There’s something really humbling about realizing your entire personality before 8 AM was just anxiety in disguise.
I used to wake up already behind.
Behind on sleep, behind on messages, behind on life. And even when I did wake up early, I had no idea what to do with that time. I’d pace around, scroll for an hour, half-journal, half-dissociate, and call it a soft morning.
That version of me wanted a reset.
This version?
She has a routine.
And it starts at 4:45 AM. Six days a week.
I know. That sounds disgusting. It sounded disgusting to me, too.
But here’s the thing: I don’t do it because I’m obsessed with self-discipline.
I do it because it’s the only way I can hear myself before the rest of the world starts yelling.
And once I found that rhythm—one that actually held—I started making decisions from a different place.
Not from burnout.
Not from emotion.
From clarity.
The Routine
4:45 AM — Wake up. Water. Fresh Air.
No snoozing. No phone. Just get up, drink water, and step outside to wake up. Automatic movement—no thinking required.
5:00–5:30 AM — Workout.
I do a YouTube video. That’s it. Whatever feels right that day. I move my body, I sweat a little, and I move on. Progress over perfection.
5:30–6:30 AM — Morning Meditation.
One hour. Yes, a full hour.
This is the part that shifts everything. My brain finally stops running in circles, and I can actually listen.
6:30–6:50 AM — Journal + Read.
A simple journal entry: what I’m grateful for, what I’m noticing.
Then I read. One chapter. Clear mind, clean focus.
6:50–7:20 AM — Breakfast + Daily Reflection.
I used to hate breakfast, but a high-protein meal is the best way to start the day.
While I eat, I write a quick blog post to reflect—how the morning went, what’s shifting, and how I’m showing up. It keeps me connected to the process in real time.
7:20–7:50 AM — Shower. Skincare. Mirror ritual.
Get ready and take on the day. Cleanse, gua sha, serum, SPF.
Then I stop and check in—eye contact in the mirror, grounding before anything else.
7:50–8:00 AM — Coffee To Go
A fit check. Protein coffee. Time to go.
Why This Works
Because it’s not about changing who I am.
It’s about clearing space so I can be who I am—on purpose.
This routine doesn’t solve everything. But it keeps me out of reaction mode.
It gives me space to think, move, breathe, and start from a place that feels like mine.
And that’s what changed everything.