A realistic guide to becoming a morning person - Episode 82
Becoming a morning person doesn’t require a 4:00 a.m. wake-up call, an intense two-hour routine, or an entirely new personality.
It’s about shifting your mindset, setting yourself up for success the night before, and building mornings you genuinely look forward to—whether they start at 6:30 or 8:30.
In this week’s episode, I’m breaking down my realistic, non-aesthetic, actually-doable approach to mornings: the mindset, the core pillars, the rotating routines, and the small habits that truly change how the first hours of your day feel.
Create & consume:
What Austen is creating this week: my partnership with Dove on my blog!
What Austen is consuming this week: I’ve watched the first batch of the final season of Stranger Things episodes that have dropped.
The motivation and mindset behind how you wake up
The night-before prep
Becoming a morning person truly starts before your alarm goes off.
Half the battle is knowing what tomorrow looks like and committing to even one simple action:
“When my alarm goes off, I will get up.”
“When I get up, I’m going straight to make coffee.”
“When I get up, I’m putting on the workout outfit I laid out.”
One small commitment → one small win → momentum for the rest of the day.
If you work for yourself or have flexible routines, this is even more impactful.
When I know the next day is for recording podcast episodes or filming, I wake up already clear on my purpose.
If it’s an admin day, that helps shape my expectations too.
If you can: swap late-night scrolling for reading, journaling, or putting on a podcast.
It makes the morning feel less chaotic.
Why mindset matters more than the hour on the clock
Being a morning person does not mean you need to be awake before sunrise solving world problems.
You can wake up at 8 a.m. and still be a morning person.
Waking up early without intention doesn’t do much.
Early hours = fewer distractions, fewer notifications, and more meaningful focus time.
Your early energy often dictates your momentum for the entire day.
It’s about intention, not the timestamp.
When in doubt, anchor yourself in gratitude
Gratitude reframes the entire morning experience.
Instead of focusing on the stressors ahead, grounding yourself in thankfulness shifts your energy immediately.
Think of one thing you’re grateful for when you wake up:
Your health
Your home
Your relationships
Your job
Your coffee (the most relatable option)
This transforms “I have to get up” into “I get to start a new day.”
And if you want to go even deeper on managing your energy, setting boundaries, and reducing the mental clutter that makes mornings feel harder than they need to be, I have a whole episode on this.
In Episode 72 — How to Actually Protect Your Peace, I break down practical tools for safeguarding your time, energy, and emotional bandwidth.
It pairs perfectly with today’s topic, because protecting your peace at night makes it so much easier to wake up with a clear mind the next morning.
Building a morning routine that works for You
Once your mindset is in a good place, you can figure out what your morning actually looks like.
Why waking up earlier is a game-changer
Less noise and fewer external demands
Dedicated time to yourself—even 5 minutes counts
A chance to prioritize creativity, wellness, or productivity before the world wakes up
Start with your core pillars
Your pillars = the non-negotiables that make you feel grounded every single morning:
• Consistent wake-up time
Not early — just consistent. Your body thrives on patterns.
• Make the bed
A quick win that creates immediate momentum.
• Hydrate
Water first if you can, coffee immediately if you prefer (we’re being realistic).
• Simple skincare
Eye cream, vitamin C, light moisturizer, SPF.
• A little stimulation
Choose one: stretching, journaling, the NYT games, meditation, Duolingo, red light therapy.
Something that wakes your body and brain without instantly jumping into work.
Rotating morning routines for different vibes
You are not a robot and every morning is not the same.
Instead of one rigid routine, think of a menu of morning routines you can choose from depending on your mood, energy, and schedule.
1. Creative morning
Journaling, reading, creating before consuming
Slow, cozy, introspective
Perfect for WFH creative days
2. Active morning
Peloton, walking, stretching, strength training
Ideal when you need energy or momentum
3. Productive weekday morning
Make the bed, quick skincare
Coffee + simple breakfast
Look at your agenda and set priorities
4. Weekend reset morning
A slower start
Longer skincare
A delicious breakfast
House reset, errands, laundry
Time to savor your morning
5. Travel morning
Stick to core pillars
Hydration, easy skincare
Know where your coffee + breakfast are coming from
Let your routine evolve with seasons, energy levels, and lifestyle shifts. What works in fall might not work in winter—and that’s normal.
How to experiment your way into the “right” routine
Test different orders (coffee before skincare? skincare before journaling?)
Notice what energizes you vs. what drains you
Remove anything you do only because “you should”
Adjust and refine as needed — routines are meant to grow with you
Breakfast + the getting-ready ritual
Quick breakfast ideas
Fresh & fruity: yogurt parfait or smoothie
Quick & healthy: oatmeal with banana + PB
Savory weekend moment: breakfast burrito, avo toast, sausage sandwich, bagel
Your getting-ready ritual
Bring your coffee to your vanity, put on a podcast or YouTube video, and get ready with “friend energy.”
It’s small but makes mornings feel joyful and intentional.
Summary
Becoming a morning person isn’t about waking up earlier—it’s about waking up better.
Mornings built on gratitude, intention, and flexibility are mornings that you actually look forward to.
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