For years, I believed there were two types of people in the world: “morning people” and
people like me. Morning people, in my mind, were a special breed who woke up with a smile,
ready to conquer the day before the sun even appeared. I, on the other hand, was a proud
member of the “not a morning person” club. My mornings were a frantic, chaotic blur. My
alarm was a mortal enemy, the snooze button my only friend. I’d roll out of bed at the last
possible second, rush through a shower, and grab a coffee on my way out the door, starting
every day feeling reactive, stressed, and already behind.

I read all the articles about the morning routines of successful CEOs—the 5 AM workouts,
the hour of meditation, the green juice. They felt completely unattainable, like a lifestyle
from another planet. They just made me feel worse, reinforcing my belief that I was
somehow lazy or undisciplined. I resigned myself to the idea that productive, peaceful
mornings were simply not for me.

The shift happened out of pure exhaustion. I was tired of starting my days feeling like I was
losing a race I didn’t even know I was running. I decided to experiment. What if I stopped
trying to copy someone else’s perfect routine and instead created one that worked for my
personality? A routine that wasn’t about punishment, but about peace. This journey taught me
that you don’t have to be a “morning person” to have productive mornings. You just need to
be intentional.

The Myth of the “Perfect” Morning Routine

The biggest barrier to starting a morning routine is the pressure to make it perfect. We see
picture-perfect routines online and think we need to incorporate a dozen new habits all at
once. This all-or-nothing approach is a recipe for failure.
The real secret to a successful morning routine, especially if you’re not a morning person, is
to start small. Ridiculously small. The goal is not to become a different person overnight. The
goal is to create a series of tiny, achievable habits that give you a sense of calm and control,
setting a positive tone for the rest of the day. These are the morning habits for success that
no one tells you about: they’re gentle, they’re flexible, and they meet you where you are.

A Realistic Morning Routine for the Rest of Us
Instead of trying to force myself into a 5 AM-workout-mold, I built a routine brick by brick,
focusing on what made me feel good, not what I thought I “should” be doing. Here are the
core components that have transformed my mornings from chaos to calm.

• The Gentle Wake-Up (No More Snooze Button)
  My relationship with the snooze button was toxic. Those extra nine-minute increments of
  low-quality sleep weren’t actually helping me feel more rested; they were just prolonging the
  agony of waking up and starting the day with a series of small failures.

My Solution: I moved my phone charger across the room. This is a classic for a reason.
Having to physically get out of bed to turn off my alarm prevents me from hitting snooze. But
the real game-changer was what I did next. Instead of grabbing my phone and scrolling, I
walk straight to the kitchen and drink a full glass of water. This simple act hydrates my body
after a long night’s sleep and gives me a moment to wake up before the digital noise comes
flooding in.
How to Start:
-Place your alarm across the room.
-Commit to a “no phone for the first 10 minutes” rule. Just 10 minutes.
-Have a glass of water waiting for you. This is your first win of the day.

• Find Your “Anchor” Habit (Just 5 Minutes)
  The idea of a full hour of meditation or journaling used to paralyze me. So, I started with just
  five minutes. Your “anchor” habit is a small, non-negotiable activity that centres you before
  the day’s demands take over.
  My Solution: I call it my “coffee and quiet” time. After I have my water, I make my coffee.
  Then, I sit in a comfortable chair—no phone, no laptop, no TV—and just enjoy it. Sometimes
  I look out the window. Sometimes I just focus on the warmth of the mug. Sometimes I think
  about my day. It’s not formal meditation; it’s simply five minutes of intentional quiet. This
  small pocket of peace is my anchor. It signals to my brain that the day is starting on my
  terms.
  How to Start:
  -Choose ONE small activity you enjoy: stretching, journaling one sentence, listening
  to one song, stepping outside for fresh air.
  -Commit to doing it for just five minutes every morning. The consistency is more
  important than the duration.
• Prepare for a Productive Morning the Night Before
  One of the best ways to start your day right is to do some of the work the night before.
  Reducing the number of decisions you have to make when you’re groggy is a massive
  advantage.
  My Solution: I created a simple “shutdown ritual” at night. I take 15 minutes to lay out my
  clothes for the next day, pack my lunch and work bag, and tidy up the kitchen. This gift from
  my “past self” to my “future self” removes friction from my morning, freeing up precious
  mental energy. I can use that energy for my anchor habit instead of frantically searching for
  clean socks.
  How to Start: -Pick one thing to prepare tonight for tomorrow. Just one. Lay out your workout clothes. Put your coffee grounds in the filter.Once that becomes a habit, add a second thing.

• Move Your Body (Gently)
  You don’t have to run five miles or do a high-intensity workout to get the benefits of morning
  movement. The goal is simply to wake up your body and get your blood flowing.
  My Solution: On most days, my morning movement is a 10-minute walk around my
  neighbourhood. That’s it. No gym clothes required. The combination of gentle movement and
  morning light does wonders for my energy and mood. On days when the weather is bad or
  I’m short on time, I do a 5-minute stretching routine in my living room. It’s not about burning
  calories; it’s about shaking off the sleep and connecting with my body.
  How to Start:
  -Try a 5-minute stretch routine you find online.
  -Commit to a short walk, even if it’s just to the end of your street and back.

This Is Your Invitation to a Better Morning
Your mornings set the tone for your entire day. They don’t have to be a source of stress and
chaos. By letting go of the need for perfection and embracing small, intentional habits, you
can create a routine that helps you feel centered, energized, and ready for whatever comes
your way. This is your opportunity to sign up for something greater for yourself—a life where
you start each day with peace and purpose.
You don’t need to become a “morning person.” You just need to become a person who is
intentional about their mornings. You have the power to transform the first hour of your day,
and in doing so, transform your life.
If you are ready to stop fighting with your mornings and start designing a life that truly
supports your well-being, I invite you to join our community. We are a group of real people
figuring out how to bloom, one small habit at a time.
Join the Bossin & Blooming Community Here and let’s build better mornings, together. https://bossinandblooming.com/membership-levels/