Martha Swears By Her Morning Routine—Here's How to Create and Maintain Your Own

Start Your Morning the Night Before

Figuring out (and, let's face it, accepting) what kind of morning person you are will help you structure your routine. "If you give mornings a five-star review, begin your morning by opening your blinds to let the sunshine in, starting your coffee pot, turning on your favorite playlist, or working out," suggests professional business coaches Melissa Pepin and Corry Frazier. “If you give mornings a big thumbs-down, start your morning routine at night.”

Setting yourself up for success before you wake up will help commit to your routine, agrees holistic health coach Demi Dee. “Preparing for your day the evening before will significantly reduce your stress and decision fatigue in the morning,” she says. “Preparation includes choosing your outfit and laying it out for easy access in the morning, packing your bag, making your breakfast and lunch, and planning and reviewing the logistics for the day including travel details. If you have children, these preparation tasks can be done for them as well.”

Aim for Consistency, Not Perfection

"Keep your routine simple so that it is easy to repeat each day," Dee says. "Batch similar tasks or tasks in geographic proximity together to streamline and simplify your routine," she suggests.

Pepin and Frazier recommend making a top three must-do list for your day to set achievable goals and not overwhelm your schedule. If you break your routine, give yourself grace and reset the next day. "The key is to avoid an all-or-nothing mindset where you give up at the first sign of imperfection," Dee adds.

Choose Wellness First

Take a cue from Martha's daily crossword puzzling! When putting together a morning routine checklist, prioritize wellness. "Carve out time first thing in the morning for your wellbeing," Dee says. "Choose activities, such as exercise and meditation, that will energize you and provide peace and clarity to set the tone for the rest of the day."

Try not to feel anxious about not immediately jumping into chores or productivity: "When you have taken care of your needs, you are able to show up as the best version of yourself for others," says Dee.

Prioritize Wake-Up Times

"Assess your needs, responsibilities, and schedule to determine your wake-up time," says Dee, "and stick to that time as best you can every day of the week, including weekends."

She explains, "A consistent wake-up time helps regulate your sleep pattern, balance hormones such as cortisol and melatonin, enhance your energy levels and alertness, and improve your mood and mental wellbeing."

Embrace the Quiet

Some quiet reflection first thing in the morning can set the tone for the day. “Do whatever you need to feel centered and unclouded before digging into the busyness of the day,” share Pepin and Frazier. "This means not checking your phone while lying in bed, watching the news on every channel, or checking emails before you set positive intentions for the day."

Preventing your morning from feeling overwhelming is essential if you wish to maintain your routine. "Focus only what you can create space for," Pepin and Frazier emphasize.

Throw in a Variable

A tip for helping you stick to a morning routine is adding some excitement to the structure. Eating the same breakfast every day may appeal to some, but if it feels monotonous to you, plan to prep a new breakfast recipe each week (or try a new blend of coffee beans, tea, or creamer) to keep hopping out of bed exciting. "As an overall rule, try to make your mornings fun," say Pepin and Frazier. "It’ll seep joy into your afternoons and evenings, too."

Stay Flexible

Routines can change with the season—and that’s totally fine. Winter may mean making time for a morning snow shovel or lining up coats and boots for kids. Summer can start with outdoor exercise or coffee on the porch. “Give yourself the space to change your routine as you need it,” say Pepin and Frazier.

You can also prepare for disruptions to your routine by having a backup plan. However, “there will be days that do not go as planned, even when you have a backup plan,” reminds Dee. Make your bed, brush it off, and stay flexible.