Simple Morning Routine
There's a lot of "5am girlies" on here with really big routines. They sound great but like, MOST of us aren't going to spend 20 minutes without screentime and journaling before they start their day.
Here's a roadmap to an easy morning routine that checks off the basics but will make you feel like you can take on the day. Because let's be honest, for most of us eating breakfast and leaving the house feeling put together is a huge win.
For me, the basic (but still very hard to do), AM routine includes waking up before 7:30am and having coffee. Ideally I slept well enough to workout, if I didn't, I usually let myself sleep a little longer. Either way, I need to hydrate (its embarassing how often this doesn't happen). Then if I slept well I workout. Next is showering (if I need to) and skincare/getting dressed. Then I need to make the bed, of all of these things, making the bed is the only one that feels second nature. Then eat breaky & brush teeth. Finally, and I think this is one of the most important things, review my calendar and make a to-do list for the day.
Now, this might seem basic. All i'm doing is maybe exercising, eating, getting ready, and brushing my teeth. But lets be brutally honest and ask ourselves how often we accomplish all of those things. I can tell you, I'm personally at a like 50% success rate.
We all see those incredibly elaborate morning routines on social media, don't we? The ones where people are meditating for an hour, doing intense workouts, and journaling before the sun is even fully up. While those sound amazing in theory, for most of us, they're just not realistic. I used to feel so guilty trying to replicate them, only to crash and burn by Wednesday. That's why I've embraced a truly simple morning routine that actually works for my life, and I want to share some extra tips to make yours even better. You know how the original post mentions making the bed? I totally get that! It sounds so small, but honestly, it's one of the most powerful 'wins' I get each morning. Even on days I feel like I'm barely functioning, pulling up those covers and fluffing a pillow gives me this tiny, immediate sense of accomplishment. It tells my brain, 'Okay, one thing is done, let's keep this momentum going.' It's like setting the stage for a productive day, without actually having to be productive yet. It's truly a cornerstone of my simple morning routine. Another thing that often gets overlooked, but makes a huge difference, is that simple morning hydration. I used to forget until midday, feeling sluggish. Now, I keep a water bottle right next to my bed. The moment my alarm goes off, before I even look at my phone, I reach for it and take a few big sips. It's an instant wake-up call for my body and starts me off on the right foot. You could even try adding a squeeze of lemon for an extra boost! This small act is crucial for a morning routine after waking up. For those busy mornings where every minute counts, a quick morning shower routine is a lifesaver. I've streamlined mine to just a few essentials: a two-in-one body wash/shampoo for speed, and I embrace air-drying my hair whenever possible. The goal isn't perfection, it's feeling clean and refreshed. After that, pick out an outfit the night before! Seriously, it saves so much mental energy. My go-to is usually comfy yet put-together pieces, just like the woman in the OCR image rocks that cream hoodie and sweatpants – looking great without sacrificing comfort. It's all about making it easy on yourself. And let's talk about morning routine breakfast. I used to skip it or grab something unhealthy on the go. Now, my simple rule is 'something is better than nothing.' My current favorite easy options include overnight oats (prep the night before!), a quick piece of fruit with some peanut butter, or even a hard-boiled egg I made in advance. It fuels my body without requiring a gourmet chef's effort. Don't underestimate the power of a quick, nourishing meal to kickstart your metabolism and focus. The idea of a 'wake up early morning routine' can be intimidating, especially if you're not a natural early bird. Instead of forcing yourself out of bed at 5 AM, try a gradual approach. Set your alarm just 15 minutes earlier than usual for a week. Use those extra minutes for one simple task, like that hydration or making your bed. Once that feels comfortable, add another 15 minutes. It's a much kinder way to adjust your body clock for an early morning routine without feeling overwhelmed. Remember, a 'calm morning routine minimal' is about starting gently, not rushing. Finally, to bring it all together and address the 'routine list' and 'morning routine after waking up' queries, I found it incredibly helpful to visualize my routine, almost like a simple flowchart. Just like the one in the OCR image, having a mental (or even written) checklist helps me stay on track. My post-wakeup flow goes: Water -> Bathroom -> Make Bed -> Get Dressed -> Quick Breakfast -> Review Day. It's a sequence that makes sense for my life. Ask yourself, 'What's your easy AM routine look like?' and then build your own personalized, simple morning routine. It’s not about perfection, it’s about consistency and feeling good about how you start your day.
I read atomic habits and thar really helped me out. Especially with the morning. I practically follow the same routine every morning which has reduced stress and anxiety. Days that I don't follow it I feel off kilter.