8 Soft Morning Habits That Make My Workdays Feel Lighter (Without Waking Up at 5AM)
1. The Night Before Is the Secret
Let’s be honest. I am NOT a morning person. I don’t pop up at sunrise glowing with purpose. If I want my morning to feel even remotely smooth, it’s because Nighttime Me did some work.
Here’s what I try to do every night:
- Pick out my outfit (yes, including socks. You know how annoying sock stress is at 6am)
- Pack my lunch or at least mentally decide what I’m grabbing
- Fill my water bottle and put it next to my keys
- Lay out anything I need by the door: jacket, tote, whatever
- Mentally walk through the morning while brushing my teeth
This takes 10 minutes. And it makes everything 100x easier in the morning. If I skip this, I instantly regret it.
2. Yes, I hit snooze. No, I don’t feel bad about it.
Okay, let’s talk about it.
Mel Robbins would not be proud of me.
She swears by her 5-4-3-2-1 method, where you’re supposed to launch yourself out of bed like a rocket ship before your brain can talk you out of it. And I love that for her. Truly.
But I’m just not that girl.
I’m a “snooze it once and stay cozy for ten more minutes” girl.
And honestly? I think that’s fine. It gives me a moment to adjust instead of being yanked into the day like I’m late for a fire drill.
So yes, my alarm goes off at 5:50am, I snooze it once, and I’m out of bed by 6:00am. That’s my happy medium.
*Snoozer-to-snoozer tip:
If you’re like me and sometimes “accidentally” hit snooze 3 times instead of 1, try putting your phone (or alarm clock, if you’re vintage like that) on the other side of the room.
It forces you to physically get up to turn it off, and once you’re standing, you’re 10x more likely to actually stay up.
3. First thing: WATER (with ice, always)
Before I look at my phone or even think about breakfast, I drink a glass of cold water. If it has ice in it? Even better. It wakes me up instantly.
Drinking water first thing in the morning helps:
- Rehydrate your body after sleeping
- Boost your energy and focus
- Kickstart digestion
- Clear out that weird foggy brain feeling
Sometimes I add lemon. Sometimes I just chug it and pretend I’m being healthy. Either way, it helps me start the day without immediately reaching for caffeine or chaos.
4. A half-made bed counts
I’m not tucking hospital corners before work, but I do pull the blanket up, fluff the pillow, and call it a win.
A made-ish bed gives me “I’m trying” energy, which is honestly all I need at 6am.
5. Rain sounds > hype music (sometimes)
Sometimes I want music to wake me up, something fun and light with soft energy (I’ll link my playlist below). But honestly?
Most mornings I prefer white noise or rain sounds. It’s just gentler.
Especially if I’m moving slow or feel anxious, I’ll throw on a thunderstorm or light rain track and move through my morning calmly.
🎧 [Click here for my Corporate Girly playlist] – coming soon!
🌧️ [My go-to rain sounds YouTube link] – coming soon!
Whether it’s rain sounds or your favorite song, audio helps regulate your nervous system!
6. Easy breakfast is a game-changer
If I don’t eat before I leave the house, I will spiral by 10am. So I keep breakfast easy but good.
Some go-tos:
- Yogurt + granola + berries
- Peanut butter toast with honey
- Smoothie with oat milk, banana, frozen berries, and chia seeds
- A breakfast wrap or leftover dinner if I’m feeling unhinged
🥄 [Check out my Lazy Girl Breakfast Ideas post here] – coming soon!
7. No social scrolling until I’m out the door
This is a big one for me.
I don’t scroll social media first thing in the morning. I used to, but I noticed it made my brain feel scrambled before I’d even gotten dressed.
Now I wait until I get to work to take my first scroll break. I keep my mornings for me. Music, water, breakfast, and just… being in my own energy before the internet starts inter-netting.
Scrolling less first thing helps your brain stay calmer and more focused. You’re not instantly overwhelmed by noise, opinions, or comparison (ugh) before your day even begins.
*Try this instead: Scroll through a happy Pinterest board, or open a note on your phone with your favorite affirmations. Even one positive message telling you “You’ve got this” feels way better than seeing your ex’s new girlfriend’s vacation photos before sunrise.
8. One positive thought – even if I don’t believe it yet
This is the cheesy part. But it helps.
Every morning, I make myself say something like:
“Today’s going to be a good day.”
“I can handle what’s coming.”
“I’m grounded, calm, and kind.”
Even if I don’t fully believe it yet, I say it out loud or in my head. It’s like giving my brain a little pep talk before it has a chance to spiral. It works way better than opening Instagram and comparing myself to people who’ve already written a novel and done hot yoga before 7am.
Another one that helps… I say some things that I am grateful for.
Whether I jot them down or just say them in my head while I brush my teeth, I try to name three things I’m grateful for every morning.
It might be something deep like:
“I’m grateful for my good health, my secure job, and my peace.”
Or it might be:
“Coffee. Leftovers. My bed.”
Doesn’t matter what it is. Gratitude gets your brain off autopilot and into a grounded, softer state, and honestly, it’s hard to have a bad morning when you’ve already filled your brain with something good.
My actual morning routine, step by step:
5:50am – Alarm goes off
6:00am – Get up (after one cozy snooze), drink water
6:05am – Make the bed, use the bathroom, quick stretch
6:20am – Eat breakfast or pack lunch if I didn’t last night
6:30am – Get dressed, play music or rain sounds
6:40am – Final check: grab bag, keys, jacket
6:45am – Out the door to get to work for just before 7
Things I avoid so my morning doesn’t suck:
-Skipping night-before prep (instant regret every time)
-Making outfit decisions at 6am
-Checking Instagram before I even get out of bed
-Leaving without eating
-Telling myself it’s going to be a bad day before it’s even started
Bonus Morning Tricks You Can Add Anywhere:
– Keep the lights soft at first
If harsh lights make you grumpy (same), try turning on a lamp instead of overhead lights. Or open a curtain for natural light without burning your retinas.
– Use a “no notifications” sleep screen
Set your phone to hide texts and app alerts until after 7am (or whenever you leave for work). It helps you wake up slower and on your timeline, not everyone else’s.
– Make a “get out of bed” AND a “drive to work” sound
Find one audio thing (a song, a podcast, a little rain sound) that signals “okay, we’re getting up now.” When it plays, your body starts to get with the program.
If you’re already queuing up a playlist or podcast to help you wake up, go ahead and make one for the drive to work too. Whether it’s T Swift, a Mel Robbins (hehe) pep talk, or a voice note of you reading your fave affirmations, it sets the tone.
Honestly? Carpool karaoke counts as mood regulation. Belt out one song like you mean it and you’ll walk into work in a whole new headspace.
– Visual reminder by your bed
Put a sticky note that says something encouraging on your nightstand:
“Drink water.”
“Today is going to be good.”
“You don’t have to do it all, just get started.”
Weirdly, it helps.
Final thoughts
Your morning doesn’t need to be aesthetic or perfect or TikTok-approved.
It just needs to work for you.
Prep what you can, protect your peace, and show up as the soft corporate girly version of yourself that still gets it done.
And if it all falls apart?
There’s always iced coffee and a better morning tomorrow.
That’s the practice!
Wellness at Work 
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