A Peek Inside My Morning Routine 👀
The wellness habits I swear by—and why perfection isn’t one of them.
I know that watching creators share their daily lives on social media can sometimes make you feel like you’re not doing enough—like everyone else has it all figured out while you’re still trying to find matching socks. The comparison trap is real, and it’s something I try to stay mindful of in my own content. So let me be clear: my life isn’t perfect, and my morning routine isn’t some elaborate, candlelit ceremony of rituals. It’s just a handful of habits I try to stick to most days—nothing fancy, just what helps me feel good. My hope in sharing this is to remind you that whatever you’re doing right now is already good enough. And if you’re looking to make small changes, maybe you’ll find a few things here that you can borrow and make your own.
Wake up 5:30-6:10 AM
I love an early start to the day because I can accomplish so much more during the day—I crave productivity. I have always been an early riser, so getting up between 5:30 and 6:10am is pretty easy for me. Most days I don’t set an alarm, my eyes just pop open and I bounce out of bed and beeline to the kitchen to brew a fresh pot of coffee! Is it just me or do you guys go to bed each night dreaming about that first sip of coffee in the morning?!
Beeline to the Kitchen To Make Coffee
My morning non-negotiable: COFFEE in my Moccamaster coffee maker . I swear by grinding my beans fresh each day, and that’s just because I love coffee so much. This is my trusty grinder—pricey but an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime purchase.
Yes, I am aware that it’s not great to drink coffee on an empty stomach, but I’m also not changing that because I haven’t noticed any blood sugar imbalances or digestive discomfort. It works for me and sparks joy. I drink my coffee with a big splash of Nutpods (any and all flavors!) and as someone that hates cold coffee, I use my Ember temperature controlled mug. It keeps coffee hot for hours and I love it so much — mine was a gift from my bf! Yep there’s a bf in the picture, but that’s a convo for another day!
Pack Kids Lunches
While the house is still quiet, I knock out the kids’ lunches, and if I am being honest, I don’t enjoy doing it 😏. Of course I love when the boys are nourished well and that is why I am able to keep a positive attitude, but yeah—it’s not my favorite task in the world.
My kids are very simple eaters, so their lunches usually consist of plain turkey sandwiches, sliced cucumbers/carrots, fresh berries, dried mango, a piece of chocolate, and some chips of sort! As parents, I know we want to get creative with school lunches, but stop trying to be perfect—kids are simple! Just do your best and heck if you don’t have any fresh fruits or veggies to include, meh! Pack what you have!
I am always asked what lunch boxes I use for the boys and these Bentgo boxes have lasted us two years and counting!
Mini Breakfast Time
At this point in the morning I am focused on two things: fueling my body and getting out the door! That said, I eat light bc I am not too hungry!
Lately I have been grabbing a RAWR Bar for my mini breakfast. RAWR Bars are these incredible refrigerated protein bars that my friend introduced me to a few months back. They aren’t sold in stores which is why I hadn’t heard of them and they are quite literally the best bars ever. They are made with the quality ingredients and boast 20g of plant based protein. The Cookie Dough is my favorite flavor, followed by the Mint Cookie which tastes like a girl scout thin mint cookie. If you want to check them out, use code KALEJUNKIE for 10% off your orders. Order here!
Now before you start thinking omg is this 280 calorie bar all she eats in the morning? Hell no. It’s just a small bite to tide me over to breakfast, which comes after my workout.
A BIG Collagen Swig!
Everyone in the world knows that my one true love is the multi-patented Modere Biocell Liquid Collagen which is now sold by Shaklee. This liquid collagen not only tastes great (which is what makes it easy stay consistent), it has truly transformed my skin (it’s fuller and more supple), made my hair stop shedding and helped my hair GROW in fuller. It is also fantastic for joint support which is critical as we age. It’s life changing. I also got my Mom on it because at 78 years old, she wanted something to help her joints, and the byproduct of which is her glowing skin. Just look—can you believe she’s 78?
So anyway, I keep a bottle on my refrigerator door and take a big swig, which is about 2 tablespoons, and the go about my morning! This also sparks joy!!!
Order yours here!! With my link, you get a recurring 15% off each month plus free shipping. And, if you subscribe, you earn shopping credits to use for anything on the Shaklee site!
Non-Negotiable Meditation
I used to avoid meditation like the plague because the thought of sitting in one seated position for 30 minutes, bored and antsy wasn’t for me. But two years ago, I discovered the OPEN app and I learned that it can be quick and it doesn’t have to be silent. Almost every day, I do a short 5-10 guided meditation focusing on whatever it is I need support with. This past week my anxiety was out of control, so I did calming meditations around that. This small addition to my morning routine has made me happier over all. I used to work with OPEN, but I am not anymore, so I am not sure whether this link to get 30 days free still works, but feel free to give it a go and let me know!
A Brief Journaling Sesh
I don’t free form journal. I never got into it. Instead, I use the very standard 5 Minute Journal, that has the same prompts every day, but allow me to write out not just my struggles, but also what I am grateful for. Prioritizing GRATITUDE each day truly sets the tone for a positive morning. Even if I wake up in a bad mood, forcing myself to write down a few positive things, makes it easier to turn things around. If you want to journal but want to be quick, grab the five-minute journal here!
Prepare Task List For The Day
An organized mind is a calm mind. Managing a team, busy kids schedules, developing recipes, filming recipes, editing, writing Substack posts, home upkeep, and trying to find a sliver of time for myself has turned me into a list maker through and through. This part of my day is pinnacle to my success, and I derive great joy when I cross things off during the day.
Post on Social Media & Engage With Others
I typically like to post on Instagram in the morning—there is no rhyme or reason to it, I like posting, engaging with my peers for 15-20 minutes, and going about my day. It’s so fun to open up the app and see what others are creating, and often inspires me in my own recipe development. I have to be mindful not to stay on too long, or else it will consume too much of my day!
Feed The Kids
I have my kids 50% of the time and I loveeeee when they are with me, sleeping under my roof. It sparks joy :-). When they wake up in the morning, they get dressed and come downstairs starving. Breakfast is typically bagels with peanut butter and jelly, string cheese, berries, and sometimes bacon and eggs. When the boys come downstairs, I do not have my phone out at all, and that is because I want them to feel prioritized at all times. Even if they are watching a show or playing amongst themselves, our children know when we aren’t fully present (speaking from experience), so I want to show them that I am.
School Drop Off Time!
It’s finally go time! The boys are out the door at 8am sharp and the bell rings at 8:10. For some reason, the two boys always pick this particular moment to argue with each other (lol), which often makes it tough to get them out of the house without exchanging words with each other. Boys, they say 😂. Somehow I manage to get them to school and then it’s my own go time!
Getting In My Workout
Working out and getting some form of exercise is hugely important to me. Not only do I want to feel great in my skin, the endorphin release is crucial for my mental health. As someone that struggles with anxiety and depression, getting some movement in is really important. These days I opt for a walk, a pilates class, or doing weights at Barry’s (skip the crazy sprints!!). I am a simple gal. Now, some days I can’t workout and that’s fine—it’s not the end of the world. I’m just grumpy on those days haha!!!
Finally, It’s Breakfast Time
After my workout, I am finally starving. I am a simple gal, so I typically whip up a quick protein-packed smoothie OR 4-5 scrambled egg whites with a bowl of Greek yogurt, fresh berries and a drizzle of honey. I love a hearty breakfast so I can concentrate and keep my blood sugar levels stable all morning!
Because I am asked all the time for my favorite protein powder recommendations, the reality is, I like a few different brands for different reasons—some are more dessert-like, some are plainer, some contain probiotics, etc. And because I make smoothies so often, I really do love alternating, so things don’t get boring.
My latest protein powder obsession is the **NEW** Life Shake from Shaklee. I discovered it a few months ago and I can honestly say it is the best tasting (not chalky) protein powder I have found thus far! It’s plant-based, contains probiotics, 20g protein per serving, 0 sugar, and so much more.
The vanilla is my favorite, but the chocolate is a close second!
Also: this is the same company that sells the liquid collagen, so you can add this to your monthly subscriptions so it comes all together. And you also get the 15% discount and free shipping. No code, just use my link!
Get Ready For The Work Day
By now, it’s time to shower and get ready for the busy work day ahead. I love my yummy shower gels that smell like the spa (Necessaire Eucalyptus is my fav) and my special Japanese loofah that literally scrubs all dead skin cells off. Linking both here!
Now that I am clean, I take time picking my outfit and doing my hair and makeup. When I feel put together, it almost ensures a more productive and more confident day. I finish with a spray of perfume, and off to the kitchen to begin the work day.
And that’s my morning! I hope you enjoyed having a little peek into my day. As you can see, nothing I do is ground breaking—but these are intentional habits and routines that ground me, fuel me, and help me show up as my best self most days!
Life is busy and not every morning will go perfectly, but having this daily rhythm keeps me anchored.
YOUR TURN!!! Do you have any special morning rituals/routines that help your day start on a positive note? Please leave a comment and share with all of us❤️.
How often is bacon served?
Thank you for sharing! Like you wrote, it can be inspiring. Everyone talks about morning routines which is great. I would love to feel inspired by evening routines (not just the bedtime window) But from the moment a person walks through the door from work, dinner, after dinner…I find these evening hours tricky and when most unwanted habits creep in. Especially with eating, drinking, scrolling…all those self soothing “techniques” and lack of willpower. Why they call that early evening witching hour right? I feel you would have a lot of wisdom to share especially with your experience overcoming an eating disorder. It could be very inspiring and helpful. Thanks Nicole!