Good Morning

Morning routines are often hailed as the holy grail of a productive day. Makes sense—most elements people add to their morning routines are healthy habits: meditation, soaking up some sun, avoiding screens, making a nutritious breakfast, smashing a workout, etc. The idea being, if you start your day with these "right" habits, the rest of your day will fall into place. Simple enough.

But then people start binging on good habits and now we’re habit stacking. If getting up early and working out is good, then working out plus meditating must be better. Add in a healthy breakfast and a morning skincare routine, and you're four times as likely to crush the day ahead, right? But what happens when you sleep in, miss that alarm, don’t feel well, are traveling, or just plain don’t have it one morning?

There's growing evidence that these morning routines can actually set you up for failure. Why? The rigidity. Many adopt these highly structured habits, thinking a strict sequence will boost their efficiency and success. But this rigidity often leads to stress and anxiety, especially when the routine gets disrupted. God forbid life happens right. Did we not learn anything from Jurassic Park… life finds a way… but I digress. Instead of giving a sense of control, a too-rigid routine can create disappointment if not perfectly executed, undermining the productivity it aims to enhance.

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see I post my 'routine' every morning. And guess what? Every morning looks different. It didn’t always used to be that way though. Don’t get me wrong, I used to jump on every new trend promising to improve my life. But trying to meet the expectations of these routines took me further from myself, and ultimately these routines made me feel gross and even more lost.

Why? Because I wasn’t listening to what I needed. I was following CEOs of companies I don’t want to work for, influencers with questionable agendas, and success stories that didn’t align with my definition of success. All of this led me down a road of unrealistic expectations, taking me further and further away from who I am.

Forcing myself into a routine misaligned with my natural rhythms led to burnout and decreased performance. Research shows productivity and creativity aren't just about getting up early (thank the Universe) but about understanding your peak times for focus and energy. A one-size-fits-all morning routine can be counterproductive. Personalized schedules that adapt to individual needs and lifestyles are key. Trust me.

It may have taken me 30-some-odd years to realize this – but I do things differently, sometimes a lot differently. For me, learning about my Human Design was a game-changer. As a Reflector, I don’t thrive in structure—I change every day. This is why routines never stick - and I do mean any routine… more on that later.?

If you are struggling with the morning routine of it all - here’s a few things do that might help you (pro-tip: you don’t even have to do any of this in the morning):

• First, throw routine out the door. This is your morning moment, your morning ritual, or just your fucking morning.
• Second, before you jump out of bed — take a breath, keep your eyes closed or at least soft, this doesn’t need to be some big dramatic yoga breath, just pause for a moment to see how you are feeling and ask yourself what do I want to do next? Something will drop in, and sometimes it is finish that cake for breakfast (a thing I did this morning).
• Third, do what drops in - if it’s lay in bed for a few more minutes do it, if it’s go outside and enjoy the sun do that, if it’s hug your kids and pet your dog do that! There is no wrong answer - so stop worrying about doing it wrong, there’s no such thing as doing it right.
• Fourth, look into your Human Design - you’ll be surprised.
• If Human Design isn’t your deal - Myers Briggs, Enneagram, Numerology, Astrology, etc. - pick one they all have recommendations for your ‘type’ - and then give it a try… adopt one or two things if they feel right - and when they don’t, stop. Don’t keep doing the thing cuz a pin on Pinterest or a TikTok told ya to. You’re better than TikTok.
• Not a morning person - FANTASTIC - I wasn’t either, then I worked for a global company where I had 5a (even a 4a) meetings and now I am awake, in the morning - it’s not the worst, surprisingly. But your morning could easily be your evening. Nothing about this is limited to the morning - wanna do some of it in the middle of the day, hells yes! Meditate at 3p, go for a walk at 7:30p, take a bath, do whatever is coming through - and you know what sometimes that’s watch the new 3-part docuseries on Netflix with no breaks.?