8 busy creative people share their morning routines
IMAGE VIA @rachakhidenor/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“The routine is the glue that binds each day together.”
I truly admire people with a thoughtful morning routine. It’s no easy feat. As someone who feels like they’re emerging from a coffin when waking up, I usually don’t have time for much before work. But when I do get to eat breakfast and read a book, it’s total bliss.
Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section.
And not only is it impressive, but a mindful routine is also reported to provide you with more structure, less stress and increased productivity. I truly dream of the day I wake up without a furious disposition and the iPhone ‘marimba’ alarm blasting in my ears. In an effort to change my ways, I asked seven busy creative people to share their morning routines.
Lara Fisher, Chief Executive Officer at P0ly Designs
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One of the luxuries of being self-employed is no alarm clocks. I usually wake up around 6.30am, but I just let my body do its thing. I love mornings, this is when I have the most energy throughout the day and feel the most capable, so I try to get as much done as I can.
My routine is coffee in bed first, always – this is when I map out the day and if I have any tasks I’ve avoided for a few days, I might try to get them done before I get up. Then, in no particular order…
I gua sha my face for a few minutes, take my dog for a long walk, listen to music, do some yoga (if I’m really on one), shower and brush my eyebrows up! Being a morning person, I also love catching up with friends or clients before going into the studio – you’ll find me at All Are Welcome, Florian, Napier Quarter or Cibi.
Lizzie Waley, founder of Sundae Body
John Mayer wakes me up at 5.30am every morning – the soothing sounds of his songs make a perfect alarm. I always start the day with some form of exercise, preferably cardio. Then I take my dog (Otis the groodle) to the dog park with a coffee (and sometimes a toastie) in hand before we head off to work.
I try not to look at my phone notifications until I get to work – it’s the only few hours of pure zen I get for the day, so I like to make the most of it. Anything urgent can be dealt with at 9am when I sit down at my desk… that’s when the fun begins!
Gerard Sison, founder and director at Culture Digital Agency
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I read that we have 60,000 thoughts a day and the majority of them are the same as yesterday’s, which means our life is generally on autopilot. I try my best to start my day on purpose, choosing my thoughts and direction for the day. I try to ensure that I grow a little bit in knowledge each day, which I believe will always add up to improving the quality of life for me and my family for the rest of my years.
I start each day around 6am, reading through my current goals… then I head to either the gym or to Brazilian jiu-jitsu practice. Afterwards, I go home, have a cold shower, get ready, get my daughter ready to start her day and take her to daycare. After I drop her off, I put on an audiobook and listen to it on the drive into the office. Then each day, someone in our team at Culture Digital Agency will share something they’ve been learning, so I’m consistently getting new information on related topics.
Giulia Brugliera, Managing Editor at Fashion Journal
I’m a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde when it comes to my morning routine. Far from a creature of habit, I have to continually motivate myself in different ways to get out of bed. When I’m on a roll, I’m one of those despicable ‘morning people’ who starts their day before 5am with exercise, quality time with my partner, a walk with the dog and sometimes a coffee with friends. When I’m not, I’ll peel myself from bed at the very last minute to make it in time for my work day.
I feel infinitely better when I rise early and actually find it easier to get up when the sky is still dark. Once up and moving, I remember to check in regularly throughout the morning and remind myself how good it feels to be up at that time of day. I think this is what they call gratitude in the mindfulness circles, but I find it really helps me rise again the next morning.
On my best behaviour days, I’ll wake up and have an espresso before heading to the gym with my partner. He works ridiculous hours and we don’t get a lot of time together, so I really treasure this hour in the morning, even if we can barely talk. Once I’m back home, I’ll take the dog to the local park for a run-around.
From there I’ll jump in the shower, do my skincare and hair (I prefer to go without makeup), then dress and head into work. I typically heap mouthfuls of breakfast into my body in any gaps I can find, but I never ever skip it. My morning time is sacred, and I never check emails until I’m sitting at my desk. This ‘me’ time in the morning means I can be fully focused at work, and tick off any life admin and other tasks after hours.
Rachael Akinheor, founder and director at Self Care Originals
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As a self-proclaimed ‘morning person’, I love making most of my mornings; it helps me feel grounded and centred. I like to really indulge myself in the morning with lots of space and time to adjust to the day – before the emails, calls and the usual life chaos.
Generally, I wake early. Either 5.15am (if I’m off to yoga or pilates) or 6.30am (if it’s just a walk around the neighbourhood). It always starts with tongue-scraping (an Ayurvedic practice), followed by an espresso and a podcast. After exercise, it’s getting ready, breakfast and then meditation and journaling.
I usually meditate for anywhere between five to 20 minutes (depending on how much time I have), and I always write an entry in my Self Care Journal. I have a strict ‘no social media or emails’ policy in the morning, which also helps.
Evette Hess-McEwan, founder of Esmi Skin Minerals
I start my day with the click of a button on my coffee machine. Years ago, I did a barista course so I could learn to make myself a proper cafe coffee in the morning. I look forward to that every day. I usually sip it next to the pool while checking emails, the schedule for the day and catching up on Instagram.
Elena Ballantyne, creative director of Gyre the Label
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As a busy designer, business owner, mum [and partner], mornings are filled with craziness and the routine is the glue that binds each day together. [It] keeps me on track both personally and professionally.
We are lucky enough to live close to the river in Perth city, so taking in some deep breaths of salty air is an elixir for the soul… and this is closely followed by a strong coffee. It kicks me into digital organisation, including checking the meetings planned that day, ‘big bucket projects’ statuses and the news and responses [that] have come in overnight from my great team of creative partners and contributors.
Our small children, (three and five years old) are usually in [our] personal space from very early in the morning… having the flexibility in alternating the management of our mornings to include yoga or Pilates (for me) is a welcome reprieve from food prep, involuntary toothbrushing and outfit selection for infants!
Other things I find keep me centred are controlling the flow of information into my headspace early in the morning… giving your soul the right food to start the day is as important as the real food that ends up in your belly!
On that note, nourishing food is very important to balance the caffeine that now courses through my body. [It’s] part of my daily kick-start, superfoods and grains always feature, and good proteins and fats from avo and eggs set me up for the day.
Jo Twaddell, director of Wink Optometry
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I used to always get up first thing and exercise but lately, I’ve been mastering the art of lying in bed and waiting for my boys to come up for a cuddle. I’m not sure if it’s the moon, COVID, or the fact that the kids can make me a coffee!
I use this time to catch up on my social media and digital duties, as well as make notes of the many things going on in my head before they disappear. The wonderful Elwood village is just around the corner from home, so I always buy fresh from Leaf and Woodfrog bakery to start the day and get the lunches.
I am pretty low maintenance in getting myself ready. I attribute that to curly hair and the fact that a good pair of glasses style up any outfit. My wardrobe is pretty eclectic but considered thanks to Filly’s Stable, so my ‘work uniform’ is easily thrown together depending on my mood.
My boy’s school and Wink are a short walk apart, so I enjoy the beautiful Elwood bubble and always bump into someone in the community. We open Wink at 10am, which allows the luxury of spending time with my family as well as ticking lots of boxes.
For more on kick-starting your morning, head here.
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