JuicyTalk
Daily habits and morning routines that guarantee a better day ahead.
A new dawn, a new day… a new wake-up ritual to put your best foot forward first thing in the morning. Start your year off right with these morning routines and daily habits to make your day better than ever. They’re simple and easy too!
1. Make your bed.
Have you ever heard the quote “Outer order creates inner calm”? Making your bed is the first task of the day, and doing it will lead to higher productivity. Plus, starting your day with an organized and tidy room will help you feel less stressed and more focused.
“On the days I make my bed in the morning I feel so much more motivated and notice I tend to accomplish many other tasks that seem to build up quickly such as getting more laundry done, unloading the dishwasher, etc. At the end of the day, it’s also so nice to crawl into a made bed as opposed to a messy one from the night before.” – Sara, Hip sidekick
2. Get up before your kids or well before you need to leave the house.
Whether you have kids or not, mornings can get chaotic fast. Getting up before the house wakes up, or well before you need to head out, gives you quiet time to ease into the day, collect your thoughts, and start from a grounded place.
“I love my mornings and getting up early, so I have time to catch up on the things I need to do! I also love just sitting and enjoying a fresh cup of coffee alone. It makes a good start to my day, which in turn helps the kids have a good day since I’m not grouchy. 😉“ – Angie, Hip sidekick
“I get up several hours before the rest of my household. I CRAVE that alone time when it’s nice and quiet!” – Bryn, Hip sidekick
“As much as I dislike getting up earlier it really does make my whole day better. If I don’t get a little time to myself before the rest of the house wakes up, I feel completely out of whack for the rest of the day.” – Jenna, Hip sidekick
3. Get an early morning workout.
Starting your day with an early morning workout will boost your metabolism, get that blood flowing, and energize you for your day ahead. Whether you like to work out at home or the gym, we guarantee adding a quick workout to your morning routine will stimulate positive vibes for your day.
“I do a 25-minute stretching routine every morning while listening to a podcast. It helps to relieve any tightness from sleeping the night before, clears my head, and also prepares my body for the day (which as you know can involve a lot of sitting).” – Bryn, Hip sidekick
4. Meditate for a few minutes.
Meditation is a practice that will take some work if you’re not already in the habit of doing it, but once you’ve developed the practice, it’s a great way to create inner peace and balance. This practice also helps you relax and deal with stress, which can keep you grounded throughout even the most stressful days.
5. Shower and put yourself together.
Everyone has their own way of feeling “ready” regarding their beauty routine. Whether it’s washing your face, applying makeup, styling your hair, or even simply taking a shower. Regardless of how you get ready, doing so will make you feel refreshed and can set a positive tone for the day.
Before you put on your makeup, a lymphatic drainage massage can be a great way to start your day, too!
“Hot tub session with a sunrise view outside and eucalyptus spray. We often have hot air balloon tours going on above us, so I enjoy spotting them. Life is chaotic but any chance you can just be still in the morning is perfect.” – Lina, Hip sidekick
6. Speak and think with a positive mindset.
No one enjoys being around constant negativity, and carrying it doesn’t feel good either. When you speak positively to yourself, it shifts your mental state and naturally draws others toward your energy. As the Dalai Lama says, “Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.”
7. Unload the dishwasher.
The relief of having an empty dishwasher or sink is one I’m sure we all know very well. While I don’t believe many people actually enjoy this daily habit, it sure feels great to have a tidy kitchen! Plus, it makes dinner cleanup after work so much easier!
“This is one of the first things I do in the morning since I run our dishwasher every night. It feels so nice to have an empty dishwasher so any dishes my kids use before school and while I’m working all day can go straight in the dishwasher and keep our sink free of clutter.” – Sara, Hip sidekick
8. Do something that speaks to YOU and levels you for the day ahead.
These daily habits should be anything you love, and the goal for this morning routine is to ground you and make your cup feel full. Unplug and read a book, listen to music, pray, watch the sunrise, or do whatever brings you joy. Even if it’s only for a few minutes, we all deserve to have a few minutes to ourselves.
“For me, it would be starting my day with a daily devotional. When we’re done with the short read, we pray together. It’s the best! Starting my day this way always grounds me and fills me up. I love that we do this early (the goal is 5:30 AM) when the house is quiet before the kids wake up. Our morning routine is so peaceful, and it involves a cup of coffee too. LOL” – Melinda, Hip sidekick
“I usually start my day off with a yummy cup of coffee, and then I read my Bible. If it’s a nice morning, I’ll do this on my balcony because nothing feels better than fresh air to start your day! Without this routine, my day just feels a little out of whack!” – Alli, Hip sidekick
9. Check your accounts.
Normally, I would advise against screen time first thing in the morning, but for these purposes, I love it. Checking your banking accounts in the morning will keep you in a goal-oriented mindset and prepare you to tackle your day head-on!
“I’ve been making it my goal this year to significantly ramp up my savings, so I check Mint (the budgeting site I use) every morning, even if I don’t think there’s any change in my checking, savings, and credit accounts. This prevents me from making impulsive and unnecessary purchases since I know my money balance at all times. It keeps me in check with my savings goal every day!” – Emily, Hip sidekick
Hip Tip: Trying to find a budgeting system that works for you? Check out these FREE budgeting apps that have all been tested by our team!
10. Do 5 minutes of journaling.
Journaling is proven to improve mental health, encourage self-confidence, boost emotional intelligence, help achieve goals, inspire creativity, boost memory, enhance critical thinking skills, heighten academic performance, improve physical health, and strengthen communication skills. This is a daily habit everyone can benefit from.
“When I get in the habit of journaling, it totally transforms my day. I love The Five Minute Journal because it comes with prompts so it requires very little creativity in the morning and I feel so focused and at peace when I’m done.” – Sara, Hip sidekick
11. Plan out your goals for the day.
Set yourself up for success and make a to-do list of what you need to accomplish for the day. You’ll be more likely to reach all your goals when they’re right in front of you. The free notes app on your phone is an effortless way to make daily lists.
12. Get some morning sunshine.
Sunlight is the most natural way to wake up in the morning and makes us feel better overall. Not to mention it saves money on your electricity bill. 😉
“Opening my blinds is my favorite thing to do in the morning. I just feel so alive when I see sunlight, and in the warmer months, opening the windows with fresh air streaming in makes me feel so happy! Sunlight is truly good for the soul.” – Sara, Hip sidekick
13. Plan the night before.
While there are many things you can do to have a great day after you wake up, we can’t forget about what you can do the night before, too. Try prepping lunches or dinners, laying out your outfits for the morning, or even setting the timer on your coffee pot. Not only will these simple tasks make your morning less hectic, but they’ll also save you time.
Check out these clever lunch box hacks for some great ideas. Lina also shared a week’s worth of easy lunches that are sandwich-free.
14. Catch up on Hip2Save!
Who doesn’t love a great deal while drinking their coffee/tea first thing in the morning?! Of course, our favorite way to start the day here at Hip2Save is by checking out all the best deals, delicious new recipes, or even keto-friendly ideas on our sister site, Hip2Keto!
Here’s what some of our Hip readers had to say about their daily habits of checking Hip:
“I would give Hip2Save a million stars if I could! Collin is always posting the latest deals with the links to access them. I have purchased so many of the deals she has listed, especially from Amazon and Kohl’s. The promo codes are always legit, and she even posts when a deal has expired so you aren’t wasting your time. I have downloaded countless money-saving apps, and this is the only one I have kept on my phone!” – Kathy H., Hip2Save reader
“If you want to save money on the things you need, Hip2Save is great! I check in every morning to find out where the great deals are. They provide lots of information on everyday necessities like shampoo, soap, and paper towels, but many times I have also found a post for a major purchase that is exactly what I was looking for. The videos are fun and entertaining. They really do make it fun to shop for the best values around!” – Patti, Hip2Save reader
