The mornings are my time to get a head start on the day. I try to stay consistent with my morning ritual because it will grant me a good chance that the day ahead of me will be useful. I was not always an early riser, I just fell into the habit from taking early classes and having early work shifts. It is always so quiet in the morning which is ideal for productivity.
I wake up around 4:45 a.m. to the light of my phone. I am guilty of using my phone as an alarm, but honestly, why not? I try to view my phone as a tool whenever I can. I have a light alarm app called Gentle Wake Up. Its free with a premium choice. Most days I don't have trouble getting out of bed. I consider myself pretty lucky considering how I've heard others' habit with hitting the snooze button. No matter how late I get to bed, I always wake up around the same time. I get a lot of flak about going to bed around 8:30 or 9 p.m. but frankly don't have much else to do.
After I get up and dressed I drink some water. I have almost half of my 32 oz water bottle before I have my morning coffee. My cup of wakeful water is always hot and ready because I make use of the coffee alarm. I am pretty sure most coffee makers have this choice, but no one really uses it. It's awesome to have your coffee ready and waiting for you when you wake up. I am doing the butter coffee these days with Onnit emulsified MCT creamer and Kerrygold unsalted butter. The concoction has worked well for me in the past. I also have been taking Onnit's controversial alpha brain. I can personally feel the difference. There are a lot of negative reviews out there which are completely justified in today's culture.
My brain is now in full throttle after 30 minutes and I have sat down to read my Daily Stoic reader. I love this reader because it provides a good snippet of philosophy to carry throughout my day. The book have themes for each month and usually sticks to the big three stoic thinkers (Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius). I follow up my reading with a journal entry. This has been a great habit for me in the last 2 years. It allows me to talk to myself in my writers voice about what I have read, what's bothering me, or what's going on during the day. I also make sure to give thanks for my place in life in each entry because above all, gratitude trumps all other mental fuel.