favorite podcast.
Like many of you, I was hostage to my snooze button for years (and I still find myself relying on it some days). To be honest, it was so hard for me to build and stick to this habit that I dedicated an entire step-by-step post to how I stopped hitting the snooze button and became a morning person.
Habit #3: I cue up the daily news or a true crime podcast from 6:20-6:30.
Once I roll out of bed (i.e., put both feet on the floor), I unplug my phone from its charger, turn it on, and select a daily news podcast or true crime story. Since this is the activity that I most look forward to – especially new crime podcasts – I decided to stack this into my routine as a reward for getting out of bed.
Habit #4: I walk my dog while I’m listening to a podcast (from 6:30-7:00).
The first true habit of my day is walking my dog, which takes anywhere from 20-30 minutes.
Last year, my husband and I became first-time dog owners after we adopted Bandit, a 1.5-year-old Great Pyrenees and Lab mix. Before adopting him, I knew that our morning and evening routines would change dramatically with the added responsibilities of pet ownership. And they have changed, but for the better.
Every morning, I walk him around our apartment complex while listening to my podcast.
Habit #5: I pick up my dog’s poop between 6:35 and 7:00.
No doubt, this isn’t a part of any millionaire’s morning routine. But then, I’m not a millionaire!
Hands down, this is my least favorite part of my morning routine. I’m sure you can guess why… Having said that, I oddly feel a sense of accomplishment every time I throw away a bag of my dog’s poop, and that’s because (yes, I’ve given this a lot of thought): (1) where it’s my least pleasant task, getting it over with feels like an accomplishment, and (2) there’s something special about caring for another living thing, one that is entirely dependent upon you.
Habit #6: I change my dog and cat’s water dishes and feed them from 7:00-7:10.
As soon as I get back home, I feed our dog and cat. Like the feeling I get when I pick up my dog’s poo, I get a strong sense of accomplishment by the mere act of caring for other living things.
Habit: #7: I sweep the bathroom, kitchen, and living room floors ~ 7:15.
If you’re a pet owner or have kids, then you will understand the pain of having to endure a perpetual state of messiness, no matter how hard you try to keep on top of it. Because the four of us share a 760 sq. ft. apartment, clutter builds up quickly… leaving me to start each day off with a cleaning frenzy.
Since one of our pets constantly sheds – Bandit! – it is an uphill battle to have any semblance of clean. With time, I’ve realized that it is more relaxing and easier to clean up our three most used spaces while the pets are occupied eating their breakfasts During this time, I sweep up their fur and any food they spill or miss.
Another reason I do this is because I like to come home to a clean apartment. Since I sweep before I leave for work and when I have the energy, there’s less of a mess to come home to and I can just enjoy my evenings.
Habit #8: I brush my teeth at 7:30.
After I tidy up our apartment, I brush my teeth. Boring, but necessary, especially for the sake of the people I interact with throughout the day. You’re welcome, world.
Habit #9: I make my “to-go” drink for my work commute ~ 7:40.
As you’ll soon learn, most of the calories I consume come from drinks – whether it’s tea, bubble tea, iced coffees or iced lattes. This habit has saved me hundreds of dollars from buying expensive drinks, not to mention time from avoiding the long lines at specialty coffee shops.
Whereas most people collect mugs, I collect tumblers (to my husband’s dismay).
Habit #10: I add a splash of milk to my already-prepared overnight oats ~ 7:45.
My favorite grab-and-go breakfast is blueberry and banana overnight oats. Having already prepared it the night before and in the fridge, I just need to add a splash of almond milk on top, and I’m good to go!
Habit #11: I put on my Apple Watch between 7:40 and 7:45.
Typically, this is the last thing I do… right before I grab my Air Pods and head towards the door.
Habit #12: I kiss my husband, say bye to my two messy pets, and leave for work ~ 7:45.
Awww…
Habit #13: I grab our trash and take it to the main collection area 7:45-7:55.
Because we live in an apartment complex, we have “valet trash,” where someone comes by to take our trash for us every weekday. On the rare day when we have extra trash, I save it for the next day to bring it to the designated trash room, which just so happens to be on the way to my car.
I pull out of our garage and leave for work by 8.
This is just a small window into my life and the habits that really matter to me.
Even though it might seem small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things to pick up my dog’s poo, over time these types of habit have a shaping influence on who you become. So now, let me ask you: Are you someone who wants to become an early riser, a responsible pet owner, a master of personal finance, or someone who likes to be organized?
Although my habits aren’t as ‘glamorous’ as joining the 5 a.m. club or doing a social media detox challenge, they have a deep impact on how the rest of my day goes. This is why I feel so productive after doing them.
What Do You Think?
Now it’s your turn! What do you dread doing the most every morning, and how does it help you in the long run? Let me know by commenting below.
