Because it turns out, “trying harder” wasn’t the answer either.
If you’ve ever had a plan to wake up early, start strong, get ahead of the day — and then hit snooze six times and wake up already feeling behind…
Yeah. Same.
For years, I thought the issue was motivation. That if I could just “want it more,” I’d jump out of bed, meditate, stretch, journal, meal prep — maybe even do a few push-ups in slow motion while the sunrise poured in through the blinds.
Instead, I’d roll over, check my phone, and spend 40 minutes getting lost in everyone else’s day before even starting my own.
It wasn’t a lack of motivation.
It was a lack of something way more basic — and way more fixable.
The Truth About Motivation (That No One Really Talks About)
We hear it all the time:
“Just want it more.”
“Winners don’t hit snooze.”
“You’ve got to be hungry.”
Cool. But none of that helps when your alarm goes off and your brain’s already negotiating.
The truth? Motivation isn’t the problem. It’s a bonus — not a foundation.
If your morning routine depends on motivation, it’s going to fall apart the moment life throws a bad night’s sleep, stress, or even just a mood you can’t shake.
That’s what was happening to me — over and over again.
What Actually Helped Me Get Up in the Morning
Lowering the Bar (On Purpose)
I used to think a morning routine had to be impressive to count.
Now? I give myself just one job: win the first 10 minutes.
Some mornings that’s just heading straight to the kitchen for a glass of water. Other days it’s stretching or scribbling a to-do list. That’s it. No pressure to be perfect. Just enough to feel like I’ve started.
Reading Atomic Habits was honestly what changed how I saw it. That book helped me realise I wasn’t failing. I was just making things too complicated.
Tiny, repeatable wins are how habits actually stick. Not motivation. Not willpower. Just small, clear actions that you can show up for.
Making It Hard to Stay in Bed
I used to keep my phone on my bedside table.
Now, I charge it across the room.
That one change made a huge difference. When the alarm goes off, I have to get out of bed to turn it off. By the time I’m up, I’m already halfway there.
It’s not discipline — it’s just designing your environment so the lazy option isn’t the easiest one.
Leaving a Win Waiting for Me
There’s a big water bottle sitting by the kettle every night.
First thing I do: drink a full glass of water.
Sounds basic, but it wakes me up faster than coffee, gives me a tiny sense of control, and breaks the autopilot loop that used to pull me back into scrolling.
One action. One win. That’s enough.
One Habit, Not Five
I used to start my day with this huge mental checklist: journal, read, plan, breathe, stretch, eat right, start a podcast, save the world…
Now I just do one thing: write down my top three tasks.
I use Notion or just a plain notebook depending on the day, both options work perfectly fine.
It clears my head and gives me a bit of structure before the day starts pulling me in different directions.
No fluff. No overwhelm. Just three clear things.
Tracking Progress Without Obsessing
I’ve tried tons of apps before. Most of them made me feel like I was behind — like I was failing a checklist I didn’t even ask for.
But Habitify was the one I stuck with. I don’t use it for five habits. I use it for one.
Just one simple habit I’m focused on this week — and when I tick it off, it feels like I’m still moving forward.
That little feedback loop matters more than you’d think.
Borrowing Ideas (Not Copying Routines)
I remember reading The Miracle Morning and feeling overwhelmed by it at first. Meditation, affirmations, journaling, visualisation — all great ideas, but all at once? Not for me.
Still, I took two things from it that really helped, and I’ve kept them.
The rest? I left behind.
You don’t need to follow someone else’s blueprint. You need something that fits your life, your energy, your goals. Take what works. Leave what doesn’t.
That’s what makes a routine stick.
The Morning Isn’t the Problem — It’s the Expectation
The problem wasn’t mornings.
It was how much pressure I was putting on them.
When you think a “good” morning means doing ten things before breakfast, you’re going to avoid it — especially on tough days.
But if your only rule is to do one thing that helps you feel slightly more in control, mornings get lighter. Easier. Repeatable.
And for me, that’s what made all the difference.
Final Thought: Forget Motivation — Build a System That Moves Without It
You don’t need to feel inspired.
You don’t need to copy someone else’s polished routine.
You don’t need to force it.
You just need a system that moves even when you don’t want to.
That’s what a real morning routine is.
Not about chasing productivity.
Just about showing up for yourself — in a way that actually works when the mood isn’t there.
If you’ve been waiting for motivation to finally kick in… don’t.
Just set yourself up for one small win tomorrow morning.
That’s how it started for me.
And that’s what RizeUp is really about.
FAQs About Building a Real Life Morning Routine
What’s the best way to build a realistic morning routine?
If you want a morning routine that actually sticks, start with just one habit you can manage on your busiest day, such as drinking water, stretching, or writing down a to-do list. Stack on more steps only after that first one feels automatic.
How do I stop wasting my mornings?
Try putting your phone out of arm’s reach and having something ready, like a notebook or glass of water, right where you typically wake up. Tricking yourself into an easy win makes it less tempting to stay in bed or start scrolling.
What should I do if I mess up my routine?
Don’t wait for Monday or the next month. Just get back to your first step the next day. Your routine survives one off morning; it just doesn’t love giving up for a whole week.
Can I have a good morning routine if I’m not a morning person?
Absolutely. Mornings can start ten minutes before you get out the door. Whatever you do first, no matter what time, can set the tone.
One Small Win Is All You Really Need
If everything else in this post feels overwhelming, just remember: you don’t need to win the whole morning. Just get through the first ten minutes, and you’ve done more than enough. Building a morning routine that works isn’t about perfection or waking up before sunrise. It’s about finding a routine that makes sense for your life, not someone else’s. Try just one small thing tomorrow—water, a stretch, writing one task—and see how it feels. If you’re tired of failing at morning routines, these ideas might help you land on something that finally sticks.
Try What Helped Me:
If you want to try the tools that helped me stop relying on motivation and start building better mornings, here’s what I personally use:
- 📘 Atomic Habits by James Clear — this book rewired how I view habit-building
- ✅ Habitify Habit Tracker — simple app, one goal at a time
- 🧠 Notion (or notebook) — write out your top 3 daily tasks
- ☕ The Miracle Morning — take the parts that fit, skip the rest
- 💧 Large Water Bottle — first win of the day, every day