Most morning routines fail because they are built for an idealized version of you, not the tired human who wakes up at 6:45. The fix is to design for your worst days, not your best.

• Start absurdly small: One glass of water and five minutes of movement is a routine. You can grow it later.
• Anchor to an existing habit: Attach the new behaviour to something you already do, like making coffee.
• Prep the night before: Clothes laid out and phone charging outside the bedroom remove morning friction.
• Protect the first 30 minutes: No email or social feeds until you have done your one priority.
• Allow a bad-day version: A two-minute minimum keeps the streak alive when energy is low.

Verdict: A routine that survives your busiest mornings will outlast any ambitious 5am plan — build small, stay consistent, and scale up.