Better Ways to Start Your Days

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If there is one thing no one has ever accused me of it is being a morning person. No matter how many times my mom told me to “hop up” in the morning, I assure you I never did. These days, I fight the urge to get out of bed before finding my way to my coffee maker before rolling out the door in a rush. Every single day it’s the same: same snooze button, same coffee, same frantic dash out the door. I think it might be time to shake things up a bit.

Why?

Because when I start my morning right, the rest of my day flows better, and I need that, don’t you?

So how exactly can we make our mornings better?

The Snooze Button: Frenemy or Straight-Up Menace?

There’s nothing quite as jarring as enjoying a pleasant dream when suddenly—BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! I have almost fallen out of bed on more than one occasion. Then comes the temptation, the temptation to hit “snooze.” If hitting “snooze” is something you do on the daily, here’s a wild suggestion: Don’t.

The snooze button is like that drive to watch one more episode when you’ve got an important meeting the next morning. You think it’s helpful—“Hey, it’ll give me five more minutes of rest, right?”—but in reality, you will often end up feeling groggier and more disoriented when you do finally wake up.

What to do instead:

Put your alarm across the room. You’re much less likely to hit “snooze” once you’re already out of bed.
Try a wake-up light or an alarm app that requires you to solve a puzzle. You’ll probably hate it, but you’ll be up.
Keep something uplifting—like a daily calendar with a scripture or devotion—near your alarm. The encouragement it offers might just be enough to help you resist crawling back under the covers.

Make a Morning Soundtrack (Because Life Needs a Soundtrack)

Do you like to waltz, rock, or rave your way into the day? Your morning soundtrack is the perfect way to reclaim the dawn hours. The best part? It’s fully customizable to how you’re feeling each day. Upbeat worship music is a great way to get going in the morning, and if you’re nervous about the day, some calmer praise music may be just what you need to get yourself settled.

A Few Tips:

Create multiple playlists for different morning moods.
Unless you’re trying to wake your kids, keep your earbuds in.
Sing along. Badly. In your pajamas. It’s fun.

Embrace Movement: But Make It Fun, Not a Chore

Yes, yes, we all know exercise is good for us, but not everybody wants to break a sweat at the crack of dawn. Good news: fun movement still counts! So instead of cursing the treadmill or dreading push-ups, sneak in a little get-the-blood-flowing activity that feels more like play.

Some ideas:

Dance Party: When my kids were very small, we would dance while we did things like make muffins in the morning. It’s fun for everyone and definitely counts as exercise.
Take a Hike: Ok, a short walk will do. Even if it’s just down your driveway. Breathe the fresh morning air and hear the birds sing. Check the mail. Take out the trash. Relax.
Speed-Clean Competition: Who doesn’t want to come home to clean counters? Take a few minutes and put things in order. Challenge your kids, too, and make a competition out of it. Set a five-minute timer and see how much tidying you can do. Folding laundry works well for this, too!

The goal is to wake your body (and mind) up with movement that doesn’t feel like punishment. This mini-morning effort can build a surprisingly resilient sense of well-being throughout the day—plus, you can justify that donut for breakfast.

The Joy of a Quick Brain Teaser (Work Your Mind Too)

Some folks do crosswords at the crack of dawn; others scroll social media. If you’d like to engage your brain in a more playful way, try a quick puzzle or a mind game. Wordle has become that universal obsession that turned everyone into a five-letter-word whiz. Hey, it’s fun, and it takes about as long as toasting a bagel. Just don’t get sucked in too deeply…bagels are easy to burn.

Build a Morning Ritual You Actually Like

One thing to remember is that a morning ritual should be something you enjoy, not something you endure. My husband loves breakfast. Me? Not so much. I tend to drink my coffee, read or do Bible study, and have something to eat a little later in the day.

Ideas to consider:

Coffee (or Tea) Ceremony: You don’t have to be a fancy barista to enjoy that calming ritual of brewing your favorite beverage. Take a moment to savor the aroma and actually taste the coffee, rather than gulping it down on your way out.
Micro-Journaling: Not into writing novels at dawn? No worries. Jot down just three things you’re grateful for, or one sentence describing how you’re feeling.
Quick Devotion: I would love to be a person who does an in-depth Bible study every morning, but as I said before, I’m not a morning person. Reading a few verses or a short devotional helps start my day in an encouraging way without taking too much time.
Creative Kick: If you love drawing, crocheting, or playing an instrument, give yourself five to ten minutes of that passion project before the day’s chaos sets in.