How to Create a Morning Routine for Productivity

Most people start mornings stressed. Science says 3 minutes can change that. For years, my mornings felt chaotic. Snoozing alarms. Scrolling aimlessly. And starting the day already behind. I thought it was just how mornings were. Stressful, rushed, and overwhelming. Turns out, I wasn’t alone: 95% of Americans dislike mornings, associating them with stress and overwhelm (Ipsos). But your mornings don’t have to feel this way. Everything changed when I discovered this science-backed protocol from Dr. Andrew Huberman. It’s not about waking up at 5 AM. Or doing a crazy 10-step ritual. It’s about starting your day with clarity, calm, and focus. And the best part... It only takes 3 minutes. Here’s the exact protocol: 1️⃣ 5 Gratitudes ↳ Gratitude reduces stress and primes your brain for positivity. ↳ Write down five things you’re thankful for. ↳ It can be simple, like “hot coffee” or “a sunny day.” 2️⃣ 3 Plans for the Day ↳ Defining priorities can increase productivity. ↳ Write down your top three must-do tasks. ↳ Simple beats complicated. 3️⃣ Fears or Resentments ↳ Naming emotions reduces their intensity. ↳ Write down one fear or frustration. ↳ Acknowledging it clears mental clutter. 4️⃣ Things to Watch Out For ↳ Anticipating challenges helps you navigate them calmly. ↳ Identify one potential obstacle. ↳ Think of distractions or a difficult meeting. 5️⃣ Things to Strive For ↳ Big goals activate your brain’s motivation centers. ↳ Write down one aspiration for the day. ↳ Dream big. This routine isn’t just about planning your day. It’s about rewiring your brain. It works because it aligns your emotions, focus, and actions, all in under 3 minutes. Practices like gratitude, goal-setting, and emotional awareness improve focus, reduce anxiety, and make decision-making easier. At first, writing down my fears felt strange. But what surprised me most? Acknowledging them took the edge off. They stopped controlling my thoughts. Even if you start mornings stressed, this protocol can change how you approach the day. Here’s what changed for me: ✅ I stopped starting the day in a fog of stress. ✅ I tackled my priorities before noon. ✅ And no more procrastinating. ✅ Even on bad days, this helped me reset. For non-morning people? It might just convert you. This isn’t about becoming perfect. It’s about giving yourself 3 minutes to create clarity, calm, and focus. Try it for a week. If it doesn’t work for you, let it go. But if it does? You’ll never look back. ♻️ Repost this to inspire more focused mornings. ➕ Follow me (Amy) for science-backed strategies.

🌟 Enhance Your Productivity with a Morning Routine 🌟 Feeling the need to boost your productivity but unsure where to start, especially with kids and a busy work schedule? Let's craft a morning routine tailored just for you: Step #1: Kickstart Your Morning Right Choose a wake-up time that gives you solitude before the hustle begins. For me, it's 5 AM—a peaceful two hours before the house stirs. Avoid hitting snooze; when that alarm rings, get up promptly. Resist the urge to check your phone; instead, prepare yourself mentally for the day ahead. Step #2: Embrace Quiet Office Time Once at your workspace, create a serene atmosphere. I begin with meditation and affirmations—12 daily goals that inspire me, like achieving a 4-hour workday. Visualizing these goals keeps me focused and motivated. Your quiet time doesn’t need to be extensive; even a few minutes of meditation and affirmations can set a positive tone for the day. Step #3: Harness Your Creative Energy Morning is when creativity thrives for me. Whether crafting content or planning courses, dedicating this time to creative pursuits ensures I produce my best work. Avoid diving into emails early; prioritize creative endeavors while your mind is fresh and vibrant. Step #4: Prep for Success Surprisingly, my morning routine starts the night before. Before wrapping up my workday, I tidy my workspace and organize tasks for the next day. Closing unnecessary tabs and using tools like Boomerang to manage emails effectively ensure I start each day focused and organized. 🚀 Ready to Elevate Your Mornings? Your ideal routine doesn’t require hours of dedication; it’s about intentional moments that set a productive tone. Start with small steps—prioritize solitude, nurture creativity, and organize your workspace. These habits will transform your mornings and, ultimately, your entire day. What’s your favorite morning ritual? Share below! Let’s inspire each other to embrace productive habits. 🌞💼

Here’s the thing—how you start your day sets the tone for everything else. If you’re waking up and diving straight into emails or scrolling your phone, you’re letting everyone else’s priorities take over yours. I used to do that, but it always felt like I was reacting to everyone else’s needs instead of focusing on what truly mattered. Now, here’s my morning routine that helps me set the tone for a productive day: Give yourself time: 30 minutes of quiet before the chaos kicks in is a game-changer. The notifications can wait: Take a moment to ground yourself before the outside world gets in. Focus on YOUR priorities: Emails are full of other people’s agendas. Handle yours first. Do the big thing first: What’s the one task that will move the needle? Tackle that while your energy is fresh. Protect your time: Set aside specific slots for tasks, breaks, and creative work. Your calendar is sacred—treat it like that. Move your body: Stretch, walk, or hydrate—get your blood flowing without an intense workout. Ask yourself: What’s my main focus today? What will make me feel accomplished? Success doesn’t come from hard work alone. It comes from intentional work. Start your day with purpose. Trust me, the results will speak for themselves. (Repost if this resonates with you!)

I once heard a CEO confess something interesting. He said, 'I kept trying to wake up at 4 am because that's what successful people do. But I was miserable and ineffective.' Here's the truth about morning routines that nobody talks about... The most impactful leaders I've trained don't imitate someone else's perfect morning. Instead, they start with a focused 15-minute identity-building routine and then build their remaining morning hours around their unique: → Natural energy patterns → Family dynamics → Kingdom calling → Season of life Look at some instructive examples from church history: John Wesley anchored his day with morning prayer at 4:30am, but then moved straight into community at 5:30am. Brother Lawrence transformed morning kitchen work into contemplative practice. Martin Luther initially prayed for 3 hours per morning but then adjusted his morning hours based on his health and workload. Benedict's Rule set prayer times that followed the natural rhythm of sun and seasons, showing how even structured routines must account for natural patterns. They each had different rhythms, but shared one vital practice: a consistent, intentional start. After years of coaching high-performers, here's what I know: The perfect morning routine is the one you'll actually stick to. For some, that's 4 am. For others, it's 7 am. For some there's a morning workout. For others it's an afternoon workout. What matters is those first 15 minutes - casting your daily vote for who you're becoming. Your morning micro-habits need just 3 elements: Consistency (same time, same place) Intention (clear focus on identity) Manageability (small enough to win daily) Everything else can flex with your life. Stop copying other people's formulas. Start with 15 minutes that reinforce your identity. Then build rhythms that serve your calling. Because true success isn't about when you wake up. It's about showing up consistently for what matters most. -- Enjoy ideas like this? This Sunday in The Mission Briefing newsletter, I'm outlining 21 key learning and insights - like this one - from almost 25 years of training. Join us here: https://lnkd.in/d9XJdxht

I run 2 businesses, take 6 classes, host a podcast, and play quarterback on a college football team. People always ask me, “How do you do it?” Here’s how I juggle it all (9 simple practices to supercharge performance): ~ 1) Sunday Systems A productive week begins on Sunday. By outlining my week on Sunday, I save 4+ hours during the week. Here’s what I map out: - Building blocks - Creation blocks - Podcasts - Workouts You can find a free Sunday Systems worksheet in the comments of this post. ~ 2) The Night Before Morning productivity begins the night before. Here’s how I prep: - Tasks outlined - Computer set up - Clothes laid out - Water + Electrolytes ready This way, there is no mental friction upon waking, and I can drop right into a creative flow. ~ 3) Dopamine Modulation To maintain focus and motivation in the morning, I conserve my dopamine for my most important tasks. This looks like: - No phone - No social media - Grounding + sun - Supplement stack The work feels way more rewarding without any cheap dopamine hits. ~ 4) 3-4 Hours of Focused Work Once the world is awake and classes begin, chaos ensues. So the key is 3-4 hours of deep focus in the morning: - 1 building block - 1 creative block - Miscellaneous tasks If I’m super dialed, I can knock out a week’s worth of work in one morning. ~ 5) Habit Stacking When it’s time to work, I keep my supplementary habits consistent: - Deep house music - Black coffee - Coconut water - Mountain Valley - Red light Once I’m in my workspace with music, a coffee, and hydration, my mind and nervous system are primed for focus. ~ 6) Batching Rather than schoolwork lingering and taking up mental bandwidth, I knock out a week’s worth of work in one 2-4 hour work block. By condensing school into one day a week and leveraging Parkinson’s Law, my mind becomes free to focus on creating and building. ~ 7) Clean Physical & Digital Space Our external world is a mirror of our internal world. If our external enviroment becomes messy, our minds become messy as well. To keep a clear mind, maintaining a clean apartment, office, and digital workspace is key. ~ 8) Close Loops as They Arise The Tao te Ching says, “The master accomplishes the difficult task while it is still easy.” - Put things in order - Delete the email as it arises - Delete the file after you use it I repeat this in my mind all day. Closing loops keeps the mind sharp. ~ 9) Physical & Mental Inbox 0 When notifications or chores build up, it creates friction in the mind and sabotages productivity. At the end of the day, if I can be at or close to 0 notifications and have my apartment in order, I wake up fresh and ready to attack the morning. ~ 9 practices to enhance your productivity: 1) Sunday Systems 2) Dialing in the night before 3) Dopamine modulation 4) 3-4 hours of focus 5) Habit stacking 6) Batching 7) Clean digital & physical spaces 8) Close loops 9) Inbox 0 ~ Sunday Systems Worksheet below:

This mistake can derail your entire business:   → Not having a morning routine. When I did not have a morning routine,  I used to show up to work with a fogged mind... ...which impacted my clarity, focus, and  decision-making which in turn, affected my business. When I intentionally created a strong morning routine: I noticed it gave me the clarity to move forward, helping me stay connected to my vision + make better decisions. Here’s how to create a routine  that drives your business forward: 1. Start with quiet reflection to clear your mind. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Spend 5 minutes setting intentions  and reconnecting with your business goals. 2. Review top priorities to stay aligned with your vision.  𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Identify 1-3 tasks that directly support your objectives, so you don’t lose focus on what matters. 3. Engage in personal growth to set a positive tone.  𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Workout, read, journal, or learn something new that enhances your leadership mindset. My morning routine is more than a productivity hack ↴ It’s been the foundation that supports my ability to lead, make better decisions, and surprisingly it has also created the structure my business needed to grow. P.S. What’s one thing you include in your morning to keep your vision clear?