Okay, so here’s the real. My mornings? Absolute shit! I wake up feeling like a zombie, my brain voice already screaming about emails, deadlines, and life in general before I’ve even had the chance to smash the snooze button like it owed me money. Alright, so I clearly need a change. Enter the “mindful morning routine” thing, which, to be honest, I thought was just for people who meditate on mountain tops and sip kombucha. Spoiler: it’s actually not as out-there as I thought. Turns out, starting your day not in full-blown panic attack is a game-changer. Who knew?
First off, mindfulness isn’t just some hashtag you slap on an Instagram post. It’s about being present—like actually paying attention to what’s happening instead of letting your brain spiral into, “Oh my god, I have 10,000 things to do and no time” mode. And honestly? That’s the last thing I need before I’ve had my coffee.
The Morning Shitshow
Let me paint you a picture: I wake up, and instantly, my brain goes into panic mode. Emails. Deadlines. Meetings. Picking the kids up after their football practice. That pile of laundry in the corner that’s been judging me for a week. It’s enough to make anyone want to crawl back under the covers and hibernate till next spring. But apparently, if I start the day off in panic mode, the whole days basically doomed from the get-go. So, I’m trying to stop the madness before it even starts.
Why Am I So Damn Tired?
Okay, straight real talk—if you wake up every day feeling like you’ve been hit by a bus, there’s probably a reason. Maybe it’s because you’re not exercising. Maybe you’re surviving off leftover pizza and Red Bull. Maybe you haven’t slept properly since Covid. All these things are like air stealing little thieves, robbing your energy while you sleep (or don’t). The first step is figuring out what’s dragging you down so you can do something about it, instead of just letting it ruin your morning like some sort of sleep-deprived Tasmanian Devil on crack.
Breathe
So here’s what I’ve started doing: instead of grabbing my phone first thing (and immediately getting kicked in the guts by anxiety about the 47 unread emails), I’m starting with breathing exercises. Yeah, it sounds kind of lame and weak, but hear me out—it’s like giving your brain a tiny vacation before it has to deal with life. Then, I chug some water like it’s my job, because apparently hydration is a thing I’ve been ignoring for ages. And I eat a real breakfast. None of that granola bar on the way out the door nonsense—actual food.
Stretch It Out, Baby
I know, I know, stretching? Really? But yes, stretching. It feels way less ridiculous once you realise your body is basically one giant knot of stress. Loosening that up first thing actually makes you feel less like a human pretzel. Plus, if I’m moving before noon, that’s a win in itself.
Mindfulness (But Make It Chill)
Now, this is where the mindfulness comes in, but I promise, it’s not some hippie meditation retreat situation. Some mornings, I just sit for a few minutes and focus on breathing—simple as that. Other days, I jot down a couple of things I’m grateful for, which I swore I’d never do because it seemed cheesy as hell. But honestly? It helps. It’s like I’m hitting the reset button on my brain before the day’s chaos starts.
The Calm After the Storm
Here’s what I’ve figured out: when I start the day even a little bit calmer, it snowballs. I’m less frazzled, less distracted, and slightly more in control of the disaster that is life. Sure, I still have a million things to do, but at least I’m not letting them sucker punch me in the groin before breakfast.
So, if you’re also waking up every day feeling like the world’s already on fire, maybe give this a shot. It’s not some magical fix, but hey, even a tiny improvement is better than the hot mess I was dealing with before.