7 things mindful people do at the start of every day

Mindfulness is everywhere — everyone’s talking about its benefits.

And you want to make use of this incredible personal development tool.

But how do you actually put it into practice? 

Not so long ago, I too found myself very confused. But eventually I realized how simple mindfulness can really be.

All it takes is a couple key habits. Especially in the morning, as it sets the tone for the rest of your day. 

Here are the 7 that I’ve implemented into my daily routine that help me stay mindful.

1) Set a consistent and reasonable wake-up time

You may have heard about the miracle morning, touting the benefits of waking up early for productivity and mindfulness.

But I’ve got to be honest — I hate waking up early. I’ve never liked it, and I’ll never be able to do it.

So I found a different approach that still helps me be mindful in the morning. And in my opinion, it comes down to two things.

Firstly, it’s about having a consistent wake-up time. You can’t get up at 6am one day and 11am the next, and stay on track with your goals and intentions.

And secondly, it’s about having enough time in the morning to do the things you want to do without being in a huge rush.

Personally, I like to enjoy a cup of coffee while journaling about my intentions for the day ahead of me. 

I need to make sure I have at least 20 minutes of free time in the morning in order to keep up with this habit, and it works wonders for making the most of the day ahead of me. 

2) Avoid technology first thing in the morning

If you’re like most people, you might turn off your alarm in the morning and then immediately open Instagram, email, or start playing around on your phone.

But if you want to be mindful, that’s one habit you’ll have to scratch.

Because when you do this, you allow other people to determine what you think about in the morning.

And the worst thing is, you have no control over what that will be. Maybe you’ll come across silly cat reels, or maybe you’ll get sucked into reading an argument in the comment section.

And believe it or not, this can influence you a lot. Your mind is an empty slate in the morning, and whatever you allow to come in will shape your first thoughts. 

So instead, give yourself an hour of screen-free time in the morning. Let yourself connect with your own authentic thoughts instead. 

3) Meditate or give their mind time to roam

This next habit won’t come as a big surprise, as practically any self-development book and coach out there recommends meditation.

And I’ll admit, I didn’t jump on this bandwagon until very late in the game.

Because I thought there was only one correct way to meditate, and I could never manage to sit still and focus on my breathing for very long, or “clear my mind”, whatever that means.

But at some point, because of how busy my life was, I found my mind feeling overwhelmed with thoughts. So I started giving myself “quiet time” in the morning where I just sat and was present with my thoughts. 

When I started doing this, I noticed what a difference it made throughout my whole day. My mind finally had the space to voice what was on it.

This also helped me determine what to focus on throughout the day. For this reason I have a pen and paper with me when I do this, so I can write down anything important I think of. 

I know this isn’t what you think of when you hear “meditation”, but it’s my own personal version of it, and has really helped me start the day off right.

4) Eat, shower, and groom mindfully

Eating, showering, and grooming are often mindless activities we rush through. But turning these into mindful experiences can be transformational.

Think about it. You’re nourishing your body with food, cleansing yourself with a shower, and taking care of your appearance. These aren’t just tasks; they’re acts of self-love and respect.

Here’s what I do: I take my time to taste my food, feel the water on my skin, and choose my clothes with care. I remind myself that I’m worth this attention, and it’s not about impressing others, but honoring myself.

And the benefits are amazing. I feel more connected to myself, more grounded, and ready for whatever the day throws at me.

It can be challenging to do at first, because you want to get started with your day as soon as possible, and it can be difficult to put your worries aside to focus on something seemingly mundane. 

That’s why I personally do this step after meditating, so my thoughts already had time to be heard. Then, this habit gives the mind a break before you tackle your goals and to-dos. 

5) Practice gratitude based on their preferences

What are you grateful for? This is a question that mindful people ponder at the start of each day.

Social media may have you think this is just about saying “thank you” or telling yourself, “I’m grateful”. But really, it’s about recognizing and appreciating the good in your life.

There are multiple ways you can implement this practice into your life.

Some people like to write down 3 things they’re grateful for in their life. 

Others give themselves 2 minutes and write down as many things as they possibly can that they’re grateful for — something like a “gratitude rampage”. 

Personally, I have adopted a different method: I write down 3 things I’m grateful for about the day that lies ahead, as if they already happened.

For example, if I have a presentation to do at work and then I’m meeting up with some friends, I might say “I’m grateful for the confidence I had at the presentation and my great listening skills that make me a good friend.”

This might sound unusual, but it helps guide me to take the right actions throughout my day in order to make the most of it. 

6) Plan their day with purpose

Mindful people don’t leave their day to chance; they plan it. But it’s not just about scribbling down a to-do list. It’s about aligning your daily activities with your broader goals and values.

Every morning, I spend a few minutes mapping out my day. But I don’t just list tasks; I also think about why they matter and how they fit into my larger picture.

For instance, I don’t just write, “Go to the gym.” I write, “Exercise to feel strong and stay healthy.” This shift in perspective helps me see the meaning behind my actions.

It also helps me choose the right activities to fill my day that will actually help me move towards the life I want to create for myself. 

If I can’t think of a powerful “why” for a task, there might not be any — and I scratch the task.

So this isn’t just a powerful mindfulness practice, but also a way to help you stay on track for your goals. 

7) Read or listen to something inspiring

Another great morning habit for mindful people is absorbing something positive and inspiring.

Back when I had a ton of free time because I wasn’t working yet, I would set aside 30-60 minutes for reading in the morning. 

But of course, life quickly gets busy and soon I didn’t have time to do this anymore. But I was really missing the “mind food” in the morning that helped put me in a positive mindset. 

So I found an alternative solution: listening to podcasts and audiobooks.

This was something I could do even while commuting on public transport or preparing my morning coffee. 

I would also try to pick a podcast that was relevant to the goals I was working on at the moment: for example, “how to speak with confidence” when I had a big presentation coming up ahead.

Make the most of each day with mindfulness

Now you know 7 amazing habits that mindful people do at the start of every day.

And, how they personally helped me transform my daily routine.

Because I didn’t always used to be as productive and motivated as I am today.

In fact, I used to feel constantly behind and low on energy. I didn’t understand how everyone else seemed to be doing something with their life, and I could barely find 2 socks of the same color in my morning rush. 

But as I acquired these habits one by one, I saw my life shifting to the vision I had for myself.

And if you start practicing these morning habits, you surely will too.