How I Took My Morning from Absolute Chaos to Controlled Chaos
(And Why It Changed My Whole Day)
For a long time, my mornings looked like this:
Alarms ignored. Clothes thrown on in a rush. Teeth brushed while mentally building a to-do list. Sprinting out the door with a half-full coffee cup and a tight chest.
I didn’t realize how much that chaotic start was leaking stress into my entire day. It set the tone for everything. And not in a good way.
I’m still not a morning person, and I’m definitely not sitting cross-legged with lemon water at sunrise, but I’ve found a rhythm that works. It’s not perfect. It’s not influencer-worthy. But it’s mine. And it made a huge difference.
Step 1: The Alarm Trick That Gets Me Out of Bed
I physically can’t trust myself with a phone next to the bed. I’ll snooze it. Or scroll. Or convince myself that five more minutes won’t matter (they always do).
So I started putting my phone across the room. Now I have to get up to turn off the alarm. Some days I stand there, staring at the bed like it betrayed me—but most days, I stay up. Which is a win.
And yes, I know snoozing is supposedly terrible for your brain and body and spiritual alignment. But it feels amazing. I’m not giving it up entirely. I’m just managing the damage.
Step 2: Streamlined Showers and Getting Ready on Autopilot
No more chaos showers. I keep it simple—shower, 5-minute face, dry shampoo if needed, clothes I don’t hate. I’ve picked a few go-to outfits that make me feel pulled together even when I’m half-awake. I keep them clean and ready so I don’t start the day yelling “What am I even supposed to wear!?”
This part of my routine isn’t fancy, but it saves so much mental energy. I don’t want to make decisions before coffee. I want autopilot.
Step 3: My Husband = Morning MVP
Every morning, my husband makes me coffee and a smoothie. I don’t even ask anymore—he just does it. It’s the kind of small act that makes a huge difference. I grab both on my way out the door and feel like maybe I’m getting it together. Even if I’m still slightly late.
If you don’t have someone making you smoothies, I recommend prepping something the night before and sticking it in the fridge with a sticky note that says, “I care about you. Drink this before you forget how to function.”
Step 4: A Pre-Doorway Reset
Before I leave, I’ve started taking 30 seconds to pause. Sometimes it’s just a deep breath. Sometimes it’s a little mantra like:
“It’s okay if you’re not early.”
“You’ve done this before. You can do it again.”
“You remembered deodorant. That’s enough.”
It doesn’t change what’s waiting at work, but it changes how I walk into it.
Gentle Upgrades I’m Trying (No Pressure, Just Peace)
These aren’t daily musts. They’re just small things I’m testing that help mornings feel a little softer, more mine.
Lemon water before coffee – I do this most mornings and again in the afternoon. It actually helps me feel more alert without replacing the joy of coffee.
A quick walk outside – Just five minutes makes a difference. Fresh air, some movement, and a pause before the grind starts.
Lo-fi playlist instead of checking my phone – Silence is good. Music is better.
Airplane mode for the first 15 minutes – Fewer notifications = fewer cortisol spikes before 7 a.m.
A scoop of greens or minerals in my water – On heavy mornings when I feel like a dry sponge.
I used to think a chaotic morning was just part of life—something you deal with because you're busy or tired or not “a morning person.”
But I didn’t realize how much that chaos was carrying into the rest of my day. Simplifying my mornings—even just a little—created this calm ripple effect that made everything feel more doable.
Now, most days start with controlled chaos. And that’s enough.