#023 Are morning routines only for influencers?

Just your average human acknowledging it’s never that pretty.

Wilda Casado

Feb 07, 2023

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01 — REFLECT

Are morning routines only for influencers?

The last time I remember having a solid, consistent morning routine was in high school. I’d wake up every morning at 6 am, make my bed, take a cold shower, get dressed, do my usual self-care routine, and eat breakfast. Leaving the house during sunrise was dreadful but soothing nonetheless. The cold wind on my face was the last splash I needed to wake up fully, and before I cared to notice, I’d forget the coziness of my bed. But, all the romanticizing aside, I also remember how excited I was to graduate so that I could forget about my morning routine forever.

I learned a lesson during this time: you will always have to do things you don’t want to do to do the things you actually want to do. And I learned another shortly after: we are the result of what we repeatedly do, which is oftentimes what we don’t want to do.

Nowadays, morning routines are based on trends by influencers. And you want to be them, but you can’t seem to become them. It’s not even the 5 am wake-up time. It’s the espresso machine, the silk pajamas, the green juice, the viral TikTok headband, the skincare products in glass bottles, and, my personal favorite, the no screens before breakfast rule. It’s all that it’s meant to be: ideal.

Amidst the noise, we’re losing sight of the purpose morning routines serve – leading the day with intention and enabling a sense of control. In the book Essentialism, Greg Mckeown wrote, “When we don't purposely and deliberately choose where to focus our energies and time, other people—our bosses, colleagues, clients, and even our families—will choose for us [...].”

You’re not failing if you don’t have the time, resources, or energy to match the morning routines you see on social media. The ideal morning routine is one that not only suits you but serves you.

02 — DIGEST

Jai Toor’s latest project looks at the life and routine of his grandparents

“These photos taught me a lot about love, fighting your demons, living a healthy lifestyle but also taking every day as it comes,” Jai reveals, saying that this considered mindset is something that his grandparents have forever “lived by without actually knowing it.”