Whether you love them or loathe them, morning routines are more important than many believe. On some days, your beauty routine can feel like a chore. On others, it can be the only moment of calm you can find. But even on the days when every minute counts, our morning rituals are a fundamental part of our daily lives. In this article, we will look at why they matter so much and the impact they can have on our productivity and mindset throughout the day.

Morning Routines You Need

Sleep Psychology

It’s a well-known fact that, as human beings, we love and look for predictability in our everyday lives – your morning routine being the perfect place to start. When we sleep, our brains go through what can be described as a detoxification, where toxins and waste are discarded through the body’s lymphatic system. This process ensures a safe balance of chemicals exists within the brain, and it also prevents fatigue and brain fog. After resting for enough time, we experience an immediate surge in cortisol levels, which triggers our bodies to wake up. The level of cortisol that you start the morning with has a monumental impact on your emotional and cognitive state for the rest of the day. If you’ve ever woken up and felt like no amount of sleep would be enough, this is probably because of your cortisol levels.

Cortisol levels – also known as the ‘stress hormone’ – can be affected by many factors such as caffeine, eating late at night, or going to sleep feeling stressed or anxious. Likewise, another reason why we experience feeling fuzzy and extremely fatigued is because of sleep inertia. Sleep inertia is a state in which our bodies are fully awake, but our brains haven’t caught up yet. It’s hard to believe, but this temporary state can reduce our brain’s functioning and performance by up to 51%. This is why these periods can feel demotivating and mentally draining.

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The Relationship Between Morning Routines and Cognitive Functioning

The human brain is considered to be the most complex organ in the human body, with each of its many regions responsible for a different cognitive process. One particular area of the brain, known as the basal ganglia, is entirely dedicated to building habits. When we start to build habits in our daily lives, these regimes move to a new region of the brain, where they become automated responses instead. At this stage, they’re often referred to as neural pathways, which can get stronger and stronger the more times that they’re repeated.

Remember when we mentioned predictability earlier in this article? Here’s where it comes in. When we create consistent routines, and we continue to repeat them day-to-day, neurotransmitters in the brain release dopamine – the feel-good hormone. This process works like a positive feedback loop, where the release of dopamine then allows the habit to be built into our neural pathways deeper, making it easier and more automated the next time we do it.

Why Is Predictability Important In Our Morning Routines?

When we face situations that are unfamiliar to us, cortisol is released in the brain. Elevated cortisol levels, although absolutely necessary, can have negative effects on the brain and body – especially in situations where there’s no real threat to us. High cortisol levels are also responsible for feelings of anxiety and stress. It’s important to recognise that cortisol is extremely safe and not of any concern as long as it’s not too high or too low. Consistently high cortisol levels, also known as chronic stress, can lead to high blood pressure and weight gain. Predictability in your morning routine can significantly reduce cortisol levels in the brain as well as improve emotional control for the day.

How Can I Adapt My Morning Routine?

To make your morning routines more predictable, don’t just think about typical habits like food and exercise. It can start as simple dental habits, which are helpful in creating consistency for the brain, but are equally important for taking care of your oral health. It’s recommended to start your morning routine with hydration – but don’t overdo it. A large glass of water as soon as you wake up is enough to help restore cognitive functioning and replenish all the water that’s lost when we sleep. 

Any easy and sustainable way to build new habits into your daily routine is to habit stack. Habit stacking involves introducing new patterns into your schedule by stacking them with old ones. Start with the habits you already do and link them to a new habit immediately after, so your brain gets used to the order it needs to follow.

The most beneficial habits to build into your morning routine are habits that are good for your mind, body and soul. From journaling to applying your favourite lip gloss, any habit that you can easily build into your routine and most importantly stick to, is a habit that can set you up for a productive day.