When I read articles like this, I am always blown away by just how much some people can get done before their cereal.  

We’ve all heard that the early bird catches the worm… or that ‘early to bed, early to rise, makes a man (or woman) healthy, wealthy, and wise.’

But I’m not here to advocate for early bedtimes and early mornings. Some people are night owls, and that’s cool.   

If fulfillment is defined as a feeling of contentment and satisfaction in all aspects of our lives, I’m sure we can agree that this is something we all want to achieve. 

This article is about what you can do in the morning to help kick-start your day and bring you closer to a sense of deep fulfillment. It’s about how creating your ideal morning routine can set you up to become your most fulfilled self. 

Sound good?    

But first, a disclaimer.  

This article is not crammed with checklists and wildly varying activities. Following these tips won’t require you to rise at 4am so you can grab a piece of toast by 9am. But it does contain a list of 8 things deeply fulfilled people do every day before breakfast.    

So, without further ado…

1) They rise refreshed

People who achieve great balance in life know the benefits of a good night’s sleep.

Health professionals recommend that adults get at least seven hours or more every night for optimal health. Getting less than seven hours sleep a night has been linked to a host of health conditions including weight gain, hypertension, and depression.

So, make sure you’re getting enough shut eye!  

Now, what time you should get up at is your business. However, we do hear a lot about early rising being linked to success…  

Almost two decades ago, elite performance expert Robin Sharma introduced the concept of the 5am Club using neuroscience to help maximize productivity, health, and serenity. And apparently, many household-name type entrepreneurs swear by it.

But let’s be honest, not all of us have the option (or the discipline) to rise at 5am. Does this mean we are doomed to live unfulfilled lives? Indeed, it does not!   

Yet, there is a lot to be said for making the most of the morning. Although sleeping in feels great in the moment, it often upsets the flow of the rest of the day.

Acclaimed motivational speaker and author Meg Robbins advocates for a ‘5 second rule’: when your alarm goes off, jump out of bed within five seconds. And whatever you do, do not press snooze! Falling back asleep will only guarantee you’ll feel even more exhausted the next time your alarm chimes.

So, if you want to be part of the deeply fulfilled club, make sure you’re getting good quality zzz’s and resist the temptation to waste precious time in bed each morning.   

2) They hydrate

So, you’re up and (hopefully) feeling refreshed. Now, you’re tempted to reach for the coffee. Don’t. Not just yet anyway!  

Taking care of their wellbeing is a priority for deeply fulfilled people and hydrating first thing is a good habit for good health.

This is because drinking water when you first wake up helps you recover from nightly dehydration and flushes the bowels, increases the metabolism, and boosts the immune system. All great armor against a multitude of health problems.   

So, why not quickly pour yourself a glass of goodness>? It’s a small effort for a large reward.    

3) They tidy their environment

As Navy Seal William H. McCraven said in his now famous speech, “if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

Why?

According to McCraven, “If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right.”   

So, it follows that productive people will take a few minutes to tidy their environments each morning.   

Whether your environment informs your mental state (or the other way around), there are no downsides to making your bed, opening the curtains, and letting the daylight in. It’ll make you feel excited for the day ahead. And you won’t have to avert your eyes every time you walk into your messy bedroom throughout the day. 

Win-win!   

4) They work their bodies

Fulfilled people understand the importance of taking care of their bodies as well as the link between exercising and a positive mental attitude.

Hiking, running, swimming, yoga, or weights, it doesn’t matter what form it takes as long as it gets the blood flowing.   

Whatever your preferred activity, taking some time to exercise in the morning has enormous benefits.

Physical fitness aside, exercise boosts endorphins, lowers stress, and leads to better decision making, alertness, and focus. Who couldn’t use that for the rest of the day?  

Trust me, this is one habit that will set you up for life. As is our next tip… 

5) They feed their spirit

Meditation has enormous benefits for our emotional wellbeing and overall health, but it’s not for everyone. And neither are journaling, affirmations, gratitude exercises, etc.

However, it’s important to find a way of feeding your spirit every morning.  

Deeply fulfilled people often refer to a period they spend in a mindful state at the beginning of the day to clear their minds and center them. So, however you choose to go about this, try to make it part of your routine.  

If you don’t meditate or journal, and affirmations are not your thing, why not spend ten minutes sitting quietly in nature? Or take inspiration from Gretchen Rubin, author of “The Happiness Project,” who gets up an hour before her family just to be alone and enjoy some silence.  

Taking care of your spiritual wellness is a vital part of good self-care and vital for deeply fulfilled people.  

As is getting your thoughts in order…  

6) They strategize

We’ve all heard the adage, ‘failing to plan is planning to fail.’  

So, it’s no surprise that prioritizing daily tasks to ensure productivity is another thing that deeply fulfilled people do before sitting down to breakfast. 

Why? Because having a strategy is a great way of refining focus to ensure you do what needs to be done and don’t end up getting distracted and wasting time.  

Do it mentally, jot it down in your phone, or (if you’re like me) write a list and take great relish in ticking tasks off as you complete them. Maybe old school, but it feels great!  

7) They grab some quality time

Deeply fulfilled people don’t wait until the end of the day to spend time with their loved ones. Not only is this a great mood booster, but it’s a reminder of why we do what we do.  

Research shows that spending quality time with loved ones improves your mental health, enhances emotional intelligence, and leads to greater life satisfaction (i.e. deep fulfillment).  

Even if it’s only 15 minutes, try to put aside some time to be with your partner, pets, kids, lover, etc. and enjoy the best source of inspiration at the beginning of the day.   

On to the last thing that deeply fulfilled people do every day before breakfast, and this one may surprise you (not!) … 

8) They prepare something delicious

Finally, all your efforts are about to pay off, it’s time to break the fast!  

Successful people are sure to feed their bodies and minds with good quality food, and we often hear that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  

Research shows that eating a healthy breakfast boosts energy and restores glycogen levels to speed up your metabolism.

So, resist the urge to reach for processed or refined carb-heavy food. You need to fuel with nutritionally dense fare.  

So, the last part of your morning routine is to get creative in the kitchen and enjoy a well-earned breakfast!  

Final thoughts  

Becoming your best self doesn’t happen by accident. It is the result of foundational habits that work together to move you closer to achieving your personal goals.  

Having a routine that works for you and incorporates the 8 things deeply fulfilled people do every morning before breakfast will put you on the road to serenity and satisfaction.   

Good luck making the most of your mornings!  

For more tips on the art of living a fulfilled life, check out this article.