Reclaiming My Morning
For the past few weeks, I’ve been on a mission to fix my morning routine. Once upon a time, I was really good at my morning routines. I had structure, flow, and a sense of calm that set the tone for my day. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of what my mornings actually meant to me and how powerful they were in shaping my productivity and peace. I got distracted.
Working from home since 2020 has been a blessing, but let me tell you, time flies. Not just regular flying, we’re talking jet plane speeds, lol. The days all blur together and if I’m not intentional, I get nothing done, zero productivity . This is why I decided to take my mornings back.
The Shift
Honestly I believe I was feeling a bit down, maybe even discouraged. I found myself rolling out of bed whenever, no matter what time I actually woke up. I’d eat if I felt like it, scroll endlessly on my phone, basically, I was doing nothing productive and everything that felt like destructive behavior.
Like with most things in my life, I eventually felt a push, more so a big ole shove. Remember in my previous post, Embracing Change: A Journey to a Struggle-Free Life? I talked about the inner battle between the old me and the new me. That tug-of-war hasn’t gone anywhere and I face it daily. One day, I just woke up and said, nah… you gotta do something different. You want different, you have to do different.
Foundation in Progress
If you’ve followed me on YouTube for a while, you’ve probably caught glimpses of my morning routine. So what’s different this time around? Honestly, in my mind, not much. My heart tells a different story. This time, it feels like I’m building the consistency and peace I’ve been craving, just enough to carry me through my day. Enough to give me that boost needed to be productive.
I hadn’t done a proper routine in what felt like years, and if I’m being honest, I’ve just been going along to get along. I was tired of surviving like that. So I decided to challenge myself, not with a “5 am miracle morning” setup (because, let’s be real, that would’ve lasted two days max), but with a slow and intentional rebuild.
Over the course of a few weeks, I started adding in small habits I missed and new ones wanted to try. Things like reading a few pages, starting my mornings slowly and quietly, moving my body a little and less screen time. You know I’ve been wanting more out of life and from myself and this really felt like one small way to call more in. One small step to propel me forward.
The first week? One word. HARD. Waking up wasn’t the issue, it was doing anything with structure and intention, that felt foreign. I’m still not sure if mornings need structure, but I know MY mornings do. Growing up, my mornings were chaotic, and that chaos followed me right into adulthood. So now, I’m continually learning to choose something different. I’m choosing the unknown even when it feels unnatural and uncomfortable.
I even challenged myself to record one small clip from each morning, hoping to piece together a full video. Some days I did, some days I didn’t. Camera or no camera I showed up and honestly, that’s what matters most. Showing up and being consistent.
My Morning Routine (So Far)
I usually wake up between 6:00 and 6:30 AM. The time fluctuates, but honestly, I’ve been letting my body decide. I do set alarms, just in case. Baby my internal clock, she’s been showing up for me. Even when I randomly wake up at 3 AM for no reason, I somehow still manage to get up around the same time every morning.
Once I’m up, I either roll right out of bed or lay there until 6:30 if I’m feeling slow. I keep it simple: wash my face, brush my teeth, get dressed, and get ready for my walk.
My walks have become my anchor. It’s a moment of peace and reflection. My moment to get fresh air with the stillness of the atmosphere, the chirping of the birds and the rustling of leaves. I even stop to smell the flowers.
Sometimes I listen to music or a podcast. I even created a playlist of songs that soothe my soul. I know most people require energized music for their walk but sometimes I want melodic tunes with good vibrations to help me start my day.
Other days I walk in silence, just letting the world wake up around me. It’s not always easy to get out the door, but I never regret it once I do. I sit in the park for moments of reflect, I swing and I even started to include jogging into my routine.
When I get back home, depending on my mood, I sit in silence for a few minutes. I haven’t mastered meditation yet but the quiet helps me process. Sometimes I journal and read a page from my book before I shower and others I shower when I get back. The point I’m trying to make is my routine is fluid that allows me grace to complete the tasks I want to achieve.
Figuring It Out, But Committed
I’m still figuring out what I want to add or adjust, but for now, my routine is about grounding myself, not checking off a list. It’s not perfect. Some days I oversleep, skip the walk, or move slowly. Most importantly I’m no longer living on autopilot. I’m choosing to be intentional. Since making that choice, I’ve noticed a shift. My productivity has increased. My tasks feel clearer. My mind feels less cluttered.
If you’re thinking about rebuilding your mornings, start small. Start honest, and most importantly, start with you in mind.
Soft Pastels Life 
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