The Morning Routine That Helps Me Feel Empowered to Take On the Day

Published on March 14, 2022 at 1:59 PM

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CoolSculpting

When I first started working from home, I decided to take the opportunity to create a morning routine. I had visions of waking up early to journal in bed, hopping in the shower, going through a multistep skin-care routine, and blending up a green smoothie before sitting down at my desk.

Spoiler alert: none of those habits stuck, but I did come up with my own version of a morning routine that helps me start each day feeling calm, confident, and ready to take on the day. Though none of my daily habits are revolutionary, they all have one thing in common — they make me feel like my best self.

Putting Effort Into My Outfit

Even if I have no plans besides working from home, putting a little extra effort into my outfit makes me feel more put-together and more confident. Picking out pieces of clothing that bring me joy — like my lavender corduroy shacket or my comfiest worn-in jeans — instead of just throwing on whatever pair of leggings I see first helps me start my day on a slightly brighter note. Every day's outfit doesn't have to be a full look, but it does have to make me feel good about myself.

Taking a Morning Walk

While I don't miss commuting, I do miss the opportunity my commute gave me to read the news on my phone, sit with my thoughts for a few minutes, and generally prepare for the day. Now that I'm working from home, I like to take a half-hour walk every morning before work as a sort of mental commute. Going for a stroll not only gets me out of my apartment for a little while, it also wakes me up physically and mentally.

Listening to an Interesting Podcast

As much as I enjoy sleep, I've learned that snoozing my alarm until the last possible minute leaves me feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Instead, I like to give myself some extra time in the morning to do something I enjoy, like listen to a podcast. Whether I press play on a true-crime series or a political interview, learning something new is always fun for me — and lets me start the workday feeling calm, cool, and collected.

Savoring a Cup of Coffee

I'm a huge coffee-lover — seriously, sometimes I wake up thinking about my first cup of the day. I enjoy it so much that I like to spend some extra time making myself a coffee I'm really going to enjoy. Maybe that's a simple iced latte or a spicy mocha with a dash of cayenne pepper. Whatever my beverage du jour, it's sure to give my mood a little boost and help me start the day feeling content.