Years ago, a few months after my first son was born, I realized being woken up in the morning by a crying baby wasn’t the ideal way to start the day. Nothing felt in my control from that moment on. As someone who has always thrived on routine and predictability, being catapulted into my day wasn’t something that was going to work for this new mama. So, I decided to make a change. I started setting my alarm to wake up at 5 am. That gave me at least one hour to set the tone I wanted to seize control of my day before he woke up and all bets were off.
They say old habits die hard. And this is one habit I still have 29 years later. Over time, I trained myself not to need an alarm (my circadian rhythm took on that job), and as the kids got older and started sleeping in later, I gradually and organically nudged my wake-up time toward 6 am. It’s exactly the same now, but these days, I have a cat waking me up, rather than two little boys.
My routine is nothing fancy. It’s simple, but it’s effective for me.
6 am - Rise, feed Theo, write in my gratitude journal app, brush, wash, dress, change the litter box, and take my supplements with a large glass of water. Then, it’s off to the kitchen.
6:40 am-ish - Now it’s time to make my daily double-fisted teas. Always an iced green tea with fresh mint leaves, ground flax seed, collagen, and a drop of coconut stevia. The other is an iced matcha latte (unless it’s winter, then the iced matcha becomes a hot one) with a dash of oat milk, frothed, and cinnamon. I love this part of my morning. I actually look forward to getting out of bed even if I've had a bad night's sleep because I know I get to do this. This ritual portion of the day is about more than just making tea; it’s the heart of my routine - the cherry on top! It’s almost like a mindfulness exercise that centers me. There’s something so soothing about the familiar rhythm of it, all the steps, and the intention behind it. And, my teas rival anything I’ve ever had at a café - even the truly exceptional ones!
After this, I try to spend 10 minutes meditating on the patio before jumping into my workout. Because my second hour isn’t always as predictable depending on my workload day-to-day (I have a freelance business and work from home), I may have to do an abbreviated workout or skip the meditation (which is crazy because it’s only 10 minutes of my day but this is the one thing I seemingly can talk myself out of doing to “save time”).
This anchoring routine is my way of prioritizing and claiming space for myself. In a world that can often feel chaotic, being intentional with my morning grounds me. How the day begins sets the tone for everything that follows, reflecting the kind of life you want to lead. It’s not about perfection or being rigid in the formula, it’s about choosing to make those first moments truly yours, however simple, and however that looks for you. It isn’t one size fits all. I am definitely a morning person and I love it, but even if you’re not, you can implement a morning routine - even a brief one - no matter what time you wake up.
Especially in the busiest seasons of life, or maybe because of them, creating even a tiny amount of space to greet a new day should be a non-negotiable. Just waking up a few minutes earlier to savor a quiet moment before your feet hit the floor can be transformative. For me, it begins before I even open my eyes; a silent thank you for the day ahead and the positive experiences waiting for me.
And the routine doesn’t need to be some hard-to-stick-with, check-every-box kind of perfectly curated morning. Instead, find what works for you. Start small. Start somewhere. Start with what feels authentic and manageable. And most importantly, stick with it. Make it a habit. It’s the small shifts in our lives, rippling outward, that can have big impact and reward. Find your personal cherry on top, build your morning routine around it, and watch how it transforms the energy of your entire day. xxo
I love this and do my best to keep my morning 'routine'. My favorite part was "How the day begins sets the tone for everything that follows."
Love your anchoring routine and the expression Anchoring Routine!