We’ve all been there. You woke up late, couldn’t find the right outfit, spilled your coffee on the outfit you finally settled on, and then possibly cried about it. You feel rushed and unprepared for the day, and you want to crawl right back into your warm, cozy bed.
My mornings used to feel rushed and completely chaotic; I often felt behind before the day had even started. I wanted something softer, more intentional. I didn’t want to overhaul my routine completely, but I definitely needed to make some changes. I couldn’t continue to start the day running on empty.
This is my current simple, soft morning ritual that I have created for myself. Its simplicity is what makes it sustainable for me. I wanted to focus on the small moments of my morning that had the greatest potential for impacting the overall tone of my day.
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A Gentle Approach to Mornings
First, there is no such thing as a perfect routine, no matter how aesthetic the vibes. Even this routine, which works for me at this point in my life, might not have the same impact for someone else. There is no “right” way to curate your morning, but I do hope that you’ll really evaluate and be intentional with the small moments that start your day.
I’m also a big fan of being flexible and realistic with your routine. It shouldn’t be rigid or time-consuming, or you will never stick to it. For me, I knew I had to keep it simple while also accepting that some days it just isn’t going to happen, and that’s okay. I wasn’t trying for perfection; I just wanted improvement.
My Morning Ritual
Step 1: Waking Up Slowly
The simplest change (and one of the most powerful) was to give myself a few quiet moments before even touching my phone. Though I used to love a good TikTok in the morning, I found it impossible to avoid the news notifications and my emails. Being so connected as soon as I woke up was difficult for me because I felt like I had to be “on” immediately.
Step 2: Letting the Light In
I can’t overemphasize how much natural light can impact my mood, so I like to open the curtains to let in the morning sun. If it is nice outside, opening a window for some fresh air is even better. This kind of calm, relaxed sensory moment can really help me regulate my nervous system before the day begins.
Step 3: Set the Vibe
I like to light a few candles, turn on the twinkly lights, and put on some soft music. I have a morning playlist that I have painstakingly created to maximize the vibes I’m going for.
Step 4: Morning Coffee
I’m a morning coffee person, so I always make sure that I have good, strong coffee ready to go. Just to make my morning easier, I like to fill the water reservoir in the coffee maker the night before. It just removes one small step, but it feels very grown-up and intentional to be so prepared.
Step 5: An Intentional Moment
This is my favorite part of my morning ritual (or sometimes, my favorite part of the entire day). My wife and I get up about thirty minutes earlier than we probably have to so that we can have our morning coffee together. We usually review our agenda for the day and share any important information that could help the day go more smoothly for both of us.
On the best days (which, in all honesty, is not every day), we set our intention for the day and choose a positive affirmation. We have a positive affirmation deck of cards that we use, and it has been really lovely for us to do this together. We also really like this set.
If you’re flying solo or just prefer to have some alone time in the morning, I highly recommend journaling in any form. I’ve found that the easiest way for me to stick to this in the morning is to keep it short and sweet. A 1-2 sentence intention for the day can be really impactful.
Step 6: Get Ready for the Day
After I have finished my routine, I will check my phone and get ready for the day. I generally keep my morning playlist going and avoid using the overhead lights for as long as possible. It makes me feel calmer and more prepared for my day when I can get ready in this way.
Creating Your Own Soft Morning Ritual
There is absolutely no wrong way to do this, and everyone’s morning ritual should be unique to them.
Here are some things to remember:
- Keep it small
- Don’t try to imitate someone else’s routine
- Don’t try to make it “perfect” or focus on the aesthetic too much
- Build from what you already do
- Keep it flexible
Remember, you are in control of the cadence of your morning. Life is stressful and hard most of the time, so looking for small, intentional ways to romanticize or slow down your life is really important. You don’t have to overhaul your routine completely, but small changes do matter. A softer morning doesn’t necessarily require more time, just a little more intention.
