# A simple morning routine you can keep

A good morning routine is short, mostly the same each day, and starts before your phone does. Here are eight small steps, about 35 minutes in all. Keep the ones that fit your mornings and leave the rest.

8 steps, about 35 minutes.

## The steps

1. **Open the curtains** (1 min; Every day, Morning). Let the daylight in before you reach for anything else. If it is still dark out, switch on a warm lamp instead.
2. **A glass of water** (1 min; Every day, Morning). Fill a glass the night before and leave it by your bed, so it is the first thing your hand finds.
3. **Make your bed** (2 min; Every day, Morning). Pull the covers up and plump the pillow. It does not need to be neat, only done.
4. **Stretch for 5 minutes** (5 min; Every day, Morning). Reach up, fold forward, roll your shoulders. Do it on the floor by your bed, so there is nowhere to go first.
5. **Brush teeth, wash face** (5 min; Every day, Morning). Water, a gentle cleanser if you use one, and whatever you put on after. Keep it to what you would still do on a tired day.
6. **Get dressed** (5 min; Every day, Morning). Lay the clothes out the night before and put them on right away, even on a slow day at home.
7. **Breakfast, sitting down** (15 min; Every day, Morning). Something small counts: toast, fruit, yogurt, last night's leftovers. Sit down for it, with your coffee or tea.
8. **Plan the day in 3 lines** (3 min; Weekdays, Morning). Write the three things that matter today. Anything past those is a bonus, not a failure.

## The routine at a glance

| Step | Time | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Open the curtains | 1 min | A clear start to the day |
| 2. A glass of water | 1 min | The easiest first tick |
| 3. Make your bed | 2 min | One thing finished, early |
| 4. Stretch for 5 minutes | 5 min | A slow way to get moving |
| 5. Brush teeth, wash face | 5 min | Fresh before the day starts |
| 6. Get dressed | 5 min | Ready for whatever comes |
| 7. Breakfast, sitting down | 15 min | A pause before the rush |
| 8. Plan the day in 3 lines | 3 min | You know what comes first |
| In all | about 35 minutes | |

## The 10-minute version

On a rushed morning, keep the four steps that set the tone and let the rest wait for tomorrow.

- Open the curtains, 1 min
- A glass of water, 1 min
- Brush teeth, wash face, 5 min
- Plan the day in 3 lines, 3 min

## Make this routine in Cozy

Each step becomes a habit card that fills with color as you tick it off, in the order you do them, with a streak that forgives a hard day. [Cozy](https://www.cozyhabittracker.com/) is a cute habit tracker for iPhone and Android.

## Make it stick

### Start the night before

Glass by the bed, clothes on the chair, breakfast in mind. A morning routine really starts the evening before, which is why it pairs well with [a night routine](https://www.cozyhabittracker.com/routines/night-routine).

### Same order, every day

When the steps always come in the same order, each one reminds you of the next and there is less to decide before coffee. [How to build a habit](https://www.cozyhabittracker.com/blog/how-to-build-a-habit) has more on starting small.

### Let Cozy keep the order

In Cozy's settings, drag your habits into the order you do them, and your home screen reads like your routine, top to bottom. On a rushed day, skip a step and your streak stays.

## Questions people ask

### What is a good morning routine?

A short one you can keep on a normal day: open the curtains, drink some water, stretch, wash up, eat something and plan the day. The same steps in the same order matter more than how many there are.

### How long should a morning routine be?

Anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. If you are just starting, pick three steps that take 10 minutes and add one more once they feel easy.

### Should I check my phone first thing in the morning?

Many people find mornings calmer when the phone waits until the routine is done. Try leaving it on the charger until after breakfast and see how it feels for you.

### What if I am not a morning person?

Then keep it tiny: water, teeth and face, and one line of a plan. A routine does not need an early alarm, only the same few steps whenever your morning starts.

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This page on the web: https://www.cozyhabittracker.com/routines/morning-routine