The Power of Slow Mornings
Let’s be real: most of us are waking up and diving straight into a cortisol cocktail.
The alarm blares. The phone gets grabbed. The inbox gets checked. The kids need you. The emails want you. And your nervous system? It’s already racing before your feet even hit the ground.
We’re starting our days like we’re behind. Like we owe the world something before we’ve even greeted ourselves.
But what if we flipped that?
What if the first person you tended to in the morning was… you?
And not just for five seconds of rushed skincare or half a cup of cold coffee. I’m talking about a real pause. A slow moment. A ritual that lets your body know: we’re safe, we’re grounded, we’re in no rush.
Because here’s the truth: how you begin your day sets the tone for everything else.
The Science of Slow: Why Morning Rush Is So Hard on Women
From a biological standpoint, morning stress spikes cortisol. That’s your body’s main stress hormone. It’s supposed to be high in the morning—but when it spikes too high from chaos or anxiety, it dysregulates your entire nervous system.
This matters especially for women.
Our hormones, our energy, our emotional regulation—everything flows differently than the 24/7 hustle cycle most of us were trained into. When you rush, override your body’s needs, and leap into service-mode without a breath, you throw yourself into a survival pattern.
And living in survival isn’t just exhausting. It’s disconnecting. You stop hearing your own inner voice. You forget what you need. You lose the thread of your own rhythm.
What Is a Slow Morning?
A slow morning isn’t about moving at a snail’s pace or abandoning your responsibilities.
It’s about intentional time.
A pocket of presence.
A breath between the night and the noise.
Even 10–15 minutes of quiet, tech-free time in the morning can lower cortisol, support your nervous system, boost mental clarity, and elevate your mood for the rest of the day.
It’s the difference between starting the day from depletion… and beginning it with devotion.
My Slow Morning Ritual (Feel Free to Steal It)
This is what my mornings look like these days. It didn’t start this perfect. But over time, I started adding pieces. I listened to what felt good. And now? It’s non-negotiable. It’s sacred.
I wake up slowly—no alarms blaring. If I need one, I use a sunrise light or soft chimes.
I don’t turn on the light or check my phone. Instead, I reach for an oil tablet (yes, I keep them next to my bed) and start my gua sha ritual. Right there, before even getting up.
I massage my face gently with the oil. Not to look good—but to feel my own hands. To ground in my own skin.
Then, I move to the kitchen and begin my coffee ritual. It’s not rushed. I grind the beans. I open the windows. I warm the cup with intention.
Sometimes I sit outside with it, soaking in the morning light. No phone. No noise. Just me, the sun, and the scent of something warm and grounding.
That’s my sacred 20–30 minutes. And it changes everything.
How to Create Your Own Morning Ritual (Even If You Only Have 10 Minutes)
You don’t have to start with a full hour. Start with 10 minutes. Here’s how to make them count:
1. Prep the Night Before
Lay out your favorite mug. Set out a candle. Put a notebook next to your bed. Whatever you need to support your slow morning, have it ready. Your future self will thank you.
2. Wake Up 10–15 Minutes Earlier
You’re not losing sleep. You’re gaining presence. Start with just 10 extra minutes—enough to be before you do.
3. No Phone for the First 15 Minutes
This one is hard, but it’s gold. Give yourself just 15 minutes to hear your own thoughts before you scroll into someone else’s life.
4. Pick a Few Rituals That Feel Good to YOU
Here are some options to inspire you:
My Favorite Candles for Slow Mornings
If you’re looking to make this ritual even sweeter, here’s the link to the candles I absolutely love using in the morning. I keep one by my bed and another in my kitchen—they help me ease into the day feeling grounded, cozy, and intentional. The scent, the soft light, the ritual of lighting it—it’s become part of my nervous system’s cue for peace. CLICK HERE TO BUY https://amzn.to/3S7IJpd
Step outside and turn your face to the sun
If your version of quiet time includes stepping outside (yes, please!), I can’t recommend this Korean sunblock stick enough. It’s silky, non-greasy, and I swipe it on every morning before stepping into the light with my coffee. It’s a tiny act of love that keeps your skin protected while you soak up that healing morning sun. CLICK HERE TO BUY https://amzn.to/45hXOvX
Do a gentle face massage or body oiling
efore I even turn on the lights, I reach for a Vitamin E capsule I keep tucked beside my bed. I gently open one, warm the oil between my fingers, and begin massaging it into my skin with slow, loving strokes. It’s my way of saying “good morning” to my body—softening tension, boosting circulation, and starting the day in tune with myself. If you’ve never tried this, it’s a game-changer. You don’t need anything fancy—just a little oil and your own two hands.
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My Favorite 5-Minute Gratitude Journal
This little practice changed everything for me. I keep my 5-minute gratitude journal on my nightstand and reach for it before I touch my phone. Just jotting down a few things I’m thankful for each morning shifts my energy from rushing to receiving. It’s quick, calming, and honestly a beautiful way to remind your nervous system that you’re safe, supported, and already blessed.
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Nourish Your Mind with One Page at a Time
One of the softest ways I anchor into myself is by reading something that feeds my soul instead of my anxiety. I keep a book nearby—lately, I’ve been returning again and again to THE MOUNTAIN IS YOU by Brianna Wiest. It feels like a reminder, a nudge, and a permission slip all at once. Even just one page in the morning or before bed shifts my perspective. You don’t need hours—you just need one intentional moment of connection. Let the words you take in match the life you want to create. CCLICK HERE TO BUY https://amzn.to/3SvYvul
Feel Beautiful in the Morning—Before the World Even Sees You
There’s something powerful about getting dressed for yourself, not for the world. I start many mornings in a silk kimono robe or beautiful loungewear that feels soft, elegant, and sacred. It’s a quiet reminder: I am worthy of beauty and comfort, even when no one else is watching. You don’t have to wait for a special event to feel radiant. Let your morning robe be your declaration that today, you’re choosing softness and self-honoring first.
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Waking Up to Clean Floors—Without Lifting a Finger
There’s something so grounding about starting your morning in a clean space. I schedule my Airrobo robot vacuum to run at night while I sleep, so by the time I wake up, the floors are fresh, the energy feels lighter, and I don’t have to start the day cleaning up yesterday’s mess. It’s a quiet gift to my future self—and it makes my slow morning routine feel even more peaceful. No buzzing appliances, no distractions, just a clear floor and a calm mind.
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Pick one or two. Let them evolve with you.
This Is About More Than Mornings
Creating slow mornings is about choosing yourself before the world comes knocking.
It’s about regulating your nervous system, connecting to your truth, and stepping into the day from alignment, not obligation.
When you ground yourself first thing in the morning, everything else flows differently:
You make better decisions
You hold boundaries with more ease
You feel less reactive and more responsive
You soften into your feminine power, instead of gripping through the day
It’s not just about what you do—it’s about who you’re being.
Morning Rituals & the Feminine
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I speak often about feminine energy—about being in rhythm with your body, your emotions, your intuition.
Slow mornings are one of the most powerful ways to activate that feminine rhythm.
When you’re constantly in go-mode, you disconnect from your feminine essence. That essence thrives in stillness. In softness. In sensual rituals.
So whether it’s brewing tea with both hands wrapped around the mug, or feeling the oil glide over your cheekbones, or stepping barefoot onto your balcony to greet the sun… this is her. This is you, reconnected.
What Might Shift If You Gave Yourself This Time?
Seriously—ask yourself this.
What might shift if you stopped launching yourself into the day like a cannonball?
What if you gave yourself the gift of 15 minutes of your own attention?
What if, instead of rushing into caretaking mode, you let yourself be cared for—by your own breath, your own hands, your own quiet rituals?
Your Invitation: Try It for 7 Days
I want to challenge you—gently—to try this for the next 7 days.
Wake up just 15 minutes early. No phone. No to-do list. Just presence.
Pick 2–3 things that help you feel grounded, slow, and supported.
Here’s a simple framework to follow:
Wake softly (no jarring alarms)
Hydrate + breathe
Choose 1 ritual (stretch, massage, write, sip)
Soak in sunlight if you can
Say a morning affirmation like:
“I have time for what matters. I honor my pace.”
Do this for one week. Notice how you feel.
You Deserve a Soft Start
This isn’t a luxury. This is medicine.
Your morning belongs to you. It’s your birthright to begin from a place of peace.
Whether you’re a mom, an entrepreneur, a caregiver, or a woman simply trying to keep it all together—you deserve to meet yourself first.
You deserve slowness.
You deserve warmth.
You deserve rituals that bring you back home.
Let this be your season of returning to softness. Let this be your invitation to create mornings that heal instead of hijack.
You don’t need to change everything at once.
You just need to begin.
