A peek into my morning routine
And what I'm learning about self-care in this season
I’ve long been a fan of good morning routines.
This began in full force, many moons ago, when I was a college student. I got it into my head that nothing beat an early morning wake-up, we’re talking 5 or 6 AM. I would walk to the nearest open coffee shop, typically a Starbucks, with my Bible, journal, and laptop in tow. I would begin with my cherished quiet time, pouring over the Scriptures, journaling my innermost thoughts and feelings, and praying through the things on my mind. I’d then shift to school work, prioritizing the tasks I needed to get out the way before heading off to my morning classes.
This morning routine offered me a few essential gifts:
It gave me a quiet start—literally quiet—as I was often up just before the birds, and well before the rest of the world. As a busy student, I needed this spaciousness, this freedom from excessive noise, so that I could at least hear what was going on inside of me. (And thank God this was before I owned a smart phone or had an Instagram account; how do the young folks today manage?!)
It grounded me spiritually before the start of the day, reminding me of my deeply held values and of Christ’s presence with me throughout the day.
It gave me space to process my thoughts and feelings so that I could be more present and responsive in my life. I was chronically anxious as a young adult, so I needed the extra time and space to get the racing thoughts out of my head and onto the page.
It slowed me down and taught me the importance of anchoring my life and daily decisions in what mattered most to me.
My morning routine has changed a lot over the years. Each season has its challenges, needs, and gifts. I’ve been thinking about what my current morning routine is teaching me. It’s markedly different than those quiet college mornings but just as essential for my wellbeing.
What My Morning Routine Looks Like Now
A good morning routine, I’m finding, begins the night before, with landing in bed between 9 and 10 PM. I had a really special night a couple weeks back when I was in bed by 8:50! A true miracle, as my dear husband is a night owl and I often find myself wanting to stay up and hang out with him, but I digress.
When all is well, I’m in bed between 9 and 10 PM, and if the sleep is good1, I wake up naturally between 5:30 and 7 AM.
Once I’m up, I leave my bedroom and am greeted by two very happy dogs. With their tails wagging high, they act like they haven’t seen me in days. It’s truly delightful.
I turn on our internet and I get the hot water kettle going.
I feed the dogs, and let them outside.
By now the kettle is hot. I pour a mug of warm water to sip on while I get ready for my workout. I’m on a mission to better care for my body, so I’ve added tabata and weight lifting to my daily rotation. So far so good.
My mind is very active during my morning workout as it sorts through priorities, needs, prayers, fears, and concerns. It’s like I’m working through all the different things on my mind and deciding how to address them. This item goes to prayer. That item needs to be a conversation with a colleague. This item is just for me to journal about. That item is for the to-do list, etc.
I then spend a five or six minutes in meditation. It’s a contemplative pause and a practice of embracing silence. I use the Insight Timer app to mark the time. (The singing bowl options are fun.) I always leave the moment feeling more grounded.
After my workout and meditation, I shower, get ready for the day, and decide what I want to eat for breakfast.
Then, I make my way to my icon corner for morning prayers. Typically I begin with a few prostrations, some portion of time praying the Jesus prayer, and then I offer any other prayers I feel drawn to for the day. I may prepare for the mystery of confession during this time, or quietly hold the names of loved ones in heart and mind. Sometimes, I just sit in silence.
Unlike when meditating, my desire in prayer is connection and intimacy with our Lord, so I do my best to bring my real, messy, anxious self into that space so that I can meet with Christ authentically and without pretense. As is the case in any relationship, prayer time is not static. It’s dynamic, challenging, creative, and alive, so I do my best to remain curious and flexible with how prayer unfolds.
After I pray, I read one chapter from one of the four Gospels. Right now I’m in Mark. It’s actually been many, many years since I’ve had a daily Scripture reading practice, and its been nourishing me in the best way.
After prayer and scripture, I then eat breakfast. I’m working with a naturopath who has me focusing on “fat, fiber, and protein” for each meal. It funnily feels like my dietary motto. It’s not impossible, by any means, but I’m amazed by how much intention it takes to ensure I’m eating enough protein. An adventure, for sure.
Following breakfast, I then turn my attention to work. I open my email and shift into productivity mode. The day carries on.
What My Morning Routine Is Teaching Me
When I was a young college student, my morning routine was primarily about my heart, mind, and soul. I was doing a lot to manage anxiety, and I had few responsibilities other than the basics of feeding myself, going to class, and getting good enough grades.
As I’ve grown, this routine has grown with me, offering new gifts:
It’s teaching me the wisdom of caring for my body as I age, knowing the habits I set now will have implications for the coming decades.
It’s teaching me the depth and richness of silence before God. Instead of pouring my spiraling thoughts onto pages of my journal, I’m learning how to be still and present, even with discomfort and pain, as I wait for God’s grace to meet me.
It’s teaching me how less is more in my Scripture reading. One chapter from one Gospel, read prayerfully and with intention, is sufficient nourishment for the day.
It’s teaching me patience with my many questions, fears, and concerns. So much of the anxiety of my youth was rooted in me feeling an incredible sense of urgency about everything. Now I know that the painful days, the big disappointments, and soul-deep longings may not resolve quickly, if they resolve at all. And this doesn’t mean I’m failing or that my life is broken; it means that I’m a human being having a human experience. I’m learning to trust that through gentle, daily attention to what matters most to me, God is healing and transforming me through it all.
Creating a morning routine that nourishes you, focuses your attention, and sets the tone for your day—regardless of what your routine includes—is one gentle way to shape and influence the broader context of your life. It can remind you of your values, it can be a time to care for your body, and it can be a time of service and love to those around you. Each of our lives has its own constraints and limits, so I don’t imagine that my routine would work for you. But I do think its worth exploring how we can each start our day in a way that sets us up for meaningful engagement with the work God has right in front of us.
What is your morning routine teaching you in this season?
I’d love to hear from you.
Finding my way to truly good sleep could be an entirely separate post. Just know it involves everything from the environment (darkness, cold temps, etc.) to caffeine and sugar management, to topical magnesium spray. It’s an ordeal, but so far a rewarding one.