I’m writing this from a hotel room in Bend, Oregon, where I’m spending a few days with my beautiful friend Carmen. She’s also a Life Coach, and we’re here co-hosting an in-person workshop for a group of our coaching clients. On the plane over here I wondered how it might be possible for me to stay rooted in my slow morning routine given I’m in a different bed, without my usual comforts, and in an unfamiliar neighborhood. And yet, even in the midst of the unfamiliarity, I’ve found myself anchored in the rhythm of my slow morning rituals.
You know you’ve created a routine you truly love when it follows you across state lines—when you want to do it even on the road. And to be clear, I’m not someone who travels often these days. Home is my favorite place. My slow, dreamy studio by the sea in Miami Beach is where I feel most connected and at home within myself. So when I say that my slow morning showed up with me here in this hotel room, I mean it. That’s how you know it’s become a part of your being.
Slow mornings probably aren’t what come to mind when you think about travel, hotel rooms, or being outside your usual rhythm. But here I am—early morning, wrapped up in my cozy sweats, sipping hot coffee from a paper mug, and journaling by the window overlooking the tall pine trees that surround this sweet little town. It’s quiet. There’s a softness in the air. And from this still, grounded place, I feel inspired to write this blog post for you.
Because that’s what slow living is really about. It’s not just about what you do—it’s about how you be. A slow life is a result of a slow living mindset. And it starts with how you greet yourself in the morning. That first inhale. That first sip of water. The moment your bare feet touch the floor. These tiny, almost invisible micro-choices are where your entire life begins. Your peace begins. Your clarity begins. Your leadership begins.
What is a Slow Morning?
A slow morning is an intentional morning. In a world that pushes us to sprint before we’ve even opened our eyes it takes courage to choose a slower rhythm. Especially when you have responsibilities, deadlines, and unfolded laundry (whoops!). But when you do choose to slow down, something beautiful happens: your life begins to feel more like yours.
A slow morning is how I remind myself of who I am before the world tries to tell me who to be. It’s how I stay grounded in my own thoughts before I absorb everyone else’s. It’s how I choose presence over mindless busyness, nourishment over noise, and intention over inertia.
If you’re reading this and thinking that sounds beautiful, but I don’t know where to start, don’t worry. You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. You don’t need to wake up at 5am and meditate on a mountaintop while sipping mushroom tea (unless that’s your vibe, in which case, go off). You just need to start with one decision to slow down. One morning. One choice. One day at a time.
Why Is a Slow Morning Important?
Because how you start your morning shapes how you experience the rest of your day. When you begin in a rush—scrolling before your feet hit the floor, chugging coffee on autopilot, mentally sprinting through your to-do list before you’ve even taken a full breath—you’re already in a reactive state. You’ve handed your power over to the world before claiming it for yourself. The demands of life are steering the ship, and in this way, you’ve given away your freedom. (I know that sounds deep—we get more into it in this post!)
What makes this even more important is that your body is already working hard to wake you up, as cortisol, the stress hormone, is naturally at its highest first thing in the morning (check out this article, if you’re interested in reading more on that). So when you stack a full schedule, decisions, stimulation, and chaos on top of that, you’re compounding stress before the day even really begins.
You might be so used to fast mornings that you don’t even realize there’s a better way. We live in a world that rewards hustle. Stress is worn like a badge of honor. Productivity is confused with self-worth. And yet, rushing through the morning doesn’t make us feel accomplished—it makes us feel behind. You spend the rest of the day just trying to catch up!
A slow morning offers something much different. It’s not about perfection or having an aesthetically pleasing routine. In other words, having an Instagram-worthy morning routine is not the goal here. It’s about creating space to breathe. You hydrate before you caffeinate. You stretch. You move. You sit with your thoughts instead of running from them. You start your day in your body, in your breath, in your values. You choose connection over chaos—connection to yourself, your intention, your own natural rhythm.
When you do that everything changes. You feel grounded. Present. Clear. You move through your day with purpose instead of panic. Your nervous system stays regulated. You’re more likely to make decisions from alignment instead of anxiety. You’re less reactive and more responsive. You’re not just getting things done—you’re getting the right things done.
Stress compounds. So does calm. Start your day with calm, and you’re more likely to carry it with you. This isn’t just a luxury. It’s a way of reclaiming your life, one morning at a time.
How I Created My Perfect Slow Morning Routine (Hint: Slowly)
A truly nourishing slow morning routine can’t be copied and pasted from someone else’s life. It has to be felt into, tuned to your own rhythms, and slowly created over time.
When I first committed to the idea of a slow morning a few years back, I was still operating with a lot of self-imposed pressure. I woke up before daybreak, pulling myself from sleep to meditate in the dark, lit only by a candle. It was beautiful, sacred, and helpful. That version of my routine served me deeply. It anchored me during a time when I was relearning how to listen to myself. But even though it was “slow,” there was still a kind of tightness to it. A rigidity. I was still trying to be “good” at slowing down. I hadn’t yet fully learned how to be slow.
Over time, as I softened into myself and began living more in harmony with my natural rhythms, my mornings shifted. These days, I wake up naturally to no alarm and no abruptness. I let my body decide when it’s time to rise. I take my time. I stretch. I drink a tall glass of water. I journal, go for a slow walk, or sit in stillness on my balcony and stare off into the morning sky.
I also started scheduling all client appointments after noon, which has been a game changer. Mornings are when my creativity flows best. That’s when I feel dreamy, romantic, visionary. That’s when I do my deepest work. Writing, visioning, and connecting with my soul. I no longer feel rushed. And if I do find myself rushing, I take it as a signal to come back to myself.
Creating a slow morning routine doesn’t happen overnight (and ironically, rushing to slow down defeats the purpose). It took me years to arrive here, and I’m still evolving. So if you’re starting from scratch or feel like your mornings are chaotic, take heart.
Here are a few ideas that might help you craft your own version of a slow and intentional morning. As always: take what resonates, and leave the rest. This is your life. Your rhythm. Your slow morning.
10 Simple Practices to Inspire Your Slow Morning Routine
1. Set Up Your Space the Night Before.
Creating a slow morning actually begins the night before. When you’re tired at the end of the day, the idea of doing anything extra can feel like too much. But what if those final ten minutes of your evening became sacred prep-time for the next morning? A small, quiet gift to your future self. I used to collapse into bed without a second thought, wondering why I woke up so frazzled. It wasn’t until I realized how much smoother my mornings ran when I did a few small tasks the night before, tasks that took less than 10 minutes, that everything shifted.
Now, I sometimes lay out my clothes depending on what’s on my agenda for the next day, I make sure my kitchen and bathroom are clean so I don’t wake up to a dirty and cluttered space, I set my journal and pen neatly out on my desk, ready to go. I have my glass mason jar sitting ready by my water filter (which I’ve made sure is full of water), ensure I have healthy food in the fridge for a colorful, healthy breakfast, and I jot down my top 3 priorities in my planner. It’s not about being rigid at all, I just love how it feels to have a clear mind. When I do this, my morning feels spacious and calm. You deserve to wake up with ease, not to chaos. Start the ritual the night before, and watch your mornings transform.
2. Wake Up Early and Skip the Snooze.
Like I said, these days I don’t wake up to the sound of an alarm, but at this point my body’s natural clock still wakes me up early. But there was a time when I started my slow mornings with an alarm clock, and those mornings were magical too! There’s something truly magical about the early morning hours when the rest of the world is still quiet. When I first started waking up early, I didn’t expect to love it (my mattress is really comfortable!). I was just trying to carve out a little peace. But before long, I began to crave those pre-dawn minutes. The light rising through the trees, the stillness, the sense of possibility. It felt like I was stealing time back and gifting it to myself.
It took discipline at first. I had to resist the seductive call of the snooze button and remind myself why I was waking up early in the first place. But once I built the habit, I started going to bed earlier naturally. My body began to sync with this new rhythm. Waking up early isn’t about productivity, it’s about presence. It’s about honoring yourself enough to greet the day on your terms. Whether you rise before your kids, partner, or the sun, treat those early minutes as sacred. You don’t have to do much other than just be with yourself. Let the morning be slow, intentional, and rooted in what you most need.
3. Don’t Reach for Your Phone
It’s tempting, I know. The moment your eyes open, your hand goes instinctively toward the nightstand. Just a quick scroll, you tell yourself. But let’s be honest—there’s no such thing as just a quick scroll. The moment we open those little glowing rectangles, we’re inviting the world in before we’ve even said good morning to ourselves. And the world doesn’t wait. Suddenly you’re knee-deep in someone else’s drama, someone else’s vacation, someone else’s inbox. Suddenly, your nervous system is buzzing, your mind is racing, and that sweet, quiet moment between dreaming and waking has been hijacked by headlines, likes, and to-do lists.
But what if you just paused? What if you gave yourself the gift of a few sacred moments—just you, your breath, your body, your room still wrapped in morning light? What if you let the first voice you heard be your own, not a notification?
There is something holy about those first few minutes of the day. Protect them. Let your body come online slowly. Let your soul stir gently. The world will still be there when you’re ready, but you get to decide when that is. You’ll be amazed at how much more empowered and peaceful you feel when you decide how your day begins. Let your soul be the first thing that wakes you up—not a screen.
4. Move Your Body, Slowly.
We live from the neck up most of the time—thinking, planning, solving, scrolling. But your body is wise. She holds your stories, your intuition, your power. And she deserves to be acknowledged before the world starts asking things of her.
So before you go charging into the day, take a moment to check in. Stretch under the covers. Feel your breath. Place a hand on your heart, your belly, your thighs—anywhere that says I’m here, I’m home. Sway your hips a little while you brush your teeth. Touch your skin like someone you love.
This isn’t about adding more to your to-do list. It’s about remembering that you are the list. Your aliveness, your presence, your energy. Everything flows from there. The more you start your day rooted in your body, the more grounded, magnetic, and alive you’ll feel all day long.
5. Make Your Bed (and Make It Matter).
I’ve got to admit—I didn’t make my bed from 2017 to about 2019. I was in a deeply frantic and challenging season of my life. Every day, I felt rushed, behind, and overwhelmed. I’d go to bed at 11pm, then wake up at 4am and head straight back to my laptop, desperate to make things work in my life and business. My business suffered, my health suffered, and yes—my bed suffered too. The state of my mind was mirrored in the state of my sheets: tangled, crumpled, and chaotic.
One morning, something clicked. I realized that if I couldn’t approach the first activity of my day with care and intention, I would continue to approach the rest of my day mindlessly. So I began making my bed. Slowly, consistently, and with presence. And over time, this one tiny act started shifting my entire mindset.
Making your bed is not just about neatness—it’s about energy. It’s about saying, I deserve to come home to peace. It’s about creating a space that calms your nervous system instead of agitating it. The look of a messy bed feels chaotic, and when you’re building a slow, grounded morning, you’ve got to eliminate the things that make you feel unsettled—yes, even the crumpled comforter.
It doesn’t have to take long. If a mountain of decorative throw pillows doesn’t bring you joy, ditch them. Just smooth the sheets, pull up your covers, and fluff the pillows you actually sleep with. You’re not adding more to your to-do list—you’re simply choosing to begin your day in alignment, not in a frenzy. You’re choosing beauty. Intention. A small, sacred moment of order in a world that loves to rush. Make your bed like you’re creating a soft landing for the woman you’re becoming.
6. Let the Fresh Air In.
One of the first things I do every single morning is open the door to my balcony and step into the day. I let the warm air kiss my skin, I listen for the birds, I take in the light filtering through the palm leaves—and in those first few moments, I feel something shift inside me. All of it nourishes my soul and is one of my biggest non-negotiables for a slow morning.
Living in the tropics, I’m spoiled with balmy mornings. But, I spent six years in Chicago. I know cold. I know grey. And I also know that even in the middle of winter, there’s always a way to find connection with the outdoors. Instead of jumping out of bed and bolting to the nearest light switch, try this: sit on the edge of the bed for a breath. Let your body catch up with your spirit. Then saunter slowly over to the window. Pull back the curtain. Crack the window, even if just an inch. Let the air in. Let the light in. Actually see the new day instead of rushing straight past it. Sunlight doesn’t just brighten a room—it brightens your mood, your energy, your nervous system. It signals to your body that the day has begun. It’s a whole different feeling than the cold glow of artificial light.
When we’re caught in the chaos of a fast-paced life, we can go an entire day without truly seeing the sky. When we slow down, we begin to notice again. The sunrays. The clouds. The breath of the wind. Even just one deep breath of outside air, one soft moment in the sun, can root you in the present. So open the window. Let the world in. Let your body remember that it belongs here.
7. Enjoy a Healthy Breakfast.
For years I used to dart out of the house with barely enough time to take a sip of water, let alone sit down and eat something. Even a pastry or quick bowl of cereal felt like it would make me “fall behind.” The idea of a leisurely breakfast felt like a luxury I hadn’t earned yet. When you start to live with a slow morning mindset, you realize that you do have time and you also have the power to use that time differently. Nourishing your body in the morning isn’t indulgent. It’s intentional. It’s sacred.
These days, I keep breakfast simple but beautiful. A smoothie with frozen bananas, greens, protein, and peanut butter. A ripe dragonfruit, sliced open and savored with a spoon. Greek yogurt drizzled with maple syrup, topped with toasted granola and blueberries, and a few sprigs of mint if I’m feeling fancy. None of these things take much effort. But they signal to my body that I care. That I’m listening.
When I want to lean in even deeper, I soak cashews or almonds overnight for creamy nut milks. I’ll make grain-free porridges, berry compotes, loaded toasts, or luscious protein shakes blended with adaptogens and love. Whatever I choose, I let breakfast be an act of pleasure and presence. Not a rushed checkbox.
When we feed ourselves well at the beginning of the day, we send a message to the rest of our choices: I am worthy of care. I am worth the time. That first meal becomes the anchor that holds you steady as the day unfolds.
Related: How To Romanticize Your Life: 7 Daily Rituals to Make Life Magical
8. Have a Moment to Do Nothing (Aka Be Still).
There’s something sacred about simply sitting still in the morning. Staring up at the sky. Watching the steam rise from your coffee or tea. Closing your eyes and letting your breath wash gently in and out of your body. But for most people, it’s surprisingly hard to do nothing. Most of us are so conditioned to chase productivity from the second we wake up, that stillness feels… uncomfortable. Awkward, even. Like we’re doing something wrong. But stillness is not nothingness. It’s nourishment. It’s where your spirit catches up with your body. Where clarity starts to rise from the quiet.
There was a time when this felt almost impossible for me. My mornings were all movement and panic—barely any space to breathe, let alone pause. But over time, I realized that if I didn’t create space for silence, I’d carry that same frantic energy with me all day long. Now, I treat stillness as medicine. This type of stillness didn’t come naturally at first. It took practice. I leaned on resources like the Calm app and guided meditations to help me find my rhythm. But I can say with confidence: sitting still and doing nothing works. It works even when your mind is racing. Even when you feel like it’s not working. That’s the beauty of it.
So if the idea of sitting still makes you squirm a little, that’s okay. Start with a minute. Just one. Let it be awkward if it needs to be. But give yourself the gift of presence. Your nervous system, and your spirit, will thank you.
9. Take a Walk Outside.
It doesn’t matter where you live, how big your neighborhood is, or what the weather looks like (as long as it’s safe to go out)—taking a morning walk is one of the most underrated ways to create beauty and presence in your day. Even if it’s just fifteen minutes, a walk gets your blood moving, your mind refreshed, and your body reconnected to the world around you.
When I started prioritizing slower mornings, walks became non-negotiable. There’s something transformative about the way the sun rises over rooftops, the way your feet find a rhythm on the pavement or sand, the way you suddenly notice small details: dew on the grass, the smell of coffee wafting from your local cafe, the texture of the wind on your skin. And if your work keeps you inside most of the day these little morning walks become even more important. It’s like you’re finding something to anchor to when the stress or chaos of the day tries to pull you out of yourself. It’s a sensory memory you can carry with you: the light, the sound, the movement. Whether it’s a beach stroll or a bundled-up city block, let your walk match your environment and your mood. No pressure to go far or fast. Just enough to remind yourself: I am here. I am alive. This morning belongs to me.
10. Embrace Slow Beauty Rituals.
There’s nothing like looking in the mirror and thinking, Oof. My skin is not giving what it’s supposed to give today. Cracks, ash, breakouts, dryness… none of that feels good when you’re trying to step into your day feeling confident and radiant. Trust me, I’ve been there. There were years when I barely had the time or energy to splash water on my face, let alone care for my body with intention. But here’s the thing: slow beauty rituals are less about how you look and more about how you feel. They’re not about perfection—they’re about presence. These slow moments of self-care are an invitation to tend to yourself gently and lovingly.
One of the most nourishing shifts I made during my slow year was beginning to treat skincare, hair care, and even the act of moisturizing my body as sacred. No rushing. No multitasking. Just me, my reflection, and my breath. I started giving myself permission to move slower in the mirror. To wash my face with warm water and a cleanser that felt soothing. To gently massage in my moisturizer without racing through it. To take an extra moment to comb and condition my hair, and spritz on my favorite perfume (ahh, J’adore!).
You don’t need a ten-step beauty routine or a drawer full of products to create a slow beauty moment. Just choose one act of care and do it with love. Moisturize your legs like you’re caressing velvet. Detangle your curls like you’re shaping a crown. Run serum through your strands like you’re anointing a queen. When you treat beauty as a ritual instead of a routine, it becomes a soft, steady way to remind yourself that you are worthy of care. And that feeling of being loved, nurtured, and seen, stays with you long after you’ve stepped away from the mirror.
Creating a Slow Morning Routine is About Presence
Designing my own slow morning routine truly changed my life. I used to wake up already feeling behind. I thought I didn’t have time to slow down. But what I learned is that presence creates time. When I started choosing calm over chaos, ease over urgency—something shifted. My mornings became softer, more intentional… and as a result, so did my days. I know now that slow, intentional mornings lead to good days. And good days turn into weeks that actually feel like mine.
If the whole idea of a slow lifestyle feels like a stretch right now, don’t stress about it! You don’t have to change everything overnight. Start with one thing—maybe opening your windows, or making a nourishing breakfast, or just sitting in silence for five minutes. That’s how it begins. You don’t need a perfect routine. Just a few gentle rituals that remind you who you are and how you want to move through the world. That’s more than enough.
Slowness isn’t always about doing less. It’s about being more present for what matters. And I promise, it’s worth it. So, what if tomorrow morning, before you reach for your phone or dive into your to-do list, you simply took a breath? What if you opened the window, lit a candle, and played your favorite playlist? Could it be that you’re allowed to begin your day with beauty, softness, and intention? Could this be the invitation you need to come home to yourself, one slow morning at a time?
What’s one thing you want to try out, as a part of your slow morning routine? Let me know in the comments below.
Ps. Want to kickstart your journey to a slower, more romantic way of living? Sign up for the free 5 Days of Slow audio course here.
