Let’s get one thing out of the way: yes, I really do wake up at 5am. By choice. To give myself time to work through a morning routine for success.
Before you roll your eyes and write me off as someone with an annoyingly perfect routine, hear me out. I don’t wake up early because I’m a high-functioning productivity machine. I do it because my mental health made the decision for me.
Mornings are when my brain works best. My energy is a little steadier, my mood hasn’t dipped yet, and I’ve learned that if I can knock out the heavier stuff early, I’m way more likely to make it through the day feeling like a functioning human.
I don’t follow a super structured or aesthetic morning routine. But I do have a few simple habits that make it easier for me to show up—for myself, my clients, and my business. Even when I really, really don’t feel like it.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s just my version of a morning routine for success—and it’s helped me stay consistent even on the harder days.
I Retrained My Body Clock (on Purpose)
I wasn’t born a morning person. I trained myself to become one—because I realized my brain works best before the world gets noisy.
Waking up at 5am wasn’t about hustle culture or toxic productivity. It was about reclaiming my energy. I’m calmer in the mornings, more focused, and way more likely to actually do the things I care about if I start early.
Instead of forcing a perfect routine overnight, I started small:
- Going to bed just 15–30 minutes earlier
- Setting my alarm for the same time every day (even weekends)
- Avoiding screens for the last hour of the night (most of the time)
- Making mornings feel gentle, not jarring—dim lights, warm drinks, no rush
Now, mornings are mine. Quiet, grounded, and distraction-free.
This one shift made my morning routine for success feel less like punishment and more like a gift.
Pro-tip: if your email list is quiet in the morning too, that’s actually a great time to send! You’re not competing with everyone else’s launches and inbox noise. Bonus points if your email lands right as your people are sipping their coffee and not in back-to-back Zooms.
I Use a “micro-ritual” Instead of a Routine
Routines used to make me feel like I was failing before I even brushed my teeth.
If I didn’t get through every single step perfectly, I’d spiral and say screw it.
Now I give myself three 5-minute “micro-rituals” to start the day:
- Something for my body (stretching, walking, literally just opening the blinds)
- Something for my brain (reading, listening to a podcast, journaling for 4 minutes and abandoning it)
- Something for my business (writing one sentence of an email, checking in on metrics without judgment, reviewing yesterday’s work with a fresh brain)
Some days all I do is open the blinds and drink water. Other days I hit all three and feel like a queen. Both count.
Why My Morning Routine for Success Starts Without the Internet
My brain’s freshest in the morning, but it’s also tender. I used to open my inbox first thing and immediately spiral into overthinking, people-pleasing, and trying to solve everything right now. That did not go well.
Now, I don’t check anything for at least 30 minutes. No email. No social. No news. Just coffee, sunlight, and something low-stakes like folding laundry, doing a few stretches, or watering my plants if I remember they exist.
It helps me ground myself before I dive into everyone else’s needs. And it makes me 1000x less likely to send an email I’ll regret at 2am.
I Give Myself Space to Be a Person First
Some mornings I feel like my brain was replaced with a haunted fog machine overnight.
There is nothing in the tank. Not even fumes.
On those days, I have a rule: Don’t shame yourself into productivity. Strategize your way into it.
I might move slower. Take a mid-morning walk. Write 1 paragraph instead of 3.
But I still try to show up—not perfectly, but strategically.
And I’ve built my business (and my life) to support that.
It’s why automation is my ride-or-die.
Because when I don’t have the energy to be “on,” my emails still show up, still nurture people, still remind them what I offer.
They’re like my little digital doubles—doing the work, even when I’m under a blanket with a heating pad and existential dread.
A Kind Ending Is a Crucial Part of My Morning Routine for Success
I used to start my mornings with a to-do list the length of a CVS receipt and end them with self-loathing and a cold cup of coffee.
Now I just start with one thing—and end with something kind.
My “one thing” is usually a writing task:
- An email outline
- A CTA rewrite
- A client’s nurture sequence
It builds momentum, gives me a quick win, and reminds me that I do know what I’m doing.
Then I end my morning with a little kindness.
Water. A walk. A sticky note that says “you’ve got this!”
Something that tells my nervous system: You’re safe here.
It’s a soft but solid foundation—exactly what a morning routine for success should feel like.
What This Has to Do With Email Marketing
Morning routines and email strategies both need one thing in common: they should work with your energy, not against it.
You don’t need to be “on” 24/7 to run a sustainable business.
You just need to create systems (and emails) that reflect your values, your energy patterns, and your people.
That’s why I made the Email Ecosystem Reset — a free guide to help you rebuild your list and your strategy without burning yourself out in the process.
Or if you need something smaller to start with, grab the Email Momentum Map. It’s my free mini-framework for creating movement without the mental chaos.
You deserve a business (and a morning) that supports the life you’re building. Not the other way around.
