I don’t know who decided that “successful women” all wake up at 5 a.m., meditate for an hour, and drink kale smoothies, but wow, they set the bar high. Every time I read those perfect morning routine articles, I end up feeling like a raccoon in eyeliner pawing through a trash can at 7:45 a.m.
But here’s the real thing about a morning routine for successful women (yes, keyword snuck in like a spy): it’s not about being Instagram-perfect. It’s about doing stuff that actually works for you. The chaos, the coffee stains, the weird habits that would make a productivity coach faint — that’s where the magic is.
I’ve had a few different “morning routine eras” (remember Tumblr “That Girl” phase? I do). Some were disasters, some stuck. Queens life is loud — buses screeching, neighbor’s salsa playlist at full blast by 6:30 — but I’ve figured out a way to carve out a routine that makes me feel like, okay, maybe I can handle this day without crying in the bathroom at work.
Here’s how it goes, and how you can steal bits of it for yourself.
Step One: Stop Pretending You’re a 5 a.m. Person
Back in 8th grade, I wore two different shoes to school (not on purpose). It was a Monday. That’s also the vibe of me trying to be a 5 a.m. person.
I’ve tried every “successful woman” trick — cold showers, sun salutations, journaling before sunrise. I looked like a zombie who’d lost her journal. So now? I wake up at 6:45. Not glamorous. But it works.
If you’re naturally a morning bird, cool. If not, stop forcing it. A morning routine for successful women doesn’t mean punishing yourself with unrealistic wake-up calls. It means working with your body, not against it.
Step Two: Coffee Before Philosophy
There’s this influencer I follow who drinks warm lemon water before anything else. I tried that for a week. By day three, my body was like, “Where is the coffee?!”
So now, my morning starts like this:
- Stumble to the kitchen.
- Brew coffee (loud enough to wake the cat).
- Sit on the floor with my mug because chairs are too far.
That five-minute coffee sit? It’s my quiet time. No emails, no scrolling, no thinking about the 57 Slack messages waiting for me. Just me, caffeine, and the sound of my upstairs neighbor’s shower running.
Honestly, that’s my meditation. (Outbound Link Suggestion: Link to a funny coffee blog post like “Why Coffee is Basically My Therapist” on a humor blog.)
Step Three: Move a Little, Not a Marathon
You know those TikToks where women are running at 6 a.m. with perfect ponytails and matching sets? Yeah, that’s not me.
I live in Queens. My apartment is basically a hallway. So my “morning workout” is a 10-minute stretch next to my couch while the coffee’s brewing. Sometimes it’s yoga. Sometimes it’s me trying to touch my toes while my cat attacks my hair.
Movement matters — not because it’s going to turn you into a superhero before breakfast, but because it wakes you up. Even just dancing around in your pajamas counts.
Step Four: Get Dressed (Even If You’re WFH)
Here’s a weird one. I work from home some days, and for a long time, my “work uniform” was sweatpants, messy bun, hoodie. Felt cozy, but also… sluggish. Like my brain didn’t realize we were supposed to be working.
Now I actually get dressed in the morning. Not a power suit or anything (please). Just jeans, a real shirt, maybe mascara. It tricks my brain into thinking I’m a functioning adult. And on days when I do have to run out for meetings, I don’t look like I’ve been living under a rock.
Step Five: Small Wins Before 9 a.m.
This one changed the game for me. Successful women (or at least the ones I know in Queens) don’t necessarily do more in the morning. They do something that feels like a win.
For me, it’s making my bed. Or answering one easy email so my inbox looks less like a crime scene. Or writing down my top three priorities for the day (and crossing one off immediately, even if it’s “make coffee”).
It’s like giving yourself a sticker before school. Instant morale boost.
Step Six: Protect Your Brain From Doomscrolling
Confession: I used to wake up, grab my phone, and scroll Twitter (or X or whatever we’re calling it now) before my eyes even adjusted. Bad. So bad. My brain was basically bathing in chaos at 7 a.m.
Now, I don’t check social until after my coffee. Sometimes not until 9. It’s wild how much calmer your mornings feel when you’re not doomscrolling earthquakes, celebrity breakups, and weird news about billionaires before breakfast.
(Outbound Link Suggestion: A personal productivity blog like “Why I Quit Checking My Phone in the Morning”)
Step Seven: Food That Feels Like a Treat
I’m not here to tell you to eat chia seed pudding. Unless you like chia seed pudding. (I don’t.)
Most mornings, I eat scrambled eggs and toast. Sometimes cereal. Sometimes leftover pizza (no shame). The point is: pick breakfast you actually enjoy, so you’re not hangry at 10 a.m.
And yes, successful women eat carbs. Trust me.
Step Eight: Say No to Overcomplication
We’ve all seen those morning routine videos with 27 steps: dry brushing, journaling, ten supplements, lighting a candle made from ethically-sourced unicorn wax. If that’s your thing, cool. But if it’s stressing you out? Skip it.
The most successful women I know here in Queens — business owners, moms, students, hustlers — all have simple morning routines. It’s not about perfection. It’s about feeling human before the day tries to eat you alive.
My Actual Morning Routine (Messy Version)
6:45 a.m. — Alarm goes off. Hit snooze once.
6:55 a.m. — Coffee. Sit on floor. Pet cat. Stare out window.
7:15 a.m. — Quick stretch. Maybe yoga, maybe TikTok dances.
7:30 a.m. — Shower (or at least splash face with water like in commercials).
7:45 a.m. — Get dressed. Real clothes. Maybe mascara.
8:00 a.m. — Breakfast. Eggs or cereal or pizza.
8:20 a.m. — Check planner. Pick one “win.”
8:30 a.m. — Start work, headphones on, neighbors yelling, Queens alive.
That’s it. Not glamorous. But it works.
The Takeaway (If I Had to Pretend This Was a Real Article)
The morning routine for successful women isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s coffee mugs on the floor, neighbors playing music, stretching in your hallway, and choosing your wins.
I should probably be embarrassed at how many routines I’ve tried (and failed) before this one. But honestly? Those mistakes were kinda fun. And now my mornings feel like mine.
