My Morning Routine

“What’s your morning routine like, Emma?”

This is a question I get asked a lot! As we enter a new season of school, work, and seemingly endless tasks, I want to share what happens on a typical Emma Lovewell morning. Scroll below and click the links for the full experience.

1. No Phone

No phones while waking up! While my phone is critical to message teammates, family, and friends, I find waking up to a flood of notifications and unread emails is counterproductive to getting a good headstart. Taking the first few minutes of the day to ground yourself is important, and I think my no-phone policy is especially helpful. We don’t need extra diversions from distracting us from the get-go.

2. Jot Down 3 Things You Are Grateful For

Demonstrating gratitude for the things you have gives you the proper mindset of tackling the day with joy. Reminding yourself the privileges you have puts things into context. Did you have a bad day yesterday? Or is there a mountain of tasks to complete this week? Yes: acknowledge them! But also acknowledge what you do have. Remember, what you focus on is what you get. We want to think in abundance, not scarcity.

3. Brainstorm 1 Goal for the Day

Goal-setting has always been important to me. I’ve come to realize that each day is critical, so don’t waste it! I like to brainstorm at least one goal for my day, whether it’s something tangible (e.g. tidying up my home) or mental (e.g. giving myself some slack). What immediate or lofty goals do you have?

4. Stretch and Move

This may seem obvious, but stretch and move! Stretching has been shown to promote healthy blood and lymphatic circulation, two things key to a healthy body and mind. Whether you start your day with a yoga practice, strength work, or cardio, movement promotes a clear mind. Personally, on a day when I’m not teaching class I like to do a few stretches, and then get into 10-20 min of strength work.

5. Drink a Glass of Water

Water increases circulation and flushes whatever was laying stagnant in your body. Water also wakes me up, so it’s definitely something I reach for after getting out of bed! Sometimes I add freshly-squeezed lemon juice for an added kick. Use any cup that speaks to you too!

6. Journal

I’ve been journalling for a while now. I remember when I was little I would journal all the time, mostly about how mad I was at my parents or my brother (ha!). As an adult, journalling allows me to set my priorities for the day while also getting out any thoughts running around in my head. It’s a great electronic-independent way to remind myself what I need to get done for the day and a great way to get my feelings out on paper instead of bottling them up.

7. Meditate

Growing up, meditation was huge in my family. My mom, a Buddhist, has done many silent meditation retreats (even while pregnant with me!). I think this is how I learned how to sit with my emotions and to breath through them. Again, the worst thing you can do is wake up with bottled up feelings. Those emotions may inadvertently reveal itself in your daily tasks. I needed this before and especially now with the world’s uncertainty. I don’t always make time for meditation in the morning, but I try to sneak it in at some point during my day. (Yes, even 10 minutes is enough!)

8. Eat a Healthy Meal

Now I’m hungry! Having a well-balanced diet is critical to feeling well physically and mentally. I really love matcha lattes or iced cold brew (with cold brew cubes- check out my hack here). Having a rounded meal grounds me and sets me up for the day. Check out my recent breakfast sandwich recipe for inspiration and previous recipes on the blog!

Other things I do in the morning include checking up on my garden and enjoying quality time with Kimchi, my cat. Even though I only spend a few minutes on each of these tasks, they absolutely get me ready for the day. Don’t feel like translating this routine into a checklist- that might be counterintuitive to making an organic routine! Instead try to incorporate aspects of this into your life slowly. What are your favorite morning routine options? Let me know!