My Morning Routine (That Doesn’t Start at 5AM)

If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram and seen those “perfect” morning routines—sunrise workouts, journaling, a homemade green juice all before 6am—you might think, “Yeah… not happening.”

Same, friend.

My mornings don’t start at 5am, and I don’t think they need to in order to be productive or intentional. What matters most? Creating a routine that works for your life and your season—not copying someone else’s highlight reel.

🌅 Slow & Steady Start

I usually wake up around 6:45–7:00am. My toddler, Jaxson, is not an early riser (bless), so I get a little bit of quiet before the chaos begins.

Before anything else, I drink water—because pregnancy or postpartum, I always wake up thirsty. Then it’s coffee time. That first sip is everything.

Some days I’ll take 5-10 minutes to sit quietly, do a short meditation, or just breathe without looking at my phone. It’s nothing fancy, but it helps me feel centered before diving into mom life.

🥣 Breakfast & Toddler Time

Once Jaxson wakes up, it’s go-time. We make breakfast—sometimes together, sometimes with him “helping” (which, if you know toddlers, means it takes twice as long and makes triple the mess).

I usually keep breakfast simple: eggs and toast, oatmeal with nuts and fruit, or yogurt with granola. The goal is easy, satisfying, and something I can eat before it’s cold.

🚶‍♀️ Movement (But Make It Flexible)

I don’t have a strict “workout at 6am” rule. Some mornings I do a short Pilates session, other days it’s a walk, and some days… nothing at all.

I’ve learned to be flexible and listen to my body. Especially during pregnancy and postpartum, the priority is moving in ways that feel good—not forcing myself into a routine that doesn’t fit my current season.

💻 Transition to Work Mode

On days I’m working, I use the mid-morning window (when my husband takes Jax) to shift into teaching, filming, or creating content for The Pilates Mom Studio.

If it’s not a workday, we’ll go for a bike ride, clean the house together (again, takes three times as long with a toddler, but he's really good at picking up things off the floor for me), or it's play time. My mornings are productive, but not in a “check off 15 things before 8am” way. They’re productive because they set me up to feel calm, present, and ready for whatever comes next.

🌟 Final Thoughts

There’s nothing wrong with being a 5am person if that works for you—but you don’t have to wake up before the sun to have a successful day.

Your morning routine should feel doable, supportive, and realistic for your life—not like another item on your never-ending to-do list. For me, that means water, coffee, connection with my son, and gentle movement when I can fit it in.

And honestly? That’s more than enough.