Let’s Talk Morning Rituals (Again)

Dear you! I just have to rant a little about morning rituals. Again.

Even though I know you’ve heard it before (and maybe even thought “yeah yeah, I know it’s smart”), I still feel like it’s one of the most overlooked practices in everyday life. Not because we don’t know about them, we totally do, but because they’re so easy to forget in the middle of everything else we think we should prioritize.

And before I go on: No, I’m not expecting you to copy my morning ritual. That’s not the point.

I love reading about other people’s morning rituals; gathering inspiration, small ideas, little elements I can make my own. But what I truly care about is that you find something that actually works for you.
Your morning. Your pace. Your ritual. Not something perfect. Not polished. Just real.

Because the best morning ritual… is the one you actually do.
Not the one you read about in a magazine with ten steps and a productivity halo.
Not the one that starts with a headstand, ten sun salutations, 30 minutes of meditation, dry brushing your entire body, an ice bath, three handwritten pages, and a beginner’s French lesson.
Nope. The ritual I want you to make space for is the one you genuinely want to prioritize and the one that gives something back to you.

Personally, I wake up at 5:00 every morning.
And no, not because I’m a superhuman. But because I genuinely love my morning ritual. It brings me peace. Clarity. A feeling that the day is mine. It hasn’t always been this way, I’ve practiced. I’ve built it, piece by piece. And yes, there are mornings (especially when I’m sick, on my period, or after a rough night with the kids) when I sleep longer. And that’s more than okay.
This is not about performance.
It’s about presence.

And yes, as an almost-graduated Ayurvedic wellness consultant (exam May 31st, wish me luck!) I naturally have some thoughts on what a morning ritual can include.
But I’m not here with a checklist.
I just want to share the four elements I build mine around, and that you can easily shape into something that fits your life.

1. Cleanse

Start with the body.
Ayurveda is all about supporting the body in what it’s already trying to do.
That means gently flushing out the night, waking up digestion, and stimulating the senses.
I love tongue scraping (to remove ama and toxins), oil pulling (for oral health and nervous system support), neti pot (for clearing the airways), and warm lemon water (to jumpstart elimination).
You don’t have to do it all, just choose what makes sense for you.

2. Ground

Before you connect to everything else, connect to yourself.
Maybe it’s three deep breaths. A cup of tea in silence. Morning pages, meditation, bare feet on the grass.
It’s not about what you do, it’s about how it makes you feel.
I truly believe that starting your day in stillness and inner connection is one of the biggest differences between reacting to the day… and consciously creating it.

3. Move

Movement creates more movement.
Getting the body going, even just a little, makes a big difference.
I currently do a pilates-yoga flow with Move With Nicole (thank you, Ida Jackson, for the tip!), and it gives me so much clarity and energy throughout the day.
But it can also be 10 squats, a walk around the house, or dancing in your pajamas.
The point isn’t what you do, it’s that you do something.

4. Input

I was hesitant to include this one because it can be misused…
But I have to. Because for me, it’s powerful.
It’s about filling up with light and inspiration before the day really begins.
A book. A podcast. A video. Something I’ve chosen intentionally, because I know it builds me up (not drags me down).
I do this after the other steps! Once I’m awake, present, and open to receive.
(And for the record, creating can also be input. If you love starting your day by writing, drawing, or creating something, go for it.)

So no, you don’t have to wake up at 5am.
You don’t have to do everything.
But I do hope you’ll choose something.
A moment. A breath. A practice. Something that reminds you this is your day and you get to decide how it begins.

My Morning Ritual (as promised)

I usually wake up around 5:00 (yes, with an alarm but I often wake naturally between 4:30 and 5:00).
I start by going to the bathroom, then I scrape my tongue and do oil pulling while I prep water for the day. I heat it to around 60°C and fill two bottles for the rest of the day, plus a glass I drink right away. I also prep warm water for the kids and bring it with me to the bathroom.

There, I use my neti pot to rinse my nose and open my breathing.
After that, I roll out my mat and do 20–40 minutes of pilates/yoga with Move With Nicole on YouTube. If the sun is up, I’ll step out onto the veranda for a short grounding moment or a short meditation.
Then I come back inside, dry brush with garshana gloves, do a quick abhyanga (oil massage), and shower. Afterward, I apply oil to my face, ears, and nasal passages, and finish with a refreshing rose water mist.

I make myself a cup of tea and sit down with my morning pages.
When the kids wake up, we have breakfast together.
Once they’ve left with my husband, I make a cappuccino and watch an inspiring YouTube video. Then, I usually listen to 10 minutes of a course or a podcast while I do my makeup or hair.
My workday starts around 08:00.

I’m rooting for your morning ritual! However small or big it is.

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