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11 Tips to Make Working in the Morning Easier

Working in the morning can be a challenge, especially if you WFH. Use these tips to create a morning routine that works for you.

Even if you've never considered yourself a morning person, it's essential to start your day off right—especially if working in the morning is the best time of day for you to get things done (or, you know, required by your employer). A structured morning routine makes it easier to establish a schedule and make the rest of your day productive, especially when you work from home.

This guide is full of tips for establishing a healthy routine to make working in the morning easier. From self-care to designing your workspace, you’ll have everything you need to tame the morning hours.

Why You Need a Morning Routine

Morning routines are unavoidable—everyone has them, but most of us could stand to change them. Your morning routine begins the moment you wake up, and it helps define your entire workday.

So, what do you do in the early morning? Do you scroll social media and check your inboxes before you even make it out of bed? Maybe you hit the snooze button several times before rushing through the morning to get ready?

Whatever you do, you'd probably like to change your mornings and set aside enough time to prepare for the rest of the day, but you just ... haven't. If you're working in the mornings from a home office, now is the time to establish a healthy, productive routine.

Here are some of the benefits of a good routine in the morning:

Improved mood
Increased motivation
More energy
Higher productivity
Better physical health
Less stress in the morning
More time for yourself

Whether you want to start working in the morning to get more done or you have to work in the morning and need to make it easier, a good routine might be just what you need.

11 Actionable Tips for a Productive Morning

If you're like most of us, you've looked at morning routines before, and you've probably even tried a few. But copying and pasting someone else's schedule into your life doesn’t work very well—especially if that someone has a completely different lifestyle than you. For example, if you have family or roommates to work around, the morning routine of a young single who lives alone might not be the right fit.

The trick is to choose actionable tips based on what you need to make working in the morning more manageable.

1. Define Your Priorities

Before you build your morning routine, define your personal and professional priorities. Try to limit yourself to around three priorities in each category, and use them to guide your morning activities. This can make your routine feel more fulfilling and purposeful, which makes working in the morning less of a chore.

Hint: If you do this now, you can use these priorities as a guide while going through this list.

2. Plan One Day Ahead

Make your to-do list for the next day at the end of the day or before bed. This makes it easier to know exactly what you're doing for the day as soon as you wake up, so you can spend less time planning and more time doing.

Some of us may remember picking out the clothes we were going to wear to school the next day before bed as a kid. If you did this, you probably also remember how effective and beneficial it was to getting ready in the morning. Making a short to-do list now for your professional life can help in a similar manner!

3. Respect Your Circadian Rhythm

Your circadian rhythm is your body's clock or its natural 24-hour cycle, and it can get thrown off if your sleep schedule is irregular. This can lead to all sorts of issues, including depression, anxiety, and seasonal affective disorder, and it certainly doesn't make early mornings any easier.

By going to bed and waking up at the same time every day and making sure you're getting enough sleep, you can regulate your circadian rhythm, so it's easier to wake up early. Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night, depending on what helps you feel rested.

4. Start Work at the Same Time Every Day

A good work schedule and regular start time make maintaining your work-life balance easier. You'll get into the routine of starting work every day at the same time, and once you make it a habit, your morning shift should get easier.

Picking a standard start time also makes it easier to determine what you can do between waking up and getting to work. And if you need to keep your start time somewhat flexible, you can give yourself a window of time instead.

5. Hydrate in the Morning

Did you know that mild dehydration can impair your short-term memory, concentration, and processing abilities? Yep. So, it's safe to say that hydration matters (a lot).

Have a glass of water before you hit the coffee in the morning to rehydrate after sleeping all night. You might leave a glass of lemon water on your nightstand before bed so you can sip it as soon as you wake up or keep a glass of water in the bathroom to drink after brushing your teeth.

Bonus: If you save your coffee for mid-to-late morning (between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., if you get up at 6:30 a.m.), it can help fight afternoon fatigue and give you a boost when you really need it.

6. Exercise in the Morning

Morning exercise can help kickstart your mind and body before work. So, if you have time for it, do it! You might take the dog for a walk to get some fresh air, do YouTube yoga from your living room, or lift some weights, but what matters is that you get your muscles moving.

Exercise can also improve your sleep quality, which helps keep your energy levels up throughout the day.

7. Plan Your Breaks

Taking breaks from work can improve your productivity, health, and job satisfaction while making it easier to stay engaged. So, create established break times throughout each day, and make your first one 60 to 90 minutes after you start working in the morning.

This simple step can help you feel more motivated to start work in the morning and give you something to look forward to.

8. Wake Up Your Mind

Before you dive into work, wake up your mind with something you enjoy. For example, you could listen to a podcast, do a guided meditation, read the news, or do Wordle. Pick something that fits your personality, and make time for it in the morning. Waking up your mind is just as important as waking up your body in the morning.

9. Get Dressed

Staying in your PJs all day might be comfy, but it doesn't help you get in the mindset to work in the morning. So, get dressed before you start work. You don't have to wear anything professional unless you want to; comfortable pants or leggings and a t-shirt will work just fine.

Once it becomes a habit, your brain will start getting into productivity mode when you get dressed.

10. Go to a Coffee Shop on Hard Days

If you're having a hard day and don't want to start work, go to a coffee shop instead. Getting out of the house can help you feel motivated, and it takes away the option of lazing around on the sofa. This can be especially helpful if you're a night owl and went to bed late the night before.

In the evening, set a time and a place for you to look forward to going the next morning. Maybe you choose the cafe across the street, or maybe you make more of a day out of it and choose a coffee shop further across town that you've always wanted to try. This is all about giving yourself a reason to get up, get ready, and start your day.

11. Make Your Workspace Work for You

An ergonomic, clean workspace will make it easier to get to work and accomplish your tasks for the day. Set up a dedicated home office area, keep things organized and tidy, and make sure your chair, desk, monitor(s), and keyboard are at the right height for you.

After all, there's nothing worse than waking up from your comfortable bed only to go and sit (or stand) at a workstaion that isn't fit for you. You should look forward to the space you work in.

Fall in Love With Working in the Morning

By using the tips that work for you and leaving out those that don't, you'll develop a productive routine that makes it easier to start work in the morning. We recommend that you try to stick with your routine for at least two months to give yourself time to form new habits.

After two months, make changes as your life and priorities evolve. For example, if your family gets a dog, it might be time to add morning exercise. That might mean swapping out an activity, like reading a book in the morning, to make room.

If you're still perfecting your home office, check out our Work Frome Home collection for ergonomic chairs, desks, and accessories.

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