My morning routine

Describing your morning in English is an excellent opportunity to improve your language skills and expand your vocabulary. The ability to clearly and correctly describe your daily activities is important for communicating with friends or colleagues, as well as for self-expression during travel or living abroad. In this article, we’ll look at popular phrases and expressions, essential words to know, and examples of texts in present and past tenses. This will help you confidently talk about your morning routine in English.

Why should you talk about your morning activities in English?

Talking about your morning is a great way to master basic English grammar and vocabulary. All these actions are part of our daily lives, so learning phrases related to them helps expand vocabulary and improve communication skills. It’s also useful for:

1. Grammar practice: You’ll learn to correctly use Present Simple and Past Simple tenses, which are fundamental for describing daily actions.
2. Improving pronunciation: Practicing the pronunciation of phrases and words related to morning rituals will help you gain more confidence in communication.
3. Enhancing listening skills: Learning phrases and expressions commonly used in everyday life helps you better understand native speakers.
4. Expanding vocabulary: By describing your morning, you’ll learn new words and phrases that can be used in everyday communication.

What is a “morning routine”?

A morning routine is a set of actions that a person performs daily from the moment of waking up until the start of the workday or other planned activities. It can include various activities such as brushing teeth, preparing breakfast, checking the news, or exercising. By describing your morning in English, you’ll be able to convey these actions as accurately and informatively as possible.

Key aspects of describing a morning routine

When talking about your morning, it’s important to pay attention to details and use a variety of phrases and expressions to make the story interesting and understandable. Here are the main aspects that will help you create a meaningful description:

1. Wake-up time: Indicate when you usually wake up, whether you use an alarm clock.
2. Hygiene procedures: Describe what actions you perform in the bathroom, such as brushing teeth, washing face, taking a shower.
3. Breakfast: Talk about what you usually eat for breakfast, whether you have favorite dishes.
4. Morning activity: Perhaps you exercise, go for a walk, or practice yoga.
5. Preparation for work or study: Describe how you prepare for the day, whether you check emails or pack your bag.
6. Transportation: Indicate how you usually get to work or school — on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport.

The importance of details in storytelling

Details make your story more vivid and interesting. For example, instead of the simple phrase “I brush my teeth,” you can say: “I brush my teeth with an electric toothbrush, using mint toothpaste that makes me feel fresh.”

By mastering this skill, you’ll be able not only to talk about your morning in English but also to communicate more freely on various everyday topics. Next, we’ll look at specific phrases that will come in handy and two example texts — in present and past tenses.

Popular phrases for describing morning routine

1. I wake up at 7 am – This phrase indicates the specific time you start your day.
2. I get out of bed – This describes the action of leaving your bed after waking up.
3. I brush my teeth – This refers to the oral hygiene practice usually done in the morning.
4. I wash my face – This describes the act of cleaning your face, typically with water and sometimes soap.
5. I take a shower – This means you clean your entire body under running water.
6. I get dressed – This phrase means you put on your clothes for the day.
7. I have breakfast – This refers to eating your first meal of the day.
8. I make coffee – This describes the act of preparing coffee, a common morning beverage.
9. I read the news – This means you inform yourself about current events.
10. I go for a run – This indicates that you do some physical exercise by running.
11. I check my emails – This refers to reviewing your electronic mail messages.
12. I leave for work – This phrase means you depart from your home to go to your workplace.
13. I pack my bag – This describes putting necessary items into your bag for the day.
14. I feed my pet – This means you provide food for your domestic animal.
15. I do some morning exercises – This refers to performing physical activities to start your day.
16. I prepare my lunch – This means you make food to eat later in the day.
17. I tidy up the room – This describes the act of cleaning and organizing your living space.
18. I listen to music – This means you play and hear songs or musical pieces.
19. I read a book – This refers to the activity of reading literature.
20. I meditate for a while – This describes spending time in quiet thought or spiritual reflection.

Words you need to know to talk about your morning

• Alarm clock – A device used to wake someone up at a specific time, often with a loud sound. Example: My alarm clock rings at 6:30 am
• Toothbrush – An instrument used for cleaning teeth, typically consisting of a small brush on a handle. Example: I use a new toothbrush every three months
• Breakfast – The first meal of the day, typically eaten in the morning. Example: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day
• Shower – A device for spraying water over your body for washing, or the act of washing using this device. Example: I prefer a cold shower in the morning
• Clothes – Items worn to cover the body. Example: I choose my clothes for work the night before
• Coffee – A popular caffeinated beverage made from roasted coffee beans. Example: I drink a cup of coffee to start my day
• News – Information about recent events, typically reported in newspapers, on television, radio, or online. Example: I read the news on my phone
• Pet – A domesticated animal kept for companionship or pleasure. Example: My pet dog loves morning walks
• Exercise – Physical activity done to maintain or improve health and fitness. Example: Morning exercise keeps me active
• Music – Vocal or instrumental sounds combined in a way that produces beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. Example: I listen to calm music in the morning

An example of a text about my morning (usually)

Usually, I wake up at six o’clock in the morning when my alarm clock rings. I get out of bed immediately and go to the bathroom. First, I brush my teeth and wash my face with cold water to wake up. After that, I take a quick shower which helps me feel fresh and energetic. Then I get dressed and choose clothes that are appropriate for work. I prepare breakfast, usually oatmeal with fruit and a cup of coffee. During breakfast, I often read the news on my phone or listen to podcasts. I also check my email and respond to important messages. Then I feed my cat and play with him for a few minutes. I do some stretching exercises to prepare my body for the day. After that, I gather my things and prepare my lunch for work. Finally, I put on my jacket, grab my bag, and leave the house at seven thirty. I usually ride my bike or walk to work, depending on the weather. I love morning walks; they help me collect my thoughts and prepare for a productive day. I always try to arrive at work a bit earlier to have time to get organized. After arriving, I set up my workspace and check the plan for the day. I feel ready for the new workday and look forward to interesting tasks.

An example of a text about my morning (past)

This morning I woke up at six o’clock when my alarm clock rang. I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face with cold water to wake up. Then I took a quick shower to feel fresh and energetic. I got dressed and chose clothes that were suitable for today’s work. I prepared breakfast: oatmeal with berries and a cup of coffee. During breakfast, I read the news on my phone and listened to podcasts. I also checked my email and replied to a few important messages. Then I fed my cat and played with him for a few minutes. I did some stretching exercises to prepare for the workday. After that, I gathered my things and prepared my lunch for work. Finally, I put on my jacket, grabbed my bag, and left the house at seven thirty. I decided to ride my bike to work because the weather was wonderful. I enjoyed the morning ride and gathered my thoughts before work. I arrived at work a bit earlier to have time to get organized for the day. After arriving, I set up my workspace and checked the plan for the day. I felt ready for the new workday and looked forward to interesting tasks.