Why A Consistent Morning Routine is Hard & What To Do Instead

Curious, do you have a hard time sticking to a morning routine… a consistent morning routine? Those action items, steps and habits you try to do every single day.

Personally, I’m not a fan of following the same morning routine every day.

You see, we already create so much pressure in our lives every day, all day long, to do more, to tick the box, to add more to our to-do list. Then when we don’t finish everything, the overwhelm, stress, guilt and shame pile on.

So, why would we add more pressure on ourselves to add even more things that we think we need to do every morning?

If you have a hard time following a consistent morning routine, you’ll want to watch the video below or scroll further for the blog post…

What ends up happening is we see people on online with their so-called ‘perfect’ morning routines and then we question our own habits.

This can lead to feeling bad about ourselves, like are don’t have enough self-control or that we’re bad at being consistent.

These routines we aspire to have feel hard because we are human and don’t need the same thing every single day.

Most of us feel different throughout the week so sticking to the same routine everyday is going to feel hard because whatever tasks or habits we planned won’t fit based on what we need on a given day.

The perfect routine can work on our most idealistic day – when we wake up in a good mood and with high energy. However this isn’t everyday.

On the non-perfect mornings we could be dealing with…

• Stress and overwhlem
• Lack of time
• Low motivation
• Poor sleep
• Pain
• etc

For YEARS I’ve wanted to start my mornings by getting out my yoga mat and stretching. I imagine lighting a candle and playing some relaxing music while I move my body.

The reality though… I’ve probably done this about 3 times in the past 5 years.

Clearly I should stop telling myself that this should be my routine!

So I ask you this…

• Why journal if you really don’t feel like it?
• Why do an intense HIIT workout if what you really need is to tune into your breathing?

Strict morning routines don’t work for Many people

If you have ADHD like me, you may have read that routines are good for you, but consistency is HARD… so sticking to any routine feels almost impossible (at least for myself).

I also get bored doing the exact same thing at the same time everyday – Ugh! Variety is the spice of life right?

Also, if you experience depression, anxiety, grief, trauma or other mental health related issues, trying to stick to a routine can be that much more challenging. Just getting out of bed feels like a ton of work.

When we don’t follow through, negative self-talk, criticism and feeling of failure can take over… and this is not supportive whatsoever.

Let’s Rethink The Typical Morning Routine

If you keep TRYING to stick to a routine and it just doesn’t work for you – which ends up with you going down the guilt and shame spiral… perhaps it’s time to try something different that serves what you actually need and want?

Instead of a trying to stick to an impossible strict morning routine… we take notice of what our mind and bodies actually need on any given day.

2 Things To Do Instead of a ‘Perfect’ Morning Routine

How about we focus on what we truly need and want each morning? This will set us up for success and help us be intentional in ways that look after what we need every day.

The easiest thing to do…

1) Upon waking, ask yourself… What do I need right now? 

The point of this is to support what you need based on your changing hormones, mood, responsibilities, stress levels and health.

Some days a cuddle with your pup, two cups of tea and an extra long shower are in order. While on other days you may want to hit the gym, go for a jog or do some meal prep.

The key here is to do what you need and want.

Think about what you need emotionally, physically and what you might need based on what’s happening in your life.

Next, if you want to spend a little time thinking about this…

2) Write down what feels good / supports you in different situations

This is a great idea if you love a good brainstorm and if you want to be prepared for those days you don’t feel so good.

Grab a notebook and brainstorm…

What do you need when [enter mood/physical feeling]?

Some moods/experiences to consider…

• Exhausted/tired
• In pain
• Anxious
• Sad
• Good energy
• Overwhelmed
• Worried

This allows you to look back on these ideas and use them when you need it most.

More Resources To Help You Tune Into Your Needs:

• Building a Happy Week: Self Care Planner
• Printable Mood Trackers to connect your mood and triggers
• 10 Ways To Make Time For Yourself When It Feels Impossible
• Easy 5-Minute Self Care Ideas for Body, Mind & Soul

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