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By Leila Ahmadi · Routines 
Dr. Hannah Reid 1 min read
Building a calmer morning routine
You don't need a 5 am wake-up and a two-hour ritual. Here's how to build a morning that feels steadier, one small step at a time.
Dr. Hannah Reid 1 min read 
Social media is full of elaborate morning routines: cold plunges, journaling, workouts, green juices — all before 7 am. For most of us, that’s not realistic. A calmer morning is less about doing more and more about rushing less.
Start with one anchor
Pick a single small habit that will anchor your morning. It might be:
- Five slow breaths before you look at your phone
- A glass of water while the kettle boils
- Two minutes of stretching beside your bed
Do just that one thing for a week or two. Once it feels automatic, you can add another.
Prepare the night before
Many calm mornings start the evening before. Lay out clothes, pack your bag and write tomorrow’s top three tasks. Fewer decisions in the morning means less rush.
Protect the first ten minutes
The first moments of the day set the tone. If you can, keep the first ten minutes screen-free. Open the curtains, notice the light and let your mind wake up gently.
Be kind when it doesn’t go to plan
Some mornings will be chaotic — children, early meetings, poor sleep. That’s normal. A routine is a direction, not a test. Tomorrow is another chance.
