Mel Robbins' 6-Step Morning Routine
Discover Mel Robbins' 6-step morning routine that transforms your day. From skipping snooze to morning movement, learn practical habits that boost energy.
When Mel Robbins shares advice, millions listen. The bestselling author, podcaster, and motivational speaker has built her reputation on cutting through the noise with practical, no-nonsense strategies that actually work. Unlike many self-help gurus who promise overnight transformations, Robbins focuses on the small, actionable steps that create lasting change.
Her morning routine perfectly embodies this philosophy. Rather than an elaborate two-hour ritual involving meditation pods and green smoothies, Robbins has crafted a six-step morning routine that's refreshingly simple yet scientifically grounded. It's designed for real people with real lives—those who need to get out the door, manage families, and navigate the chaos of modern life.
What makes Robbins' approach so compelling is her understanding of human psychology. As someone who has struggled with her own challenges, including anxiety and self-doubt, she's developed strategies that work even when motivation is low. Her morning routine isn't about perfection; it's about progress and setting yourself up for success before the day even begins.
Philosophy
Mel Robbins' approach to morning routines is built on what she calls "micro-moments of courage." She believes that how you start your morning sets the tone for everything that follows, and that small acts of self-discipline create a ripple effect throughout your day.
"Your morning routine is your chance to win the day before it even begins," Robbins often says. Her philosophy centres around the idea that you don't need massive changes to create massive results. Instead, she advocates for simple, sustainable habits that build momentum and confidence.
Robbins is particularly passionate about the psychological aspect of morning routines. She argues that each small act of following through on what you said you'd do—whether it's not hitting snooze or making your bed—builds self-trust and reinforces your identity as someone who keeps promises to themselves.
Her routine is also designed around what she calls "activation energy"—the idea that once you start moving and taking action, it becomes easier to maintain that momentum throughout the day. This is why her routine emphasises physical movement and immediate action rather than passive activities like scrolling through your phone or lying in bed.
The beauty of Robbins' system lies in its accessibility. She's not asking you to wake up at 4 AM or spend hours in meditation. Instead, she's created a routine that works whether you have 15 minutes or an hour, whether you're a parent juggling school runs or a professional managing a demanding schedule.
Steps to Follow
Don't Hit the Snooze Button
The foundation of Robbins' routine starts the moment your alarm goes off. "The snooze button is a lie," she says. "It promises you more rest, but it actually makes you more tired and starts your day with a broken promise to yourself."
When you hit snooze, you're training your brain that it's okay to delay action when things feel uncomfortable. Robbins argues that getting up immediately, despite not feeling like it, is your first victory of the day. It's a micro-moment of courage that builds momentum for everything that follows.
The key is placing your alarm across the room so you have to physically get up to turn it off. Once you're vertical, you've already won half the battle.
Make Your Bed
This might seem trivial, but Robbins swears by the psychological impact of making your bed immediately after getting up. "It's your first accomplishment of the day," she explains. "You're literally setting yourself up for success."
Making your bed serves multiple purposes: it creates a sense of order, gives you an immediate win, and ensures that even if the day goes poorly, you'll come home to something neat and welcoming. It's also a keystone habit—one small action that naturally leads to other positive behaviours.
The task takes less than two minutes but creates a ripple effect of accomplishment that can influence your mindset for hours.
Give Yourself a High Five in the Mirror
This is perhaps Robbins' most distinctive routine element, and it stems from her research into self-compassion and positive psychology. "You high-five other people when they do something great," she says. "Why wouldn't you do the same for yourself?"
The high five in the mirror isn't about arrogance or fake positivity. It's about creating a moment of connection with yourself and acknowledging that you're showing up for your life. Robbins explains that this simple gesture activates the same neural pathways associated with celebration and achievement.
Even if you feel silly doing it at first, the physical act of raising your hand and making eye contact with yourself sends a powerful message to your subconscious: you're someone worth celebrating.
Hydrate Before Coffee
After hours without water, your body is naturally dehydrated. Robbins emphasises drinking water before reaching for coffee to help your body and brain function optimally from the start.
"Your brain is about 75% water," she notes. "When you're dehydrated, you're literally operating with less brainpower." Starting with water helps activate your metabolism, flush out toxins, and provide the hydration your body desperately needs after a night's sleep.
She recommends keeping a glass of water by your bed or having a water bottle ready to go. The goal isn't to chug a litre immediately, but to prioritise hydration as one of your first acts of self-care.
Get Outside Straight Away
Robbins is a strong advocate for immediate morning light exposure, and for good reason. Natural light helps regulate your circadian rhythm, boosts mood through vitamin D production, and signals to your brain that it's time to be alert and focused.
"Light is like a drug for your brain," she explains. "It literally wakes up your neural pathways and gets your systems firing properly." Even just five minutes outside can make a significant difference in your energy levels and mood.
If weather doesn't permit going outside, she suggests at least opening curtains and sitting near a window. The key is getting natural light into your system as early as possible to support your body's natural wake-up process. Learn more about morning light exposure.
Move Your Body
The final step is physical movement, but Robbins keeps this flexible and accessible. "It doesn't matter if it's a full workout, a walk around the block, or dancing to one song in your kitchen," she says. "The goal is to get your blood moving and your energy up."
Movement in the morning serves multiple purposes: it increases blood flow to the brain, releases endorphins, and creates physical momentum that carries into other areas of your life. Robbins emphasises that this isn't about intense exercise—it's about activation.
Whether it's 10 jumping jacks, a five-minute walk, or a full gym session, the key is moving your body in some way that feels good and energising. Discover the benefits of daily movement.
How to Apply This Routine
The beauty of Mel Robbins' routine is its adaptability. You don't need to overhaul your entire morning to benefit from these principles. Here's how to implement this routine as an everyday person:
Start Small: Don't try to implement all six steps at once. Pick one or two elements that resonate with you and focus on those first. Many people find success starting with not hitting snooze and making their bed, as these create immediate momentum.
Adapt to Your Schedule: If you're rushing to get kids ready for school, your "movement" might be walking them to the bus stop. If you're commuting early, your "outside time" could be the walk from your car to the office. The principles matter more than perfect execution.
Prepare the Night Before: Set yourself up for success by placing your alarm across the room, keeping a water bottle by your bed, and laying out clothes if you plan to exercise. Small preparations make morning execution much easier.
Be Flexible: Some mornings won't go perfectly, and that's okay. Robbins herself emphasises that consistency matters more than perfection. If you miss a step or two, simply refocus on what you can control next.
Track Your Progress: Consider keeping a simple checklist or using a habit-tracking app to monitor which elements you're consistently doing. Visual progress can be incredibly motivating and help you identify patterns.
Adjust Timing: If you're not a morning person, you might need to wake up just 10-15 minutes earlier to accommodate these steps. Remember, this isn't about becoming someone you're not—it's about optimising the morning you already have.
Conclusion
Mel Robbins' morning routine proves that transformation doesn't require dramatic overhauls or hours of complex rituals. Her six-step approach—avoiding snooze, making your bed, giving yourself a high five, hydrating first, getting outside, and moving your body—creates a foundation of small wins that compound throughout the day.
What makes this routine particularly powerful is its psychological foundation. Each step builds self-trust, creates momentum, and reinforces your identity as someone who follows through on commitments. These aren't just habits; they're daily investments in your mental and physical well-being.
The routine's accessibility is perhaps its greatest strength. Whether you have 15 minutes or an hour, whether you're managing a household or living alone, these principles can be adapted to fit your life. The key is starting where you are and building consistency over time.
Remember, Robbins herself emphasises that perfection isn't the goal—progress is. Some mornings you'll nail all six steps, others you might manage only three. What matters is showing up for yourself consistently and using these small acts of self-discipline to create positive momentum.
The most remarkable thing about this routine is how it shifts your relationship with yourself. Instead of starting the day feeling behind or reactive, you begin with intention and accomplishment. You've kept promises to yourself before most people have even gotten out of bed.
What's one element of Mel Robbins' routine that you could try tomorrow morning, and how might that small change ripple through the rest of your day?