7 Morning Motivation Techniques That Prepare You For The Day Ahead

There are two types of people in the world – morning people, and those who groan and hit the snooze button five times before they can even think of getting out of bed. But even habitual early risers can find that their morning motivation wavers occasionally, especially when it’s cold and wet outside.

The problem is when you’re unmotivated from the off the whole day can seem like a chore, and the chances are that you will get next to nothing done. Then the next day you have twice the jobs to do and even less motivation.

The good news is you can change all of that! By adopting one or more of these 7 morning motivation techniques, you can rise and shine with a smile on your face and get your day off to a flying start.

1. Build Momentum by Completing Routine Tasks

If you wake up and head straight into a big project, it can seem daunting and make you feel overwhelmed. But if you start your day with a bunch of small tasks, you are building momentum and ticking off a range of jobs before you even settle down to a day of work or getting the kids ready for school or whatever else your day entails.

Don’t perform your morning routine on auto-pilot – make a list (either physical or mental) and tick off each task as you complete it. These jobs could include:

Making your bed
Taking a shower
Walking the dog
Going for a run
Meditating
Making breakfast
Eating breakfast

Once you have ticked off those mundane tasks you will have a list of jobs you have already completed, which will create the momentum to carry on doing the tasks you have set yourself to do during the day.

(You may also like: 10 Monday Morning Habits for a Successful Week)

2. Exercise First Thing in the Morning

Many people fit in their daily workout in the evening, preferring to sacrifice an hour after work rather than an extra hour in bed. But exercising in the mornings is a great motivator and can change the whole dynamics of the day. Before you shut down the idea of getting up an hour earlier every day, take a look at the benefits of being an early morning exercise buff:

Nothing will get in the way of your session. Working out in the evening runs the risk of being interrupted by working late, getting stuck in traffic, social events, and even something as simple as being tired after a long day. Exercising in the morning, however, eliminates all of those obstacles.
Not only will you feel more energized physically, but after all that blood being pumped around your body, your mind will be on full throttle, too, and ready to take on the rest of the day.
Your metabolism will be higher, meaning you will burn off more of the calories you consume during the day.
Self-discipline will be higher, and that will spill over into the rest of your day. It can take a lot of willpower to leave a nice warm bed to pound the streets or hit the gym, and you will find that that determination will be applied to all your subsequent tasks.
Getting a good night’s sleep is vital for morning motivation, and exercising first thing will ensure you sleep better at night. This in turn will mean you wake brighter and fresher, and ready for the day ahead – it’s the best kind of catch-22.
It allows you to listen to some motivational podcasts. Immersing yourself in positivity before you even start your day will put you in the right frame of mind to get things done. Sticking in your earbuds while working out will not only make the session fly by but will also spur you on to have a productive day.

(Need workout motivation? Read this: 10 Scientific-Backed Methods to Stay Motivated for Workouts)

3. Meditate Every Morning

Meditation is one of the best ways to start the morning because it clears the mind of jumbled thoughts and allows you to carry that clarity into the day. How you feel at the beginning of the day will impact the hours to follow, but by meditating you will carry calmness, positivity, and gratitude into everything else you do.

Try meditating before you even get out of bed so that the stresses and anxieties and general hustle and bustle don’t even have a chance to get into your mind.

4. Start Your Day With Something You Really Enjoy

Give yourself something to look forward to each morning and you will find it much easier to get up. For instance, work in a ‘spare’ 30 minutes or so before your jobs for the day begin and read a chapter of a book with a good quality coffee or tea.

Not only will this practice give you something positive to look forward to when you wake, but it also allows you a little ‘me time’ before you dedicate yourself to going to work, looking after the kids, or whatever else your day entails.

5. Make Sure You Get Enough Sleep Every Night

It sounds obvious, but getting enough sleep is crucial to waking up in good time and feeling refreshed. It’s not just the amount of sleep we get that matters, though…it’s also the quality of sleep that counts.

These practices will make all the difference to sleeping well and waking up feeling buoyant and on top of the world:

Set your alarm clock for the same time every day, even the weekends. This will allow your circadian rhythm to stabilize.
Open your curtains and blinds as soon as you wake, and let the sunlight fall on your face. Apart from just feeling great, this will allow your body to start producing the right hormones at the right time for both sleepiness and wakefulness.

Even better, stand in your yard (if you have one) and breathe in the morning air.

Switch off screens at least 30 minutes before bed. TVs, phones, and tablets use a blue light which is also emitted by the sun. If you use a screen long after sundown, it tricks the body’s circadian rhythm and can cause insomnia. By switching all devices off a while before bed, your body can take its signals and begin to wind down accordingly.
Finish your evening meal at least 4 hours before bed to avoid insomnia. Not only will a late meal feel heavy in the stomach and make you feel uncomfortable, but eating triggers the production of insulin which can interfere with the circadian rhythm.

6. Keep Your Goals Where You Can See Them When You Wake

Having a goal is a great motivator, but it’s easy to lose sight of it in the daily grind.

Make sure your goals are the first thing you see when you open your eyes by writing them down and placing them next to your alarm clock. You could even write them in big letters and pin them to the ceiling above your bed! Seeing them before your feet even touch the floor will be a timely reminder of why you’re doing what you’re doing.

7. Set Your Alarm With Something Motivating

There’s nothing more annoying than a loud obnoxious alarm blaring in your ear first thing in the morning, especially if it pulls you out of a deep slumber. It can leave you feeling disorientated and start the day on the wrong footing from the off.

Program your alarm with some uplifting music, something which makes you smile. Far from being just a nice thing to wake up to, listening to feel-good music actually stimulates your brain to release more dopamine – the so-called happy hormone – which is guaranteed to set the best possible tone for the rest of the day.

If you incorporate one or more of these morning motivation techniques into your routine, within a short space of time you will find that waking up and getting up is easier than you ever thought possible.