For some people, waking up fresh and ready to start the day is the easiest thing in the world. Unfortunately, not all of us are early birds. But even if mornings aren’t your favorite, it’s still important to try to start your day the best way you can.
I know… some of us have partners, kids to take care of, or jobs that require waking up very early. Mornings can be rushed and stressful. Not everyone has the luxury of a slow, peaceful routine — but the good news is: you can still make small changes that make your mornings smoother and more enjoyable.
I’m lucky to have the time to enjoy a long, calm, and sweet morning routine — but it didn’t happen overnight. It took time to create a routine that truly works for me. Today, I’ll share what I do and then show you how to adapt it to your own schedule and lifestyle.
A Good Morning Starts the Night Before
It may sound cliché, but it’s true: a great morning begins with a good night.
For a long (loooong) time, my sleep schedule was a complete mess. As an overthinker, I could never fall asleep at night. My brain just wouldn’t stop, and I would end up sleeping only 4–5 hours out of pure exhaustion.
That cycle had to be broken. For me, what helped was taking magnesium and melatonin to calm my mind and fall asleep faster. (Of course, I’m not a doctor — if you don’t have trouble sleeping, you don’t need this. And if you do, talk to a healthcare professional before trying anything.)
Prepare Your Morning the Night Before
Another simple tip that saves me a lot of time:
- Lay out your clothes
- Pack your bag
- Prepare what you need to take to work or school
- Even prep your breakfast if possible
Doing this the night before frees your mind and easily saves 15–20 minutes in the morning.
My Morning Routine Step by Step
Here’s what my typical morning looks like:
Step 1: Gentle Wake-Up
As soon as I wake up, I stretch a little to get my body moving. Then I go to the bathroom and gently scrape my tongue — i know it sounds cliché, but it actually really became part of my routine and i can’t do without it now.
Step 2: Coffee (My Non-Negotiable )
I know many people recommend drinking water or matcha first thing in the morning… but for me, coffee is non-negotiable. It wakes me up and brings me joy, so I’m keeping it. If someone tells your it hurts you, they’re lying, i’m alive !
Step 3: Wake Up the Mind
Since I have time in the morning, I like to do a quick brain activity like language learning on Duolingo or a geography guessing game, i also read journal every morning and some pages of a self development book to keep me motivated always.
Step 4: Journaling
I take a few minutes to journal and write down what I’m grateful for. It might sound cheesy, but over time it’s helped me appreciate the little things in my life and start the day with a positive mindset. I’m cheering up myself every morning and it works. I personally like to do it on laptop, it’s just more confortable for me, but if yo’ure more of a paper person, a good quality bullet journal that last in time will make it ! Let me know if you would like to see what my digital journal looks like !
Step 5: Breathing & Meditation
Next, I do 5–10 minutes of breathing exercises and light meditation. It doesn’t have to be long — just enough to center myself and find some calm before the day starts. It’s hard for me to stay calm, doing “nothing”, but i tried to keep to recenter myself before the chaos of the day starts.
Step 6: Movement & Exercise
Once I’m fully awake I exercise. At first, I started with just 15 minutes of light movement — which was already so much better than nothing. Now, I do a 30-minute workout followed by a 30-minute walk on my walking pad. Yes i got influenced by TikTok on this one and i got no regrets it’s one of my best purchased. But this is personal — your routine should be adapted to your body and your schedule.
(And yes I’ll write another article just on this topic, because I know some of you are rolling your eyes at the word “exercise” )
How to Adapt This Routine to Your Lifestyle
Everyone’s morning is different — and that’s okay. The key is to make the routine work for you, not the other way around.
- Busy with kids in the morning? Try waking up just 15 minutes earlier. These few minutes are precious and belong only to you.
- No time to meditate or journal? Use your commute to breathe, listen to a podcast, or playing a smart game to keep your brain sharp.
- Don’t like strict routines? Keep only the steps you truly enjoy. I know you’re tired, i know of the mental charge, i know of everything you’re doing to keep the boat floating. Your routine should feel like a gift to yourself, not a punishment, but it also should change something in you on the long run.
Creating a calm, intentional morning routine doesn’t require hours of free time. Even small steps — like preparing your clothes, stretching, or sipping your favorite drink in peace — can make a huge difference in how your day unfolds. Start with one tiny change at a time, and build from there. Mornings don’t have to be chaotic — they can be your safe, grounding moment before the day begins. It SHOULD be.
Just a heads-up 🌸 Some links here are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. I only link what i truly believe in and is useful for me on a daily basis.