Do you want to know the secret of getting results that last? Never stop making improvements – especially when you’re creating your medical school morning routine. That’s where the power of atomic habits comes in – tiny changes that lead to remarkable results. As James Clear says, “Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.”
However, here’s the thing: Even though I can feel in my bones that this is the year I’m going to achieve all of my goals, and more, I’m not going to let it turn into my workaholic era. Instead, I’m declaring this year as my cozy productivity era. It’s all about a morning routine of habits that help me stay productive while I embrace a sense of coziness and calm.
So, grab yourself a matcha (or your favorite warm beverage) and settle in as I cover the seven habits I use (and you can, too!) to level up my medical school morning routine.
This post is all about habits for a cozy and productive medical school morning routine.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.
Creating a Cozy, Productive Medical School Morning Routine
I don’t use my phone as an alarm.
I ditched using my phone as an alarm, and let me tell you, it’s a total game-changer! When you don’t have the option to dive into endless scrolling right away, you end up not doing it (surprise!).
It’s seriously the easiest tweak you can make to your morning routine. And get this, I even hide my phone in different places each night – like in a drawer or under a blanket, so when I wake up, I’m like, “Where is it?” Trust me, it totally helps me resist the urge to jump on Instagram. Out of sight, out of mind for my 5 a.m. brain!
I get dressed right when I get up.
Can we all agree that mornings can sometimes be a total scramble? Picture this: you’re deep into your favorite TV show or focusing on studying at your desk, and suddenly you glance at the clock – yikes! You realize you need to leave the house in, like, two minutes flat. We’ve all been there, trust me!
Well, I used to be notorious for those hectic mornings. It was a mad dash, trying to gulp down some breakfast, find my laptop, and get done at least five other things. So, I decided to try something different – I started getting dressed right when I woke up.
No more trying to squeeze it in five minutes after I should have left for school. Trust me, you’ll thank me later when you’re calmly sipping your coffee after leaving on time instead of frantically searching for your shoes.
I start my med school morning routine with a cozy, non-caffeinated drink.
I used to dive straight into caffeine as soon as I woke up. But after reading the book “Make Time” and learning about the benefits of improved focus just by waiting at least 90 minutes, I decided to make a change.
So now, instead of reaching for caffeine right away, I’ve been sipping on some matcha. It’s become a must-have in my morning routine. Plus, having a warm and cozy cup of matcha is a nice way to begin my day, especially when the daily high hits a frosty 0°F here in Colorado during the winter!
…until I realized that matcha also contains caffeine, making me go on the hunt for a new alternative now, haha. Maybe trying herbal teas? If you have any suggestions, send them over!
I “feed the beast” and keep moving.
I call it “feeding the beast” because, let’s face it, my adorable kitty won’t take no for an answer when it’s breakfast time. But hey, no complaints here because this little routine is actually a gem.
So, every morning, running up and down those steps to feed her forces me to wake up and shake off those initial moments of “I wish I could stay in bed forever!” Those stairs become my secret weapon to kickstart my brain and get ready for the day ahead. Trust me, it works like a charm!
I take time for intentional planning in my full-focus planner.
Atomic Habits mentions something called a keystone habit. It’s basically those daily routines that become your default, no willpower or persuasion needed. And for me, my full-focus planner has become one of my very own keystone habits. It’s like my best friend, seriously!
Every single Sunday, I commit to filling out my weekly review in my planner. It’s designed perfectly to help me reflect on the previous week – what went well, what didn’t, what I should keep doing, what I should start, how I did on my goals – you name it.
After that review, I plan my big three for the upcoming week. It’s all about breaking down those big yearly goals into smaller, manageable chunks of monthly goals and then down into daily tasks. Suddenly, that goal that feels like Mount Everest becomes totally conquerable. By taking it one task at a time and working my way through the day, week, and month – bam, I’m going to crush all my goals!
I track my time for the first task of the day.
I love my 5:00 a.m. morning routine because there’s nothing more satisfying to me than by 8:00 a.m. having my biggest, hardest, or most important task of the day done. It’s seriously the best feeling!
But this year, I now added in tracking my time for this first task of the day. My goal with my business is to live by Tim Ferris’s 4-Hour Work Week book. To get there, I have to know exactly how many hours I’m putting into my business each week.
Plus, I love nerding out and reviewing the data to find ways to be even more efficient. Let’s be real – we all want to know if we’re actually studying for the full time we’ve set aside. The only way to find out is by tracking our time and hitting the pause button whenever distractions or mini-breaks sneak in. It’s eye-opening!
I tidy up my desk and office space.
You might be thinking, “Why is this even important?” Since I have a spouse who doesn’t wake up at 5:00 a.m., I don’t have a bed to make like everyone else sharing the perfect morning routine videos and posts. So, I have my own version, which involves tidying up my desk and office space.
Who wants to deal with an unorganized desk area, right? I know that sometimes when you’re in the zone working, your desk can naturally become a mess. And hey, that’s okay! But since last fall, when I entered the era of cleanliness and organization, I noticed it helped me step into my day with a fresh and clear mindset.
Give your desk a little TLC before you leave it for the day. Think of it as the equivalent of making your bed in the morning. Plus, it’ll help you avoid the chaos of a cluttered workspace, which can really throw you off your game.
Bonus Habit: I get ready the night before.
Technically, this habit doesn’t happen during my morning routine, so that’s why I’m adding it here as an extra. But it’s still important! Nighttime habits can set you up for a super successful and cozy morning experience.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Nights are for chilling, Netflix binges, and hanging out, right? Well, while enjoying some downtime is definitely important, a little bit of preparation the night before can work wonders for your morning routine.
So, what exactly do I do the night before to supercharge my med school mornings?
- Make my lunch. Instead of rushing to put something together in the morning, I just walk up to the fridge, pull out my stuff, pack my bag, and casually, instead of chaotically, walk into my car and drive to class.
- Plan my outfit – or at least have an outfit idea in mind when I fall asleep. By picking out my outfit the night before, I save myself stress and crush my second habit of getting dressed first thing.
- Get to bed on time. A good night’s sleep is GOLD for waking up refreshed, energized, and ready to tackle the day.
The Results of my Cozy, Productive Medical School Morning Routine
And there you have it, the habits that are a part of my super cozy and productive morning routine. It’s seriously revolutionized my life.
To recap: By ditching the phone alarm and getting dressed right away, I’m up, standing, and ready to take on the world. Then, I start my morning with a cozy, non-caffeinated drink that keeps me focused.
I never forget to feed my cat (she wouldn’t let me anyway!), and it’s a great way to get my heart rate up on the stairs and put thoughts of bed out of my mind. Next, I keep up the momentum by staying on top of my schedule with my full-focus planner and by tracking my time for the first task of the day.
Finally, tidying up my desk and office space creates a clean, organized environment for ultimate productivity. By the time I grab my lunch, stroll out to my car, and hit the road for the day, I feel like a boss!
Here are the books I mentioned that helped me create my morning routine:
- Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
- The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
- Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky
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