40 Morning Routines to Experiment With: A Founder's Guide to Intentional Mornings
- Alexandra Aryaan
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
As my husband and I prepare for another apartment move, and we get ready for a busy autumn, I'm reminded that at any time I can begin new morning routines to maximize my efficiency, joy, peace, and patience as I run a for-profit and nonprofit company.
After listening to a few podcasts and videos on the topic, I'm thinking that I have been underestimating the power of morning routines and how they set the tone for the day. It's easy to hit the snooze button until you MUST log in to your laptop, check emails, and begin your billables and business development activities. But, if mornings really do set the tones of our days, an unintentional and frantic start to the day will simply cause more stress and lower output.
I've also found that each of us founders are so unique and individual, that no 1 morning routine should probably be prescribed in reality. Instead I invite you to experiment with the following 100 morning routine ideas to discover what works best for you.
5 minutes of gentle stretching or yoga
Cold water face or body immersion - splash cold water on your face or take a cold shower in the morning
Shake your entire body and jump for 2 minutes to release stagnant energy
Do 20 push-ups or weights
Put on one of your favorite songs and dance freely or sing for 5 minutes
Walk for 10 minutes around your neighborhood (bonus: sunlight in the morning is also beneficial!)
Stand against a wall for 2 minutes, aligning your head, shoulders, and back for a posture reset.
Drink a full glass of room temperature water with a pinch of sea salt.
Try Wim Hof guided breathing while you check your morning emails (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tybOi4hjZFQ)
Write three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts without editing (aka journaling).
Identify your top 3 priorities for the day and rank them by importance.
Identify and write down your 3 intentions for the day (today mine were: clear-minded, respectful, powerful)
Spend 5 minutes visualizing your ideal day unfolding successfully.
Review your calendar and mentally rehearse challenging conversations.
Identify the key decisions you'll need to make today and consider options (simple pro/con charts, Eisenhower matrix, etc.).
Spend 5 minutes observing something in nature without judgment.
Read 5-10 pages of something that expands your thinking.
Solve simple math problems to activate analytical thinking.
Write down 5 specific things you're grateful for and why.
Look at an Emotional Wheel (https://www.reddit.com/r/Healthygamergg/comments/1axjiw8/emotional_wheel_a_resource_for_better/) and name and acknowledge your current emotions without judgment.
Remember a recent moment of genuine joy and let yourself feel it again.
Build morning confidence by recalling three recent accomplishments, no matter how small.
Think of three people who support you and send them mental appreciation.
Connect with your deeper "why" for the work you're doing.
Read a short passage from philosophical or spiritual texts.
Honor those who came before you and made your life possible.
Briefly contemplate mortality to bring perspective to daily concerns.
Send goodwill to all people struggling or suffering in the world.
Contemplate the temporary nature of current challenges and successes.
Offer silent blessings to your family, team, customers, or community.
Spend 10 minutes thinking about long-term business strategy.
Imagine the day from your customers' perspective and their needs.
Think about each team member and how to support them better.
Review your business metrics or personal finances mindfully.
Identify one process you could improve or streamline.
Spend 15 minutes practicing a skill relevant to your role.
Read one article about trends in your industry.
Plan your day in focused time blocks rather than a to-do list (I personally use Google Calendar to do this - I even add color coding to make it look more fun!)
Plan your most important work for when your energy is highest.
See yourself succeeding in today's most important task.
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