MY MORNING ROUTINE
Disclosure: Every item on this page was chosen by Amber or Autumn, owners of The Silver Petticoat Review. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, meaning we may earn a commission if you purchase from one of our links. If you see a * next to a link, that means it is an affiliate link. Please read our disclosure for more information.
I’ve always been a morning person. Something about waking up with the sunrise gives me a natural energy boost for the rest of the day. I genuinely believe in the romance of it!
Whenever I vacation near the ocean, like my memorable trip to Oahu, I love waking up and walking along the sandy beaches, with my feet in the water as I watch the sunrise.
My mind is free during my morning walks on the beach, and my body feels lighter and more relaxed. It’s my favorite way to start my day.
However, I’m not always on vacation! So, when I’m not near the beach, my day begins a little differently – albeit with a similar amount of daily inspiration. I really enjoy romanticizing my mornings to make them feel more beautiful and me more inspired for the day.
Disclaimer: Our site does not provide medical advice, and posts are only for informational purposes. If you use any information, products, or content from our website, you use them at your own risk, and we cannot be held liable for any damages or injuries resulting from the use of any advice or information from The Silver Petticoat Review.
RESEARCHING THE BEST MORNING ROUTINES AND DAILY RITUALS
Now, I’m an avid collector of information. I love reading, learning, and gaining knowledge. One topic of particular interest is the morning routines and daily rituals of successful people, from authors like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens to entrepreneurs, artists, and more.
But I don’t just read about the morning routines of famous people. I love checking out what bloggers and everyday people do for their routines and what works for them.
And that’s the key to creating your own morning routine: finding what works for you. While my perfect morning routine is influenced by the daily rituals of successful people throughout history and by other writers, I’ve also added my own touch to suit who I am as a person.
What works for one person may not always work for another.
Some of the morning routines that have influenced me include Benjamin Hardy’s morning checklist and the daily rituals in *this book by Mason Currey.
I’ll also read numerous articles, listen to podcasts, or talk to people, mentally collecting information that intrigues me.
After a few years of trying what works, I finally have the proper morning routine for me, and it has helped me make sense of my chaotic life.
CREATING MY IDEAL MORNING ROUTINE
A few years ago, I began attending graduate school full-time while simultaneously working part-time and also running this site. It didn’t take long for me to become completely overwhelmed.
It was then that I decided it was time to start creating a morning routine and my own daily rituals to get through each day more productively, while also feeling more inspired and grateful.
The days I started incorporating a morning routine into my schedule were when I got more done! I felt better mentally and physically.
The days I didn’t…well, they dragged on and were full of stress, anxiety, and the familiar feeling of overwhelm. I wished I could be Hermione and have a time-turner of my own because it never felt like I had enough time in a day.
As a full-time writer and blogger, I have a lot on my plate! And having a morning routine forces me to take some time for myself. It also helps me align with the life I want to lead (which you can see in our Romantic Manifesto!)
A morning routine ultimately helps me be more productive, optimistic, and even healthier. It’s changed my life for the better, and I can’t recommend creating one of your own enough.
So, here is my morning routine step by step. Afterward, make sure to check out my top tips and ideas for putting together your own morning routine.
MY MORNING ROUTINE: STEP BY STEP
My morning routine begins the night before as I prepare for the next day. Without setting my priorities for the next day, I’m unlikely to complete my morning routine.
Evening Routine
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Around 8 pm, I do therapeutic movement, a series of stretching videos from Body Groove (one of my absolute favorite workout apps!). This typically takes about 10 minutes and helps me wind down.
- After that, I typically drink some herbal tea or *MoonBrew Hot Chocolate with magnesium. It helps me prepare for sleep and calms my anxieties.
- From there, I do a quick tidying up around the home so it’s not messy the next morning, I prepare my clothes for the next day, and even prep my healthy breakfast for the morning. I put distilled water in my humidifier and make sure I have a cup of water by my bed.
- Before sleep, I always follow my night skincare routine. Sometimes I also take a hot shower, put on fancy lotion, and wear a face mask.
- I try not to look at my phone for at least 30 minutes before going to bed. I admit, I still do use my Kindle for reading. I also try not to check my social media or doomscroll. It’s a bad habit of mine to want to scroll on my phone at night, but whenever I do, I find it’s harder for me to sleep – especially since I struggle with insomnia on and off.
- Then, if inspiration strikes, I write in my journal, describing my day: the good, the bad, and everything in between. Sometimes, I even write about my goals and priorities for the next day. This gives me something to think about when I sleep.
- I read a great book for about half an hour to an hour.
- I pray and/or meditate before bed. Meditation helps me prepare my mind for sleep.
- My bedtime gives me enough time to make sure I’ve scheduled at least 7-8 hours of sleep.
- I used to set an alarm, but now I naturally wake up (most of the time!) around 6:00 am. I prefer to wake up with the rising of the sun – but that’s not always possible.
6:00 am – Wake Up Time – My Morning Routine Begins
It takes me about 5 minutes to wake up, depending on the day. I’m not a jump-up-first-thing-and-start-sort-of person. However, I don’t hit the snooze button.
Many successful and productive people wake up as early as 4 am or 5 am. I am just not that dedicated! I like my sleep and feel drained if I get up too early. But earlier does work for many individuals.
6:05 am – Pray
A great way I’ve found to start the day is with a prayer of gratitude. If I give thanks for what I have, I begin the day with a better attitude. And that can make all the difference.
Even though it’s tempting to grab my phone and scroll, it’s better not to take my focus and put it on the outside world full of distractions. That tends to lead to more procrastination and distractions throughout the day.
6:08 am – Drink Water and splash my face with ice-cold water
Out of the many morning and daily routine lists I’ve read, most recommend taking an ice-cold shower or doing a cold plunge. I have tried the cold shower and do not enjoy or like it.
What I found works for me is to grab a cup of ice, pour it in the sink, and splash my face with ice-cold water. It has the same effect, waking me up for the day.
I hear it’s good for your skin and increases blood flow. Some days, I even skip the ice and splash my face with cold water.
I also drink a glass of water to hydrate.
6:10 am – Meditate and Manifest
I love doing a guided meditation or manifestation for about 10 to 15 minutes in the morning. A few of my go-to choices include Kris Carr meditations (we also love her monthly Inner Circle guidance), the Calm App, or the ones I like on YouTube.
It’s a fantastic way to discover daily routine inspiration and figure out your dreams and goals. Plus, meditating and manifesting help shift your mindset to a positive and thankful one, ready for success.
6:20 am – Write in Journal
In the morning, I take a different approach to journal writing. I have vivid dreams nightly, so I write about them (hey, they can be story ideas!), what I’m thankful for, and what I hope to accomplish that day.
Sometimes, I also write about my goals from short-term to long-term. It’s more mindful.
My morning journal entries look like this:
- Personal feelings and/or dream descriptions.
- Three things I’m thankful for, no matter how hard life currently is.
- My Intention for the day.
- My manifestation for the day.
- My Daily Plan: I pick only 3 things I want or need to get done that day.
- I often also mention my goals.
6:30 am – Make the Bed
I learned this one from grad school. In a video (which went viral years ago) I watched in a Publishing class, Naval Adm. William H. McRaven talks to grad students about why they should make their bed.
He said, “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.”
You can watch his speech on YouTube.
Well, I found that pretty inspirational. While I used to make my bed most days, I now always try to make it in the morning for this reason.
Sometimes, when I’m trying to get more into a productive, successful mindset, I’ll listen to an inspirational podcast while I make the bed and stretch.
6:35 am – My Morning Stretch & Morning Sunshine
For about five to ten minutes, I stretch my whole body to prepare for exercise and the rest of the day – usually incorporating elements of back yoga.
As a former cheerleader, I’ve never gotten out of the habit of stretching daily to increase flexibility. I stretch and feel much better afterward.
If the sun’s up, I also make sure to get some fresh sunshine.
6:45 am – Daily Qigong or Tai Chi
Something I’ve been incorporating more recently is daily Qigong or Tai Chi. They both support health, mobility, relaxation, and numerous other health benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, Qigong “combines meditation, relaxation, movement, and breathing exercises to restore and maintain balance” and is a part of Chinese medicine. While Tai Chi is “a gentle form of gentle Chinese martial arts training.”
I love White Tiger Qigong on YouTube and Qigong with Kseny.
7:00 am – Breakfast
I cook a healthy breakfast (focusing on protein, fiber, and whole foods) with my sister, and we usually eat it together.
Some of our favorite meals include a protein and fiber-rich oatmeal recipe with fruit, green smoothies, an egg scramble with vegetables, healthy protein banana bread with a green smoothie, avocado toast, Greek Yogurt, Chia Parfaits, homemade pancakes, and more.
Some of our favorite recipes come from Kris Carr, the *Sakara cookbook, Mediterranean blogs, and other cookbooks, and more!
We follow a healthy meal plan (mostly plant-forward or Mediterranean-influenced) and meal prep at the beginning of the week to make our lives easier.
7:45 am – My Exercise Routine
My exercise routines vary by day and include a combination of strength training, aerobics, dancing, walking, qigong, and kickboxing.
You can see some of my favorite free online workouts HERE.
However, my absolute favorites include going on walks, GrowwithJo workouts, Lucy-Wyndham Read workouts, Body Groove, Qigong with Kseny, Body by Simone, and TaeBo.
8:45 am- Shower/Get Ready
On days I work from home, I take a quick shower, do my skincare routine (an important step), and get going. Having healthy skin is a priority for me.
9:00 am – Creative Writing
Before I do my regular work, I work on my fiction writing. Because running a website can take a lot of time, I need to set aside time every day for fiction writing; otherwise, it will fall by the wayside.
10:00 am – Work in Time Blocks (Monday – Friday)
On workdays (I do less work on Saturdays and Sundays and focus on writing fiction), I begin my day by working on the website. I’ve found that working in time blocks works best and helps with time management.
I do either 25-minute or 50-minute time blocks. That way, every hour, I have about ten minutes to exercise and move, so I’m not sitting all day.
I typically finish my workday by 4:00 pm, so I have time to breathe, read, learn, and live. I also take a lunch break in the middle of my workday.
And that completes my morning routine!
IT’S NOT ABOUT PERFECTION
I should add that I try not to be too hard on myself if I’m imperfect with following my routines. It’s better if I don’t expect perfection from myself, especially since I’m a perfectionist.
I don’t always follow these steps in order; sometimes I skip steps, and sometimes my body needs more sleep, and I sleep longer. Other days require me to shift my schedule, so I try to be flexible.
And then I do have bad days where I don’t do my morning routine.
It’s all about the journey and learning to listen to my mind and body and what it needs. That’s the best way to approach routines, in my opinion.
That said, I do try to follow my morning routine most days. And that has made a significant positive change in my life.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN MORNING RITUAL – A FEW TIPS & MORNING ROUTINE IDEAS
A morning routine doesn’t have to be lengthy. It can be as simple as getting up and drinking a glass of water, going for a walk, or making breakfast.
However, my advice is to take the time to do something that will make you feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally before starting your day.
Do Your Research First
If a morning routine interests you but you don’t know where to start, begin researching to get you in the right direction. Read books, articles, and blog posts. Listen to podcasts or watch YouTube videos. Numerous experts and amateurs have written or posted on the topic.
Learn what others have done for their routines and what has worked for them. Start there. Emulate. Seeing other examples works like a part of an instruction manual.
Eventually, you’ll be able to start finding what works for you, your schedule, and your personality by trial and error to create the right routine.
Here’s an example of a pretty simple one from Mel Robbins: What I Learned from Mel Robbins’ Six-Step Morning Routine.
Set Your Priorities The Night Before
To have a successful morning routine, having an evening routine is a good idea – even if optional, if only to decide your priorities for the next day, including when to wake up.
Begin Your Day with Gratitude
Find a way to start your day with gratitude that works for you, such as prayer, journaling, creating a gratitude list, or following a meditation routine.
Even if you have to dig deep, there is always something to be thankful for. This sets the tone for the rest of your day.
Make Your Bed
Yep, I’m circling back to this one! It really makes a significant difference to your day. Small things like this help create productive habits.
Do Something For You
Maybe it’s reading a good book, drinking tea while watching the sunrise, exercising, watching your favorite period drama for a few minutes, reading the morning news over breakfast, or walking to clear your head. You can even Marie Kondo your wardrobe.
Whatever it is, add something that gives you some “me” time, apart from our busy lives. Pick something you enjoy. That’s the best way to romanticize and love your morning routine!
Well, that wraps up my morning routine and best tips for creating your own. Do you have a morning routine or an ideal day? What are your suggestions? Share with us on social media or email.
If you’re loving this, you’ll enjoy these articles too:
- La Bella Vita: Exploring Italy Through Classic Cinema & Romantic Period Dramas
- What is Creativity and How to Be More Creative In Your Own Life
- Romantic Living 101: A Guide to Imaginative, Beautiful Living
PIN THIS ARTICLE! AND MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST.
