The 3 Things I Stopped Doing in the Morning That Changed Everything

For most of my adult life, I believed that being productive meant doing more. More tasks, more hustle, more morning routines stacked on top of each other. Wake up early. Meditate. Journal. Go for a run. Read ten pages. Drink lemon water. Plan the day. Visualize. It got to the point where my mornings became overwhelming before the day even began.

Then something clicked.

I realized that the key to a better morning wasn’t about adding more habits—it was about removing the ones that weren’t serving me. Once I stopped doing a few specific things, my mornings—and honestly, my entire days—felt calmer, clearer, and more intentional.

Here are the three things I stopped doing in the morning that changed everything.

1. I Stopped Checking My Phone First Thing

For years, my phone was the first thing I reached for. Before my feet even hit the floor, I was scrolling through emails, texts, social media, and news headlines. It felt like I was “staying informed” or “being productive,” but in reality, I was giving my attention away before I even knew what I needed for myself.

The problem? It immediately put me in reaction mode.

Instead of easing into my day with clarity and calm, I was letting other people’s agendas, updates, and content hijack my mental space. If I saw a stressful email, it lingered in my head. If I saw bad news, I carried that anxiety. If I saw a perfectly curated post on Instagram, I started my day feeling behind or inadequate—before I even brushed my teeth.

So, I stopped.

Now, I don’t check my phone for at least 30 minutes after waking up. I keep it on Do Not Disturb until I’ve taken care of my own thoughts and needs first. That single change has brought me more peace, focus, and control over how I start my day than any productivity app ever has.

2. I Stopped Snoozing the Alarm

This one hurt. I was a serial snoozer. I thought those extra 5 or 10 minutes of half-sleep were harmless—even helpful. But the truth is, they were making my mornings harder and my energy worse.

Here’s what I learned: when you hit snooze and fall back asleep, your brain begins a new sleep cycle. But that cycle gets interrupted just a few minutes later when the alarm goes off again. The result? You feel groggy, foggy, and sometimes even more tired than if you’d just gotten up the first time.

I realized that snoozing was my way of avoiding the day. It was a micro-decision that reflected a bigger issue: I wasn’t excited about my mornings, and I didn’t have a clear reason to get up.

So I made two changes. First, I moved my alarm across the room so I had to physically get up to turn it off. Second, I started giving myself something small to look forward to in the morning—whether it was coffee, music, a short walk, or five quiet minutes before the world came knocking.

Now, I wake up once, not three times. And those first moments of the day feel more purposeful instead of panicked.

3. I Stopped Jumping Straight Into Work Mode

There was a time when I treated mornings like a race. As soon as I was up, I was “on.” Emails, tasks, meetings, Slack messages. I wore it like a badge of honor—look how early I’m working! But over time, I burned out. My creativity dipped. My energy wore thin by mid-morning.

Eventually, I asked myself: Why am I rushing? What if I gave myself even just 10 minutes to wake up like a human before jumping into productivity mode?

So I stopped working immediately after waking up. I don’t open my laptop until I’ve done something to ground myself—whether it’s making the bed, drinking water, listening to music, or simply sitting in silence.

That tiny buffer has made all the difference. It gives my brain space to transition from rest to action. I start my day on my terms, not in reaction to deadlines or inboxes. And funny enough, I actually get more done now because I’m not mentally drained by 9 a.m.

Final Thoughts

The modern world loves to talk about morning routines—and for good reason. But we don’t talk enough about what we should stop doing. Sometimes, the most powerful shifts aren’t about adding more, but about subtracting what no longer works.

By stopping these three things—checking my phone right away, snoozing the alarm, and diving into work mode—I’ve reclaimed my mornings. They’re not always perfect, and I’m not always consistent, but even small improvements have had a big ripple effect on my focus, energy, and mood throughout the day.

If your mornings feel rushed, chaotic, or draining, try removing just one habit that isn’t serving you. Pay attention to how you feel. You might be surprised by how much changes—not just in your morning, but in your life.