The RoutineMorningChecklist

Implementing a morning routine can set a positive tone for the rest of your day. However, it’s important to establish habits that genuinely serve you and align with your individual needs and lifestyle. Here are some dos and don’ts to consider when setting your morning routine:

• Do wake up consistently.

• Do start your day with a glass of water to replenish any fluids lost overnight and kick-start your metabolism.

• Do talk to Hashem in some way during these quiet hours.

• Do move your body to help wake you up and boost your mood.

• Do eat a nutritious breakfast.

• Do include some self-care time, such as journaling, meditating, or drinking a coffee in your favorite spot.

• Do prepare for the morning rush that’s inevitable when the children wake up.

• Do expose yourself to the most sunlight you can.

• Don’t hit snooze; you want to be active when you wake up and not passive.

• Don’t skip breakfast; even if you’re not very hungry, try to eat something small.

• Don’t check your phone or computer immediately.

• Don’t be too rigid; it’s great to have a routine, but flexibility is key. Some mornings might not go as planned, and that’s okay.

• Don’t mock those who wake up later than you do.

Remember, the goal of a morning routine is to start your day on a positive note. Make sure whatever you include in your routine serves that purpose and feels right for you.

The Human Factor

Aiming for an earlier wake-up time is certainly a worthy endeavor, and those of us who’ve gotten a taste of that experience just want more of it, every morning. Still, as humans, there’s no denying that pulling ourselves out of bed at an early hour comes with its fair share of struggle. While the battle can get easier, as is discussed in the article, it’s important to face our human heaviness, as the Ramchal describes it in his chapter on alacrity in Mesillas Yesharim, and to recognize that some parts of us are here to stay. In order to overcome this morning heaviness as much as possible, we’re best off making the sleep experience least comfortable once our ideal wakeup time has arrived. Rav Elyashiv zt"l, the paragon of alacrity especially at 2 a.m.—even at 100 years old—took pains to ensure that he wouldn’t falter in this area. When he awoke each morning, he would immediately roll up his blanket and toss it to the far end of the bed, to eliminate the temptation to remain in bed for another few minutes. This venerable sage understood well how fiercely one must combat our natural tendency for sluggishness, without letup.