A 10-Minute Morning Routine That Makes the Whole Day Feel Lighter

Before iPhones, my mornings were pretty simple. The alarm goes off. Maybe a little exercise. Pack a lunch, make a coffee, head to the office.

Then the iPhone showed up. Suddenly my mornings had a whole lot of scrolling in them. A few videos. A peek at social media. Then another peek.

Come to find out, I was giving away a big chunk of my morning to my phone. Then I'd be scrambling to get through the rest of my routine.

These days, there's still a little social media. There's also balance. Every morning, I meditate. Some mornings, I journal. Every single day, I do a gratitude and abundance exercise. When you take time to focus on the good stuff, more of it grows and finds its way to you.

Turns out, a good morning routine isn't about doing more. It's about choosing the first thing your mind hears. Ten minutes is plenty. Here's how I spend mine.

Minute 1 to 2: Breathe before you scroll

Leave your phone face down and take a few slow breaths. If quiet feels hard first thing, press play on the Guided I Am Meditation. It's short, soothing and sets a kind tone for the day.

Minute 3 to 4: Say it in the mirror

While you brush your teeth, read one affirmation out loud. Our Mirror Mirror Affirmation Decals stick right on the glass, so the words are waiting for you every morning. More on why this works in Embrace Mirror Work for Personal Growth.

Shop the Mirror Mirror Affirmation Decals

Minute 5: Pull a card

Shuffle the Aligned Guidance Affirmation Cards and pull one. Let it be your theme for the day. Prop it against your coffee mug so you see it again at lunch.

Shop the Aligned Guidance Affirmation Cards

Minute 6 to 9: Write three lines

Open the Guided Clarity Journal for Confidence and answer the prompt. Three honest lines beat three pages you never finish. Write with our Affirmation Pens, because a little encouragement on the pen in your hand never hurts.

Shop the Guided Clarity Journal for Confidence

Minute 10: Pick your one thing

Finish by writing the one thing that would make today feel like a win. Just one. Everything else is a bonus.

Want more ideas? How Daily Affirmations Can Help You Start Your Day Better has plenty.

Here's an affirmation to start with

I am calm, clear and ready for today. I give my attention to what matters, and I trust myself to handle whatever comes.

Make it yours

Your routine will look different from mine, and that's the point. Start with one step this week, then add another when it feels natural.

What's the first thing you do every morning? Tell me in the comments!

About the author

Cheryl Sutherland is a confidence coach, keynote speaker, and the founder of PleaseNotes. She helps women own their worth through workshops, keynotes, and personal growth tools that make confidence something you can practise every day. Her work has been featured in Forbes, InStyle, HuffPost, Fast Company, and Thrive Global, and she's partnered with organizations like WestJet, Intuit, CBC, and Dress for Success. Want Cheryl to speak with your team? Visit CherylSutherland.com.