I’ve been thinking about mornings a lot lately… specifically, what makes a good one. For a long time I thought a good morning had to look a certain way: same order, same timing, same everything. But I’ve been slowly releasing that idea, and what’s replaced it feels so much better. Here’s what our mornings actually look like right now, and why I’ve come to love them exactly as they are.

The night before sets everything up

We tidy the night before so the house is ready for a new day. This is probably the single habit that makes the biggest difference. Waking up to a clear, calm space means the morning gets to start that way too. No scrambling, no clutter to wade through. Just a home that feels ready for a new day.

My 30-minute head start

I wake up 30 minutes before everyone else. I sneak in the world’s fastest shower, and then the morning is mine for just a little while. (My favorite products for the morning are: this cleanser that actually makes my face feel clean, this body wash that is so smooth and makes my skin glow, and this wand for waking up my skin.) There’s something about those quiet minutes — before the day has any demands — that I’ve come to really protect.

Once I’m ready, and breakfast has been made for Ollie, I start with a Ryze latte and a Daily Harvest protein smoothie. Both have become such a consistent part of my routine that skipping them feels odd. Both signal to my brain that we’re starting the day with some intention.

Slow, intentional mornings with Ollie

This is the part of our morning I love most. I’m very committed to not rushing the morning — to really savoring the time our family has together before the workday begins. We play, we have dance parties with Ollie’s Minnie Tonie, we read books on the sofa. Some mornings, Ollie is absolutely tickled by a silly voice I make, and we end up in a full giggle spiral. Other mornings, we’re quiet and cozy, just together.

That variation used to make me feel like I was doing something wrong — like a “good” morning had to look the same every day to count. Now I see it as the whole point. Every morning is a little different, and that’s not inconsistency. That’s just life, and it’s beautiful.

The handoff, and then: work mode

She and Ben head to a coffee shop together — their little morning ritual — and that’s my cue. I step onto my walking pad, and my workday begins. I aim for 10,000 to 15,000 steps and try to get as much done as humanly possible before lunchtime. (I use this walking pad and these ankle weights!) The walking pad has been a genuine game-changer for me as someone who works from home. (I’ve lost 20 pounds so far!) It keeps me moving and focused.

What I’m releasing this spring

I’m letting go of the idea that every day has to be exactly the same — or have the same structure — to be a success. I used to hold my mornings to a pretty rigid standard, and when something shifted, the whole day felt off.

What I’ve found instead is that the best mornings aren’t the ones that go according to a plan. They’re the ones where I’m present for whatever is actually happening — the giggles, the cozy moments, the unexpected dance party at 7 AM. There’s so much beauty in how every day is its own thing, and I’m learning to find (and love) the rhythm in that.