If you want a morning routine you'll actually stick to, you need to design for low friction. Stop relying on willpower.
1. The "Path of Least Resistance" Rule
Your brain in the morning is operating on low power. If a habit requires 10 steps to complete, you won't do it. If you want to drink more water, put a filled glass on your nightstand the night before. If you want to stretch, leave your yoga mat unrolled on the floor. Make the good habit the easiest possible option.
2. Delay the Dopamine Spike
Reaching for your phone the second you open your eyes floods your brain with cheap dopamine. It sets a reactive, anxious tone for the rest of the day. Try the "First 30 Minutes" rule: absolutely no screens for the first 30 minutes you are awake.
3. Habit Stacking
Don't try to build a new routine from scratch. Attach a new habit to an existing one. "While my coffee is brewing, I will apply my sunscreen." "While I brush my teeth, I will do calf raises." This anchors the new behavior to an automatic action.