Small Chats: Morning Routines (suck)
Here’s an opinion no one asked for: Morning routines are not made for everyone. I get that your time is how you use it, but spoiler, we don’t all have the same 24 hours – that myth is needs to die.
Now don’t get me wrong—I love mornings. Just not the 5 AM kind.
What Was the Morning Routine Trend?
If you’re new to the idea, a “Morning Routine” typically refers to a specific set of tasks you do early each day—popularized by books like The Miracle Morning, which recommends:
Visualize, Exercise, Journal, Affirmations, Read, and Meditate. It is actually a great book, and setting routines is beneficial in so many ways.
But I am talking to you, and myself. And what works for some doesn’t always work for everyone. So let’s breakdown why and how we can adapt – you might have heard of dopamine menus too, we’ll cover that.
We All Have Different Rhythms (and That’s Okay)
We all have our own internal clock. Some of us thrive in the morning, others are night owls, and some bounce between both depending on the season of life (or the literal season, looking at you, Fall darkness).
Personally, I used to swear I was a night person. And in some ways, I still am. But my most productive work hours? Between 9 to 11 AM. My home “productive zone” hits around 8 PM, after I’ve had some time to unwind. This is the time I get another burst of energy and I usually pick up or craft.
I don’t have a morning routine right now, I’ve been stuck in a loop of car, hotel, family for months and I am stoked to start forming new routines. I have ideas to test too. Don’t worry I always share.
The Myth of 24 hours
If you were unsure what I mean, let me summarize this concept. We don’t all have the same 24 hours. Your 24 hours looks different than mine, and so forth.
What this refers to is differences – if you are wealthy you may not work as much, or you have people to do things for you such as clean or cook. If you have kids your days are chaotic and completely different than someone who doesn’t have kids.
If you are chronically ill, such as with a disability you may have less time and energy to do things as well. If you did a ‘normal’ work day you might crash out for 3 days after. That is not the same as someone who is not ill. Here are some good articles on this: Cosmo, Medium, Theboar.
Dopamine Menus
What a Dopamine menu refers to, in this context, is a set of routines you setup ahead of time that are for varying energy days, for example;
- High Energy Days – Master plan, all the things you want to do every day in a perfect world
- Mid Energy Days – The main priorities, a few extras if you can but your energy is saved for the actual tasks of the day
- Low Energy Days – You get up, do what you have to, and that is a day
That means being kind to yourself in these situations. Sometimes we forget, and if you push the next few days you may end up in recovery mode anyway.
So… Do Routines Still Matter?
Absolutely. But I don’t think they need to follow the “morning” formula to count. The key takeaway from all the productivity trends is this: Do the things that fuel you—on your schedule.
I think the key benefit the morning routines is a set up rules, or structure that you don’t have to make decisions about. I think the biggest clue to how to be more productive is the routine. Sadly, for those of us with ADHD and can’t master routines, but I think we can still work with that. (Granted I think tasks pairing helps a lot for me, with my ADHD).
What to try instead
Your morning routine is a set of list of things you didn’t have to consider or think about, it was just a list of things you DO or check off (if you cannot remember like so many of us). It takes the decision making out of the situation and I think that is the key to why so many people like them.
Try this instead, just like with a dopamine menu – write down your perfect morning in a simple easy to see or read format. Now you have a list to work off. Keep it front and center – or a wall, or post it notes. Use it as a guide for your morning, if something is to much, skip it. If you are running late, do the most important things – but identify them ahead of time on the note. Taking the decision process out of your tasks helps with the mental load. This is the energy that drains me. Having to think, reorganize and remember.
Did you know, and I know not everyone likes this term, neurotypical people don’t have to remember to brush their teeth? They just do it. It’s not a task in their head they have to check off. It’s not something that have to remember or tell themselves multiple times in the morning so they don’t forget. It’s just there. Done.
And yes, realizing that is depressing. But that is a ton of energy devoted to remembering the thing. So make it easier for yourself – WRITE IT BIG BOLD AND LOUD so you can see it.
May your goals be flexible and your planner be cute,
Happy Planning