Rebuilding My Routine One Slow Morning at a Time

This winter really knocked me out of my routine. Between a three-week sinus infection, the heaviness that always seems to come with winter, and starting my yoga teacher training, I felt completely out of my norm. Add in the fact that my fiancé lives 33 minutes away (unless it’s rush hour, then it’s closer to an hour and fifteen), and suddenly my days felt harder to structure than usual.

At some point, I realized something important: I didn’t need a more productive routine.

I just needed a healthier one.

Right now, my routine is focused on health, wellness, and keeping my stress levels low, especially while I’m stepping into instructing yoga and meditation. Surprisingly, it’s starting with very slow mornings.

Table of Contents

Rebuilding My Routine One Slow Morning at a Time

Slow Early Mornings

Most days, I wake up around 6:30. Not every day, but often enough that it’s becoming a routine. My mornings are quiet. On good days, Ad and I go for a walk together, which has honestly become one of my favorite parts of the day. After that:

I make a super healthy breakfast (oatmeal with fruit or scrambled eggs with homemade toast)
Open all the blinds and let all the natural light into the house
Shower, get dressed and ready for the day
Watch a YouTube video (with Bose headphones) while blow-drying my hair and doing my makeup

My problem with mornings is that they go by quickly, and I have time blindness, so one of my tricks is this waterproof shower clock.

Mid-Morning Reservations & Get-It-Done Mentality

I am an avid procrastinator, and since I don’t have a job right now, I need structure. This time is usually a mix of:

Writing blog posts and editing pictures
Applying for jobs
Updating my portfolio or resume
Planning upcoming content
Working on affiliate links and blog maintenance (which is a LOT of work)

Creativity is something I really want to bring back into my routine this year. To do that, I’m adding in a block for 15 mins a day for sewing, knitting, soap making, etc. Just to jump-start my creative mind again.

Afternoon Movement (4–5 Workouts a Week)

One of my biggest goals lately is prioritizing health and wellness over constant productivity. I aim to move my body 4–5 times a week, and I keep it flexible depending on how I feel. It’s less about intensity and more about consistency right now. This usually looks like:

Yoga (fave apparel)
Gym workouts
Long walks with friends (fave shoes)
20 min PT sessions for my shoulders
Sometimes just getting outside for fresh air

Cutting Out What Doesn’t Serve Me

Another big part of rebuilding my routine has been looking more closely at my diet. Routine plays a huge role in managing my seasonal depression, and I’ve noticed that what I eat affects my mood more than I realize.

I haven’t cut sugar out completely (that’s next to impossible), but I’ve reduced it a lot. And I’m already seeing the difference. When I’m not relying on caffeine and processed foods, it’s:

easier to fall asleep
easier to wake up
easier to stay consistent

We’re relying on a few lightly processed snacks still. That’s It bars and handfuls of roasted salted nuts!

Cozy Evening Habits & Night Routine

Reading is another practice I’m very slowly rebuilding. I’m still working through my winter reading list, so I’ve started reading before bed again. It not only helps me wind down, but it also puts me to sleep in the best way. Also, my fiancé is doing nightly readings during Ramadan, so we’re both leaning into quieter evenings together. 💕

Which means we have a lot of things we need to do before bedtime. This looks a lot like:

Make dinner together
Relax and talk about our day
Plan future trips (this genuinely keeps me sane)
Stream something (on the weekends only)
Reading before sleep
Lights out by 10:30 PM

The biggest goal I’m still working on?

Getting into bed by 9:30.

Right now, this routine isn’t perfect and, honestly? It’s never going to be. But it feels like a step in the right direction. You know?

I’d love to hear all about your current routines and how they’re working for you. Are you in the 5 a.m. club or sitting pretty in the 6:30 a.m. club like me? 😅

Either way, I’m wishing you all the luck in the world getting back into a routine now that spring is just a few weeks away!