9 Daily Rituals That Set You Up for Success

1. Design Your Day
2. Eat the Frog
3. Boost Your Energy With Exercise
4. Write in a Journal
5. Take a Moment to Be Mindful
6. Connect With a Support Network
7. Practice Creativity
8. Put a Focus on Food
9. Unwind Before Bedtime

Written by Paige Brettingen

05 April, 2019

We all want to live our best lives, but so often appointments, responsibilities and aches and pains get in the way of that mission. Creating a set of daily rituals, however, can help keep you on track toward having a good day, no matter what's thrown at you.

From exercise to meditation to quality time with family, self-care rituals have a big effect on your physical and emotional health. **Far too often, though, these important parts of life are viewed as just more tiring items being piled on your to-do list instead of being recognized as the sacred tasks that can help you thrive day in and day out.

** Luckily, a simple shift in mindset and re-prioritizing your own self care can make all the difference. Here are 9 simple morning routine ideas to help you make the most of — and truly enjoy — each and every day.

1. Design Your Day

Some mornings it can be difficult to find the motivation and willpower to even get out of bed. And at some point during the day, it might feel easier to simply sit down for a TV binge-watching session and not get back up until the sun sets.

But by creating a habit of designing your day, such as creating a to-do list or blocking out time in your planner for specific tasks, you remove the difficulty of remembering what needs to be done later when your energy level has plummeted.

So take out your calendar or journal and jot down what you want to accomplish that day, ranked from most important and urgent to least important and urgent. Even if you don't get all the way through the list in one day, you'll have accomplished what's important, which feels great!

Some mornings it can be difficult to find the motivation and willpower to even get out of bed.
But by creating a habit of designing your day, such as creating a to-do list or blocking out time in your planner for specific tasks, you remove the difficulty of remembering what needs to be done later when your energy level has plummeted.

2. Eat the Frog

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Don't worry, "eating the frog" has nothing to do with amphibians for breakfast and everything to do with developing a ritual that'll make your day seem more manageable. Even on your best days, there's often an ugly, unpleasant task you don't feel like doing, right? Meet your frog!

The trick — popularized by author and motivator Brian Tracy — is to focus on that "frog" first thing in the morning, rather than spending the whole day dreading it. So if you struggle through your workouts, do them first thing (see the next point). Or if you have phone calls you usually find yourself avoiding, get them out of the way bright and early. That way they're off your mind and you can carry that sense of accomplishment with you throughout the day.

Don't worry, "eating the frog" has nothing to do with amphibians for breakfast and everything to do with developing a ritual that'll make your day seem more manageable.
That way they're off your mind and you can carry that sense of accomplishment with you throughout the day.

3. Boost Your Energy With Exercise

It may seem counter-intuitive, but when you feel exhausted, a little bit of exercise can help you keep going. Don't worry: We're not talking about HIIT or CrossFit here. Low-intensity, low-impact workouts like walking, swimming, biking or yoga are all excellent options.

A 2008 study from the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation found that a morning sweat session can help you feel more awake and ready for the day. And a 2017 review published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that regular exercise had the biggest effect of all lifestyle changes on cancer patients, most likely due to its positive effect on endogenous hormone levels, inflammation and insulin resistance.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but when you feel exhausted, a little bit of exercise can help you keep going.

4. Write in a Journal

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Writing down your thoughts each day can help you sort through how you feel about your life while also helping to manage your anxiety, reduce your stress and cope with negative thoughts, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center 6.

Some people like to keep an online journal that friends and family can read so they don't have to keep answering the same questions over and over again.

Others prefer to have a private, handwritten journal that allows them to truly get their thoughts out without the risk of other people seeing them. Choose the format that feels best for you and get writing! And if filling multiple pages each day sounds overwhelming, simplify it to fit your needs: Even writing down a single sentence about how you feel each morning is a significant first step toward developing this wholesome habit.

Writing down your thoughts each day can help you sort through how you feel about your life while also helping to manage your anxiety, reduce your stress and cope with negative thoughts, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Others prefer to have a private, handwritten journal that allows them to truly get their thoughts out without the risk of other people seeing them.

5. Take a Moment to Be Mindful

It takes only a few minutes to meditate — though you can do it for longer if you want, of course — and the benefits are significant. **They include a decrease in anxiety, an improvement in sleep and even a reduction in pain. **

The freeing thing is that there's no "right" way to meditate 11. This is your ritual, so make of it what you will.

The most important thing is to set aside a few minutes every day and establish a routine.

Then, you can simply sit or lie down and spend whatever time you have focusing on your breath and your body. If your mind wanders, gently guide it back to the sensations you're currently feeling.

It takes only a few minutes to meditate — though you can do it for longer if you want, of course — and the benefits are significant.

6. Connect With a Support Network

The importance of having social support can't be understated, so take a little bit of time in the morning to connect with someone every day 12. This could be a family member or friend, a spiritual advisor or mental health provider.

It might mean hopping on a phone call or exchanging a few text messages, meeting a loved one for coffee or jotting out a few messages on an online message board.

The importance of having social support can't be understated, so take a little bit of time in the morning to connect with someone every day 12.
It might mean hopping on a phone call or exchanging a few text messages, meeting a loved one for coffee or jotting out a few messages on an online message board.

7. Practice Creativity

Set aside time in the morning for creative endeavors that make you feel alive, such as that novel you’re writing or the piano skills you’re set on improving. Finding the motivation to practice your craft after a long workday is a challenge when all you want to do is relax, so why not get it done while the day is new?

When you’re tempted to hold off until you get home in the evening, repeat this mantra: If it has to happen, it has to happen first. Plus, practicing something you love right off the bat helps take your mind off daily stressors and sets a positive tone for the day.

Set aside time in the morning for creative endeavors that make you feel alive, such as that novel you’re writing or the piano skills you’re set on improving.
Finding the motivation to practice your craft after a long workday is a challenge when all you want to do is relax, so why not get it done while the day is new?

8. Put a Focus on Food

Although there's no one-size-fits-all diet, it's important to pay attention to what you're putting in your body. When you create a morning ritual of preparing meals and snacks with purpose and focusing on the nutrients that your body needs, you're also ensuring that you get the right kind of fuel to help you get through the rest of the day.

(But those are great healthy eating guidelines for anyone and everyone to follow!)

Read more: 10 Easy Mediterranean Diet Recipes

Although there's no one-size-fits-all diet, it's important to pay attention to what you're putting in your body.
When you create a morning ritual of preparing meals and snacks with purpose and focusing on the nutrients that your body needs, you're also ensuring that you get the right kind of fuel to help you get through the rest of the day.
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9. Unwind Before Bedtime

There’s no way around it: The key to a good day, a good mood and good health is a good night’s sleep. That means part of your morning ritual actually starts the night before.

Just as you set an alarm to wake up in the morning, it’s imperative to set a bedtime alarm, as well.

When it goes off, it's time to unwind so you can get a good night's sleep. Then leave your phone outside of your bedroom or put it on silent or in airplane mode to ensure you have an undisturbed, restful night.