I don’t know if it’s the best (what defines that?) but it’s what I do.

I wake up, my dog notices and jumps around in excitement. I greet him, pet him, then take my phone, do the daily NYT Mini Crossword and browse around for a few minutes while he lies down again, waiting patiently. I stand up, go pee, then I take my dog out for a walk. Afterwards I prepare my oatmeal, then prepare my dog’s food (it needs to soak a few minutes), go open all windows to get fresh air in, start the computer and quickly check my mails, then we both eat our breakfast while I check my RSS feeds.

Having coffee and cake for breakfast every day, while also not consuming them at any other time of day.

Love my current routine and it’s doing wonders for my health, both phisically and mentally (or at least I believe it is, it might be a placebo):

1. waking up every day at the same time
2. bathroom (toilet, teeth, washing face)
3. glass of water with a multivitamin and omega-3 (I’m vegan and this is so much easier than finding food that has all that)
4. playing with the cat (I have no coice in this, she says it must be so, it is, therefore, so)
5. ~15min of yoga
6. ~10min of meditation

And then it’s coffee and work time. I’ve been on this routine for about 2 years now and I feel amazing since starting with it.

I have this one KILLER technique for getting rid of morning problems. Been using it for years.

I’m an second shifty. :P

^{(In all seriousness, consistency is a good tactic. Even on your off days, try to get up at about the same time roughly. Makes it easier to get up at that time on your on days.)}

After I walk the kids to school I just keep walking. Sometimes it’s ten minutes, sometimes it’s an hour. I come home with a clear head and ready to be productive.

Sleeping in.

I think taking the time in the morning to enjoy myself. I WFH these days so it’s a easier (yet sometimes harder) to do that, but when I was commuting, I’d wake up early enough to get ready of course, but also take sometime to have a cup of coffee and read some news and such. Maybe even have a breakfast sandwich or something. Because for many years, I did the whole wake up the last minute, get ready, and get out the door ASAP thing. I always felt like I was in a panic.

I can’t say it led me to be more productive or whatever. But it just felt nicer. To not be so rushed. And that’s worth something.

Thc

No alarm. I go to bed on time and my body gets it somehow what a good wake up time is.

Also related is that when I wake up at night I take the time to think things through. Often a few hours, and then sleep again.

Sleeping later, instead of waking up early (not late, but 7 instead of 5:30) improved my health; sex every morning is the way we wake up (well, it’s the first thing I do, husband does like to wake earlier so he lets the dogs out and has coffee while I am sleeping still), for about 8 years now, that has been really great too.

So no alarm, wake later but not late, and sex.

Every morning I take the dog outside for her morning walk, start the coffee, make the bed, and get her fed and settled. Then I’m at my desk and I do the Wordle, NYT mini crossword and connections puzzles (and send them to the family group chat). Then I play one game of online chess, losing very badly and analyzing my mistakes afterward. Now that I’m totally awake and having my coffee, I spend time with my spiritual routine, then start answering my emails around 9 (I’m a web developer and work from home).

I have my alarm clock require solving 5 arithmetic problems before it cancels (e.g (16*8 +10-6)/6) . It makes me alert way quicker and now I’m pretty quick at mental math.

One cup of coffee on the balcony every morning. Just sitting there, enjoying the atmosphere, watching people walk by (I live near a park), maybe meditating a bit.

Waking up at the same time 7 days a week. I never feel overly tired and my body feels better.

Bowel movements