Things to do in the first hour of waking up for a productive day

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a little commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here

Are you tired of feeling rushed and stressed in the mornings?

Do you long for a calm and peaceful start to each day?

What we do in the first hour of the day can have a significant impact on the rest of the day and taking control of this time can set you up for a productive, successful, and fulfilling day.

In this post, we’ll be exploring some simple and soothing activities you can do in the first hour of waking up to start your day with a sense of calm, clarity, and purpose.

These tips will help you slow down, find focus, and start each day feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. So, let’s put an end to rushed and hectic mornings and start each day with a sense of peace and intention.

1. Open the windows and curtains

Open the curtains and windows as soon as you wake up to let in some fresh air and some daylight into your space.

This will help you feel more awake, less sleepy, and more alert.

The fresh air will get rid of the stale air in your space and provide good ventilation for your space.

A properly ventilated space will provide your body with surplus oxygen to carry out your body’s functions.

2. Make your bed

Making your bed as soon as you wake up might seem like a small and insignificant task, but it can actually have a big impact on your day.

Research has shown that the simple act of making your bed in the morning can set a positive tone for the rest of the day, helping to increase feelings of satisfaction, organization, and productivity.

By taking a few minutes to straighten up your sleeping area, you’re creating a sense of order and accomplishment that can carry over into other parts of your day.

It also serves as a visual reminder of the little things you can do to create a more organized and productive environment, which can help to boost your confidence and motivation.

Another benefit is the sweet feeling of coming back to a made bet at the end of a long day.

So, start your day on the right foot by making your bed as soon as you wake up, and watch as the benefits extend far beyond your bedroom!

3. Hydrate yourself

Drinking water first thing in the morning can have a multitude of health benefits that can help you jumpstart your day in a positive way.

Not only does it help to hydrate your body after a long night of sleep, but it also flushes out toxins and waste, promoting healthy digestion.

Drinking water in the morning can also boost your metabolism, giving you more energy throughout the day. I recommend drinking a glass of lukewarm to warm water to help activate your digestive system and warm up your stomach.

4. Take a sunbath

Exposing yourself to the morning sun has a lot of incredible health benefits.

One of the most important ones is the production of vitamin D, which is crucial for the development of strong bones and a healthy immune system. When we are exposed to sunlight, our bodies naturally produce vitamin D, which can help to prevent conditions like osteoporosis and rickets.

Exposure to the morning sun has been shown to improve our moods and reduce depressive feelings, as it helps to regulate the body’s production of serotonin, the body’s “feel good” chemical.

Also, exposure to the morning sun has been linked to improved sleep patterns, as it can help to reset our body’s natural sleep-wake cycle and improve the quality of our sleep. After 10 to 12 hours of nocturnal darkness and artificial lighting, your body craves exposure to natural light.

So, the next time you wake up, try stepping outside and taking in the morning sun for a few minutes, and feel the positive impact it can have on your well-being.

You might also like this post on how to easily become a morning person.

5. Stretch your body

While sleeping all night may refresh your body and mind, reclining in bed all night without making many movements could stiffen your muscles and restrict the mobility of your joints and limbs.

Stretching can help loosen up those tight muscles, improve flexibility, and increase your blood circulation.

It is important to warm up your muscles and prepare your body for physical activity and stretching is a great way to do it.

If you are new to stretching, I recommend watching some videos on Youtube by fitness trainers who have a lot of beginner videos to fit your level of flexibility.

6. Clean yourself up

Take some minutes to clean yourself up and practice your morning hygiene.

I personally enjoy taking a quick shower after brushing my teeth and washing my face. This helps wake me up and boost my alertness.

It also helps me feel refreshed, clean, and ready for the day and I honestly recommend it even if it is a quick shower for 5 minutes.

7. Have some morning nibbles

While midnight nibbles could harm your diet, starting your day with a light snack on the other hand is a great idea.

Your last meal was many hours ago, it’s good not to keep your stomach waiting much longer.

Additionally, it’s advised to eat a light, healthy snack within an hour of waking up to help your stomach warm up to meals before it’s time for a large breakfast. You can consider having some of these:

• A fruit smoothie
• Yogurt
• Whole-grain crackers
• Toast with brown bread and peanut butter
• Some fruits
• A couple of dates
• A detoxifying beverage, etc.

8. Pray

Setting some time aside to pray and talk to God is something you should do at the start of your day if you believe in God.

Being grateful to God for everything He has done for you is a good way to practice gratitude and talking to Him about your hurt is a great way to let things off your shoulder.

There is a great sense of relief in entrusting Him with things that are beyond your control.

9. Positive self-talk

It is completely normal to feel down and upset if you are going through difficult circumstances.

You might start to have doubts about your own abilities.

These difficult seasons always come and go but while you are going through them it might be really difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

For some people like myself, merely whispering positive statements might not be very effective, my brain tends to have a comeback statement to prove me wrong.

But, I came across the cookie jar method by David Goggins which I found to be very effective.

It is something you’ve most likely done on numerous occasions but applying it more intentionally is the key here.

This method involves collating scenarios and situations in life where you went through difficulties and came out the other side.

So whenever you are going through a difficult time reach for those memories and remind yourself that you will make it out of this situation too.

10. Move your body

Incorporate a 10-15 minutes workout into your mornings to get your blood pumping and improve your body’s circulation.

Exercising will help you be alert and wake your body up. It will also boost your mood and improve your focus throughout the day.

11. Go over your agenda for the day

In this post I wrote on how to plan for a productive week and get things done, I emphasized my preference for weekly planning as opposed to just planning each day separately as it lets you set a bigger picture and is easier to stick to.

I do, however, recommend you go over your agenda for each day in the morning to see if your priorities for the day have changed and if you need to move things around.

This should take only a few minutes.

Doing this will prepare you mentally for the tasks for the day.

12. Do a quick tidy-up of your space

If there is one thing I have learned about clutter is that the best way to tackle it is to nip it in the bud. Prevent it from ever accumulating in the first place.

Take a little time in the morning to tidy up any mess you left the previous night.

I’m not talking about doing a deep cleaning but rather simpler tasks like picking up things and putting them back in their place.

You can unload the dishwasher, put dirty clothes in the laundry basket, or clean the counters, etc.

When your space is tidy, you’ll be able to enjoy your day and feel less disorganized plus, the feeling of coming home to a tidy house is priceless.

13. Journaling

Journaling is an amazing activity to incorporate into your mornings.

Doing it in the first hour of waking up will lessen the likelihood of putting it off.

Journaling is a fantastic way to practice gratitude (which has been proven to increase happiness) as well as help you process your emotions better.

If you don’t have much time to spend journaling, I recommend trying a concise Journal like The five-minute Journal which would still give you the benefits of journaling for five minutes of your time a day.

14. Do a little dance session

Have you ever tried doing a 5-minute dance session in the morning?

You haven’t?

Then add that to a list of things you must try.

There is something exhilarating about listing to some of your favorite songs in the morning and dancing. It is a mood booster that cannot be rivaled. Seriously you have to try it.

It is not enough to just play some music while you get ready. No, I need you to dedicate these few minutes to immerse yourself in this experience. Dance until you break a sweat.

If you feel you don’t have enough time to spare for that, consider swapping some of your exercise time for this.

This will boost your mood and attitude for the rest of the day.

15. Take some probiotics

Improve your well-being by taking some Probiotics.

Probiotics are live microorganisms, often referred to as “good” bacteria, that help to promote a healthy gut microbiome.

A healthy gut microbiome is essential for good digestion, immune function, and mental health. Consuming probiotics in the morning can help to restore balance to your gut bacteria, which may have been disrupted by factors such as stress, illness, or a diet high in processed foods.

Probiotics can also help to improve the absorption of nutrients, reduce inflammation, and support the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut. Additionally, some studies have shown that taking probiotics in the morning can help to improve mood and reduce anxiety.

You can find probiotic supplements over the counter but I recommend consulting your healthcare professional before purchasing some.

You can also opt for other natural sources of probiotics in your diet with food items like; yogurt, Kefir, Kimchi, Sauerkraut, Kombucha, etc.

Ready to implement these tips?

There you have it! You have come to the end of this post on things to do in the first hour of waking up for a productive day. To summarize, the tips we talked about are:

• Open the windows and curtains
• Make your bed
• Hydrate yourself
• Take a sunbath
• Stretch your body
• Clean yourself up
• Have some nibbles
• Pray
• Positive self-talk
• Move your body
• Go over your agenda for the day
• Do a quick tidy up
• Journaling
• Do a little dance session
• Take some probiotics.

I know this seems like a lot of things and they are, I however do not expect you to do all of them in the first hour of waking up as it would be almost impossible.

However, I recommend going over them and picking ones that interest you and practicing them when you wake.

I hope reading this improves the type of mornings you have!