Morning Routines for the Rest of Us
Last week, we talked about nighttime routines and how our brains crave predictability, and how even tiny evening rituals can make life feel more manageable. I started there because nights feel “easier.” The day is over, sleep is coming, and adding a bit of structure doesn’t feel like climbing Everest.
Did you try a new evening routine? If so, I’d love to hear how it’s going. And if not, no shame, maybe mornings are actually more your style.
Why mornings are tricky
Here’s my truth: I love sleep. And maybe even more than sleep, I love being warm and bundled in silence. Introvert, table for one? Count me in.
The problem? My fantasy morning looks nothing like my real one. In my ideal world, I’d wake without an alarm, ease into a full workout with a stretchy cool-down, then have an hour to leisurely get ready before the day begins. To make that happen, have a respectable work day and still get to bed by my preferred 9:00 p.m.? I’d need to get up around 4:30 a.m. Spoiler alert: I am not Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, or Michelle Obama.
But here’s the good news: a “perfect” morning routine isn’t the only way forward. There are opportunities to sneak in small “nice-to-haves” that bring me just a little closer to the Jessie I want to be (without a 4:30 wake-up call).
The secret: mornings start at night
Most successful morning routines begin the night before. Ten minutes spent packing my lunch, laying out clothes, and packing my work bag saves me triple that time in the morning. (Why does a task take 10 minutes at night but 30 in the morning? Must be quantum time physics. Or gremlins. Either way, it’s real.)
That little bit of prep frees up space for something intentional in the morning. And that’s the real question: what deserves a spot in your morning?
One thing is enough
Some people swear by journaling, prayer, or meditation. Others by breaking a sweat first thing. Some want a family breakfast at the table. There’s no universal right answer, just the one that helps you feel more aligned with who you want to be that day.
For me, it’s usually small things:
A five-minute stretch before I get out of bed.
A bit of a facial before I fill in my brows.
A fun podcast on my commute (no need to learn things every waking moment).
Nothing flashy, nothing Instagram-worthy. But each one makes me feel like I’m stepping into the day with a little more steadiness.
Here’s the secret I’ve learned
Morning routines don’t have to be perfect. They just need to give you one tiny piece of stability before the chaos starts.
So, what would your future self thank you for tomorrow morning? Ten minutes of quiet coffee? Pulling on real clothes instead of scrubs from the clean pile? Stretching before you reach for your phone?
Pick one thing. Just one. Do it every morning this week. Then check in with yourself: do you feel even 5% more grounded, a little more like the person you want to be? If yes, keep it. If no, swap it out and try again.
You don’t have to be a 4:30 a.m. superhero to have a “great morning routine.” You just need one intentional ritual that reminds you: you’re in charge of your day, not the other way around.