Welcome back, Happy Army! We got a lot to talk about.
Does this sound familiar?
You wake up, feeling groggy and exhausted, only to realize your alarm has been ringing for what feels like an eternity. That snooze button? Oh, it worked overtime this morning. Finally, in full panic mode, you leap out of bed because, surprise—you’re already running late. You brush your teeth in record time, maybe skip the shower (hey, no judgment), grab something to wear from the laundry pile that doesn’t smell too bad, throw on your shoes, and bolt out the door. Breakfast? Who has time for that? A quick stop at the coffee shop will do—because coffee totally counts as a meal, right? Somehow, you slide into work just before you’re officially late, heart racing and barely breathing.
Did I miss anything?
Don’t worry, it's not just you—this was me three years ago.
My life was a mess: scattered, frantic, and completely disconnected from my body. I felt like I was on autopilot, just surviving one chaotic day after another.
But that life is in the past now. I’ve made big changes, and if this story sounds like your mornings, you’re in the right place. It’s time to take back your mornings—and your connection to yourself. Let’s do this together!
In this blog post, we're gonna deep dive into:
Why you need a morning routine
The right wake-up time for your body
My morning step-by-step
Links to all my morning routine little helpers
Ok, you ready? This is my morning routine!
DISCLOSURE: THIS POSE MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY TERMS OF USE POLICY FOR MORE INFO.
Why Morning Routines Matter
I insist on routines everywhere I go, and I promise there is a reason.
Life can be...unpredictable.
Crazy things happen all the time, and we somehow need to be able to respond to it quickly. So how is anyone's brain going to be able to keep track of everything, including being able to take care of yourself?
Trick question: you can't.
This is why we need routines. Routines help give a sense of structure when everything else feels up in the air. When done right, they don’t just keep you organized—they help you build habits that stick, boost your energy, and make you feel like you’ve got this whole “adulting” thing down.
Taking care of yourself shouldn't require extra brain power. You deserve to relax, let your healthy habits run on autopilot, while you focus on what you actually want to focus on.
1. Waking up: The Early Bird Gets the Worm... and gets things done!
I wake up at 6 a.m. every single day. Yes, even on weekends! (Or at least I try—I’m not perfect!) No, I am not doing this to punish myself, there are actual reasons for why I wake up then.
Reason #1:
From an Ayurvedic perspective, the hours between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. fall under the Vata period. Vata energy is light, clear, and subtle, which makes it easier to wake up and focus. No hitting the snooze button, and it's the perfect time for mental clarity and creativity.
In Yogic philosophy, those hours are called Brahmamuhurta—a sacred window for enhancing mental health and getting those brain juices flowing. So yes, yogis follow the same timing.
Reason #2:
Waking up early helps you sleep better at night. The earlier parts of the night are filled with non-REM sleep, which isn’t as restorative. But the hours before midnight are golden for deep, rejuvenating rest.
Reason #3 (my actual reason):
The peace and quiet of the early morning!
Once the world wakes up, so does the chaos! Responsibilities, to-do lists, random demands… you name it.
But in the early hours? It’s just you and the stillness. There’s something magical about that quietude that everyone should experience.
I wake up at 6am because my body is predominately Vata, but if you want to know what time would be best for you to wake up, check out my post on Identifying Your Ayurvedic Dosha here!
2. Hydration: The First Sip of Water of the Day
I feel like this doesn't get acknowledged enough. Water is your best friend first thing in the morning!
When we are sleeping, we don't touch water for at least 7 hours. The results? Waking up feeling like a dried-up raisin! I wouldn't want to get out of bed feeling that way.
Drinking water first thing in the morning changes that, though!
I can feel my body coming to life, as if my brain goes pop! It’s like waking up from the inside out—my energy starts to flow, and if makes it so much easier to spring out of bed.
To make it easier, keep a nice water bottle by your bedside. I use this one, but if you prefer drinking hot water, I really like this water bottle.
Any kind of ritual is just a series of habits- and we all know how hard habits are to create! Even if it is just drinking water in the morning. It took me 5 years just to get some of the habits down. The Fabulous app, though, saved me 2 whole years of workshopping my routines! It's like a best friend that holds you accountable while lifting you up at the same time! They use science-backed behavioral economics to help build up habits gradually rather than expecting perfection from the get-go! This app really did change my life, and I think it can do the same for you! So please, do yourself a favor—click the link and check it out! Just so you know, the first habit that you'll learn to implement is to drink water in the morning!
3. Yoga Attire: Dress for Success!
Next, I slip into my yoga clothes— which is literally anything soft, comfortable, and made for movement.
I like to leave it out on my dresser the night before, just so that it motivates to want to exercise in the morning when I wake up.
Now, this doesn't need to be fancy in any way.
You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on clothing for exercise. I often do yoga in my old High School T-shirt and some sweats.
But if you love looking luxurious while giving your body the love it needs, go for it! Looking good helps us feel good!
4. Yoga: Nurturing the Mind-Body Connection
My mat is my sanctuary. It’s where my nerves come alive, the drowsiness melts away, and my body and mind find their way back to each other.
I let go of all the tension, and create space for clarity.
There are no words to describe the peace that comes from doing yoga. The only way I can describe it is Mmm...
You don't have to do yoga, though. There are so many forms of exercise out there.
However, improving flexibility is how we stay young for as long as possible, and it's super meditative. It grounds me and sets a harmonious tone for the rest of the day, which is why I'm obsessed with it.
I practice Hatha Yoga, and clearly I love it. To get more information on the practice, and some resources to get some extra knowledge in, check out my posts Unveiling the Ancient Origins of Hatha Yoga and The Benefits of Hatha Yoga!
5. Shower: The Final Wake-Up Call
I don't sweat much in yoga (unless I'm purposefully aiming for that), but I make sure to shower every morning. Yes, to wash off any gunk on me and to remove any funky odors, but it’s also to get rid of any remnants of sleep.
It's also really peaceful, taking away any lingering worries or stress. It's a good time for me to cleanse my mind.
By the time I step out, I feel refreshed, clear-headed, and ready to face the day.
6. Skincare, Dress-Up, Make-Up, Out!
This is my "put the game face on" step. Technically, I could just throw on a pair of sweats and get going, but I find I am not as productive unless I look and dress the part.
Turns out, that's a real thing. When we completely take care of our appearance and get dressed up, we actually get so much more productive.
So let's start from skincare.
Soap is drying, and I already have dry skin. So I lotion like crazy before I put on any makeup or get dressed. I have my face serum and moisturizer from Prose (it leaves my face glowing!), and then the Love, Beauty, Planet's body cream from their BELOVED line (the scent works really well for my body chemistry).
Then, dressing up! I really like business-casual styles, but wear what makes you feel like a boss!
And finally, makeup and hair. I don't like to go crazy, maybe just a nice ponytail and simple makeup. But if you love rocking a full glam or even no makeup at all, go for it!
Do whatever makes you look as beautiful as you feel!
7. Breakfast: Nourishment for Body and Soul
I won’t lie—this is the step I struggle with the most.
Every morning, my first thought is, “Do I really need to sit here for 30 minutes to eat when I could just start working?”
But the truth is, breakfast is so important! Breakfast actually changed everything for me.
Before, I genuinely struggled to eat appropriate proportions for lunch and dinner because my metabolism was in the tank.
And it makes sense.
We’ve just gone 8 hours without eating while we slept. Skipping breakfast is like hitting fast-forward on starvation mode, and that is the best way to mess with our metabolism.
So to avoid making previous mistakes, I make sure to eat something. I usually eat cinnamon oatmeal with a bunch of berries on it, cause that's what's best for my body type. But please please please! Eat breakfast! It saved my metabolism, so it will save yours!
If you're having trouble finding recipes that are right for your body type (I definitely did!), make sure you get The Hot Belly Diet by Dr. Suhas G. Kshirsagar. It’s got so many amazing recipes based off of your body type and even has a quiz to help you start a 30-day reset tailored to your dosha! I make every single one of these recipes, and they are a 10/10! Perfect for kicking off 2025 with renewed energy.
8. Reflection: Immersing in Spiritual Wisdom
Spirituality is a really big part of my life. Whether it's manifesting for a brighter future, or it's looking at painful memories through a spiritual lens, it's just how I see the world.
It helps me see the world outside myself, expanding my energy outward to others as much as I can. In a world often filled with hate, it helps me stay open to love and find beauty in everything around me.
I usually look to two sources for wisdom: First, the Bhagavad Gita (I was raised Hindu), and second, the morning reflections from the The Fabulous app.
Generally I read the Bhagavad Gita, especially since in the morning I'm usually in a more spiritual mindset, and can therefore understand the teachings better.
On the days when I am just not ready to understand those teachings (like today, actually!), I listen to the audios on The Fabulous app to get me into the right mindset.
They usually give little nuggets of wisdom that I can carry with me through the day. 90% of the time, the audios are speaking right to the insecurities that are blocking me from recieving those higher teachings. Highly recommend!
This isn't super specific, either. You could look to your religious text, like the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, or others. I know my boyfriend receives different quotes in his email that he likes to reflect on. Even reels that spread positive messages works as well!
It's whatever works for you.
That's it!
This is the part where I go to work (aka sneaking back up to my room since I work from home). The day may get crazy, overwhelming, sometimes even infuriating or heartbreaking.
But I know I can handle it, cause I already spent my morning taking care of me. It’s like carrying a pocket of peace wherever I go.
Each step of my morning routine is intentional, from the first sip of water to the quiet reflection on wisdom that shapes my perspective. They're all great on their own, but the real magic happens when all of them are put together.
These practices form a ritual that isn’t just about starting my day—it’s about aligning with myself and my purpose.
By creating a morning routine that honors your mind, body, and soul, you can have a morning filled with mindfulness, balance, and connection.
Every morning is a fresh canvas—paint it with practices that inspire, nurture, and ground you.
I'd be lying if I said I created this routine by myself with my own willpower. I utilized everything the Fabulous app gave me in order for me to get to the point I'm at now. This app really helps build consistency and makes it easy to create healthy habits—even the ones that take the most effort! Try it out, and I guarantee you’ll be on your way to living your best life in no time! If it worked for me, it can work for you!
That's it for now! Sending positive vibes your way, and happy exploring!
Comments