Rise & Thrive: The Best Morning Routine When You Work 9–5 & Run A Side Business

Summary: Creating a morning routine that supports your 9–5 job and your side business is essential for success. Consistency and finding out what works best for you are key. 

This post may contain affiliate links.

Your Morning Routine is Your Superpower

Let’s be honest: mornings are a race against the clock. Bless your heart if your kids are still school-aged. Even without little ones, most mornings it seems you can barely get out of the door. 

Between your 9–5 job and building a side business, it feels like there’s never enough time. It’s no secret that how you start your day is the secret weapon to not just surviving, but thriving. I know, easier said than done.

For us women over 35, balancing all our roles, a full-time career, and entrepreneurial ambitions is a lot. The last thing you want to think about is another routine. But hear me out.

Your morning routine is your launchpad for the day. The way you begin your day sets the tone for everything that follows. So, let’s explore how to structure your mornings to maximize energy, focus, productivity, and yes, time.

Wake Up with Intention

I know you want to maximize every minute of sleep you can get. Then, of course, your bed feels so warm and cozy. So you think it’s okay to snooze just a few more minutes.

Unfortunately, snoozing and getting up ‘whenever’ actually hurts your mornings in the long run. Consistency is key. Waking up at the same time each day helps regulate your circadian rhythm.

According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, when your circadian rhythm is properly regulated, you get better sleep and an improved mood. This consistency sets a positive tone for the day ahead. And helps you be more productive.

Take Action: Set a bedtime that allows for 6–8 hours of sleep. Choose an alarm clock that doesn’t have a snooze button to avoid disrupting your sleep cycle.

Hydrate and Nourish Your Body

Grab water first. After hours of sleep, your body is dehydrated. Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning helps rehydrate you and kickstart your metabolism.

I recommend drinking water as soon as you wake up. Before you grab your phone, before you go to the bathroom, before you turn on the TV. As soon as you get out of bed, it’s go-time. So drink a glass of water first.

Next, you need to fuel with a balanced breakfast. This, admittedly, is the hardest part of my morning routine. I’ve never been a big breakfast eater. However, through research (and my own body’s performance), I’ve learned I focus better when I eat breakfast.

A balanced breakfast stabilizes blood sugar, enhances focus, and sustains energy levels throughout the day. My fave quick breakfasts are:

• Greek yogurt with berries and nuts
• Smoothie with protein, fruit, and chia seeds
• Overnight oats with fruit, nuts, and chia seeds

Take Action: Put a bottle of water next to your bed each night. Meal prep your breakfast so you can just grab and go.

Move Your Body

I get it, the last thing you want to do when you’re tired is work out. However, incorporating physical activity into your morning routine can further enhance your mood, increase energy levels, and improve focus. 

Even a short 10–15 minute workout can work wonders to get your blood flowing and your body energized. Remember, your workout doesn’t have to be strenuous to be beneficial.

A few fun workout ideas include:

• A 10-minute yoga session
• A brisk walk around your neighborhood
• A short strength training workout

Take Action: Create a 15-minute workout to do each morning. Be flexible with different types of routines until you find one that you enjoy. 

Practice Mindfulness

It took me years to realize how important mindfulness is in my morning routine. I’ll admit it took me forcing myself during a 30-day challenge to get this practice to stick. But once it did, wow, I haven’t looked back. It was through practicing mindfulness that I realized I needed more self-care. 

Each morning, aim to spend at least 10 minutes practicing mindfulness. You can do this through meditation or deep breathing exercises. You can even get a one-two-punch by choosing a workout with mindfulness incorporated, like yoga or pilates. 

You can also choose journaling or guided visualization as a form of mindfulness. No matter what method you choose, the benefits are amazing. Engaging in mindfulness practices can help you reduce stress, boost energy, and support your overall well-being.

Take Action: Schedule 10 minutes for your daily mindfulness practice. Then schedule it in your calendar app as a recurring appointment.

Limit Screen Time

One surefire way to ruin your morning routine is to grab your phone or power on the TV. Having ADHD, I work best when I have background noise (ambient sound). I used to get ready while listening to the news each morning. 

That was a disaster. I would instantly feel overwhelmed and depressed by what was going on. So 10 years ago, I stopped starting my day this way. No news, no social media, no email. 

I recommend you also avoid checking emails or social media first thing in the morning. Instead, dedicate this time to activities that align with your goals and values.

Take Action: Choose to keep your phone on silent mode and avoid social media first thing in the morning.

Prepare the Night Before

There are so many decisions to make in the morning. The more you can prepare the night before, the less decision fatigue you’ll encounter in the morning. 

Prepare for the next day by laying out your clothes, packing your bag, and prepping your meals. This will reduce stress and help you start your day with ease.

Take Action: Create a bedtime routine that sets you up for success in the morning.

Complete Your Daily Focus Framework Sheet

Start each day with a real game plan that delivers clarity, focus, and momentum, without burning out on it. The Daily Focus Framework is a simple yet powerful daily system designed to help professional women get clear, focused, and results, no matter how busy life gets.

Spend just 10 minutes each morning to create a daily plan that lets you focus on what really moves the needle in your business. And most importantly, know exactly what to do and when so your business isn’t an afterthought.

Take Action: Click here to download your free copy of the Daily Focus Framework. It’ll help you make time for your business every day, yes, even the insanely busy ones.

Conclusion: Your Morning, Your Way

Creating a morning routine supporting your 9–5 job and your side business is essential for success. By waking up with purpose, you can set yourself up for a productive and fulfilling day.

Remember, consistency is key and finding what works best for you. Start small, build gradually, and watch how your mornings transform into powerful stepping stones toward your business goals.

Don’t forget to grab your free Daily Focus Framework (click here) to help you stick to your morning routine.