How to Customize Your Morning Routine Based on Your Personality Type
Whether you're an introvert, extrovert or perfectionist — here's how to start your day the right way.
Everyone needs a morning routine to start their day in a productive and motivated way. But not every routine works for every personality.
Introverts, extroverts and perfectionists all respond best to different types of morning habits.
Here’s how to tweak your routine based on your personality for maximum efficiency and motivation…
Morning Routines for Introverts
Introverts recharge their batteries through alone time, so should keep their mornings light on social interaction.
If you’re an introvert, you should aim to:
Wake up earlier when it's quiet. Less stimuli will help you ease into the day.
Make your morning screen-free. Infotainment from phones, laptops and TVs takes mental effort to process.
Schedule time for journaling each day. Writing down your plans and thoughts in the morning helps organize and energize you.
Start your day with a short meditation practice. Even 5-10 minutes of mindfulness can keep you be focused and centered throughout your day.
Opt for solo physical activity. This could be a walk or yoga session instead of a high-energy group exercise class.
Silence is your friend. Replace morning chatter with quiet time for reflection.
Morning Routines for Extroverts
For extroverts, meaningful social connection energizes them.
That’s why — if you’re an extrovert — you should aim to:
Catch up on social media right after you wake up. This plugs you into the world.
Have breakfast or coffee with a friend or family member. Social connections will help jumpstart your day.
Make an effort to say hi and chat with neighbors on your daily walk. Brief and regular social interactions will keep you motivated and energized.
Attend group exercise classes. By joining a workout class, you can benefit from accountability and social aspects built into your morning routine.
If you regularly work from home, then have a morning task that gets you out of the house to see and chat with others. This could be walking your dog or buying coffee from your local café.
Morning Routines for Perfectionists
Perfectionists often get consumed with getting everything ‘right’.
If you’re a perfectionist, the good news is there is a morning routine that will work for you:
Start with 1-2 attainable goals each morning, not 4-5 lofty goals. Focus on what's most important.
Give yourself credit for progress, not just results. Getting started is half the battle.
Expect complications and roadblocks. Have backup plans and contingencies ready.
Practice self-compassion. Tell yourself it's okay if things don't go perfectly. The effort itself matters.
With everything you do in the morning (and throughout your day), focus on making progress, not achieving perfection.
Make Mornings Work for You
With a little customization based on your unique personality, your morning routine can energize you and set you up for a productive day.
The tips in this article can get you started transforming those sleepy mornings into a habit that optimizes your productivity, motivation and efficiency.
Don't be afraid to experiment. Tweak a few elements each week based on what works best for you. A routine that you can consistently stick with over time will serve you far better in the long run, even if it's not theoretically ‘optimal’.
I'd love to hear your successes and your challenges, so I can keep generating new content to help you transform even the trickiest of mornings into success stories!