How to Build a Morning Routine That Doesn’t Feel Like a Chore

Apr 3, 2025

Let’s be honest: most of us have tried the "perfect" morning routine—you know, the one with meditation, lemon water, journaling, a 10k run, reading 50 pages, and building a business before 9 AM. And most of us have failed by day three.

Not because we’re lazy, but because those routines aren’t built for real life.

Here’s the good news: your morning routine doesn’t need to be aesthetic, intense, or life-changing. It just needs to be something you can actually do—consistently.

Let’s break down how to create a morning flow that helps you feel good without feeling like a bootcamp.

👊 Start Small (Like, Really Small)

The number one reason people give up on routines? Going too hard, too fast.

Instead of planning an entire 2-hour morning, just start with one or two actions you can do every single day. Even if you’re half asleep.

📅 Goal idea:

Make your bed
Drink a glass of water
Step outside for 1 minute

These micro wins create momentum. And once you feel a little accomplished, you're more likely to keep going.

🪢 Make It About How You Want to Feel

Instead of asking "What should I do in the morning?" ask:

"How do I want to feel by 9 AM?"

Energized? Calm? Focused? Then build backwards.

🌟 Want to feel calm? Try stretching + journaling for 5 minutes.
🏋️ Want to feel focused? Do one small task you usually avoid.
🚀 Want to feel energized? Play music and walk around while brushing your teeth.

Build a vibe that serves your energy—not someone else’s checklist.

☕ Stack Habits Onto Things You Already Do

Don’t reinvent your whole life. Just attach a new habit to something that’s already in your routine.

🔹 Do 10 squats while brushing your teeth
🔹 Write one gratitude in Fixie while drinking your coffee
🔹 Stretch for 2 minutes after you get dressed

This is called habit stacking, and it works because it takes the pressure off remembering.

📆 Build a “Minimum Viable Morning”

Create a version of your routine that you can do even on your worst day.

🤔 Slept 3 hours? Feeling like a zombie? Late for class? Still do the basics.

📅 Example Minimum Morning:

Splash water on your face
Drink water
Log one intention in Fixie

That’s it. Anything else is a bonus. The win is in showing up.

🚀 Use Fixie to Track Your Streaks

Let’s be real: checking off a goal feels amazing.

Create a short morning checklist in Fixie and track your streak. Seeing that chain of wins grow day after day? That’s how consistency becomes automatic.

📅 Fixie morning goal ideas: