My Morning Routine That Keeps Me Sane and Unchained

Mornings used to be chaotic for me. I’d wake up late, grab my phone, scroll until my anxiety was through the roof, and rush into my day feeling behind before it even started. I’d skip breakfast, skip water, skip me – and wonder why I felt so ungrounded and irritable all day long. Not to mention falling asleep at my desk after nights of drinking myself to sleep.


But over the past year, I’ve learned that how I start my morning sets the tone for everything that follows. My morning routine isn’t about productivity or aesthetics. It’s about sanity. Peace. Feeling unchained from the chaos of life before it even tries to touch me.


Here’s a real, raw look into my morning routine that keeps me grounded, clear-headed, and connected to my purpose every single day:


1. I Wake Up Early – But Not Unrealistically Early

I used to think I had to wake up at 4am to be “that girl.” But the truth is, I’m not her, and that’s okay. I wake up between 6 and 7am. Early enough to meditate before the world wakes up, but late enough to still get sleep my body needs.


Because there’s nothing “productive” about sacrificing your rest for an aesthetic morning.


2. I Drink Water Before I Touch My Phone

Before I even check my phone, I chug a glass of water. My body has gone 7-8 hours without hydration. I used to wake up and check notifications first thing, letting the world pour into my mind before I poured anything into myself. 


Now, water is my first priority. I feel awake, clear-headed, and it reminds me that my needs come first before anyone else’s demands.


3. I Make My Bed – Always

This one’s simple but powerful. Making my bed instantly makes me feel put together. Even if my day goes to hell later, at least I come home to a bed that’s ready for me. It gives me a small sense of accomplishment and peace to start my day.


Plus, it stops me from crawling back into it when I feel unmotivated.


4. I Pray and Set Intentions

Before I open my journal or start work, I pray. I give gratitude for waking up. For having breath in my lungs. For another day to try again. Some mornings it’s a short thank you, other mornings I pour my heart out in tears. But prayer grounds me in what truly matters.


After prayer, I set my intention for the day. I ask myself:


How do I want to feel today?


What energy do I want to bring into the world today?


Some days it’s peace. Other days it’s confidence. Some days it’s just to be gentle with myself. Setting an intention helps me move with purpose instead of just reacting to life all day. I have learned that doing this really helps with how I react to situations when I can just go with the flow of things. 


5. I Move My Body –  Light Yoga does wonders 

I used to think working out in the morning had to be intense or it didn’t count. Now, I just focus on moving my body however it needs.


Some mornings, I do a 20-minute strength workout. Other mornings, I do yoga on my mat for 10 minutes with soft music playing. Movement wakes up my body, gets my blood flowing, and reminds me that I’m alive.


My rule: Some movement is better than none. And I end it with a light 15-20 minute walk at a local spot we call the Bluffs or just on my walking mat. 


6. I Journal Every Morning

My journal is where I dump everything my mind is holding onto. Fears. Dreams. Random thoughts. Emotions I didn’t process the day before. I write without worrying about it making sense. It’s my safe space to be unfiltered.


Most mornings, I use these prompts:


What am I grateful for today?


What do I need to release from yesterday?


How can I support myself today?


Journaling clears out mental clutter so I can show up in my day with clarity and peace.


7. I Read Something That Feeds My Soul

Before I dive into work, I read something that nourishes my mind. Some days it’s a few pages of a mindset book. Sometimes it’s a motivational blog.


Even five minutes of reading shifts my energy from “I have to do everything” to “I get to grow today.”


8. I Eat Breakfast Avoiding Social Media

This was hard for me to implement, but life-changing. I used to scroll while I ate, shoving food down without tasting it, letting social media shape my mindset before I even got dressed.


Now, I sit at my table, eat slowly, and actually taste my food. I feel more grounded and less anxious starting my day this way.


9. I Get Ready For The Day – Even If I’m Staying Home

When I work from home, it’s tempting to stay in pajamas all day. But I noticed that when I do that, my energy stays in “lazy mode.” Now, I get dressed every morning, even if it’s just leggings and a cute top.


I brush my hair, wash my face, and put on a little make up. Not for anyone else, but because it makes me feel awake and confident, ready to tackle whatever comes.


10. I Listen To What ever Motivational Audio Book I have While I am getting Ready

 

I have figured out that this shapes my day and gives me so much confidence to go out into the world and just enjoy as much of it as possible.

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Why This Routine Keeps Me Unchained

My old mornings were reactive. Full of anxiety, overwhelm, and scattered energy. Now, my mornings are intentional. They remind me who I am before anyone else gets to define me.


This routine keeps me sane because it:


Grounds me in gratitude and peace


Connects me to God before the world


Moves stagnant energy out of my body


Clears mental clutter


Sets my mindset on purpose instead of fear


And most importantly, it keeps me unchained from old patterns that kept me small and scattered.


How To Build Your Own Unchained Morning Routine

If you’re feeling lost with your mornings, start small:


Wake up 30 minutes earlier than usual.


Pick 2-3 things from my list to implement this week.


Adjust them to fit your season of life.


Focus on how your routine feels, not how it looks.


Your morning routine doesn’t need to be Instagram-worthy to be life-changing. It just needs to anchor you back into yourself before the world pulls you in every direction.


Every morning is another chance to choose yourself. To choose peace over chaos. To choose intention over autopilot. To choose healing over numbing. And every morning you do that, you build a life that feels like freedom.


Because staying unchained doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by choice. One morning at a time.


šŸŒ¹✨ Stay unchained, stay grounded, and keep choosing you.

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