Isn’t it strange how your definition of some of the most basic things you’ve learned over the years shifts as you grow up? I was – and still am – often told that you’re only successful if you’re financially independent enough to buy crazy things and live other people’s dreams.
For a long time, I thought that too.
I imagined success was about ticking those boxes, chasing a life filled with everything they said I should want. But as I came further, I began to realize that there’s beauty and freedom in simply owning your time, doing things you genuinely enjoy, working on something that brings you joy, and—perhaps most importantly—letting go of what others think about how you choose to spend your time, money, or energy.
A lot of you have already asked and might know this too – but since I have been quite disciplined with the luxuries in my life, I decided to jot everything down first thing this morning. These days, my mornings have become something sacred, something intentionally mine. I don’t like the feeling of being in a rush, so I make sure to be ahead of time. I also love the quietness of the morning, along with the birds chirping, with soft waterfall music playing and candles lit in my room. Sometimes I am lucky to spot my favorite Magpies from my window. There’s a sense of calm in that moment, a grounding peace that sets the tone for everything that follows in my day.
Of course, I never start my day without praying, it helps me stay grounded before anything else begins. I also almost never skip my meditation, affirmations, and innercises in the morning too. It’s the best time to reconnect with myself, and to ask myself what I want, who I am in this moment, and what I hope to become.
Then comes my gratitude journal – which I have been writing religiously since the summer of 2019. Every morning (sometimes later during the day), I make a list of ten things I’m grateful for. Some days, that list overflows to a hundred or two hundred; and trust me, there are days when I struggle to write even one or two. But no matter how I feel or where I am in my life, I don’t skip it. This practice has helped me program my mind, body, and soul to find beauty in even the simplest moments.
And yes, I do make an effort to keep away from my phone in the morning – so if you’re waiting on a morning message or expecting an immediate reply, know that I didn’t see it. Please give me a heads-up at least twelve hours in advance if we’re meeting in the morning; otherwise, I’d be at the destination looking at my phone IN TOTAL SURPRISE (but no disappointment) – yes, I rarely check messages between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. I love taking intentional breaks from screens to simply be in my zone, undistracted – it’s a real luxury.
Evenings, too, I love having beautiful, calming endings to each day. After work and early dinner, I try to do my RESET meditation—letting go of anything I don’t need to carry forward. (Here’s the link if you wanna give a try anytime.)
And as the night settles, I let small, pretty rituals take over: a face massage, a dark room with a few candles lit to soften the space, and a good book that holds me until my eyes grow heavy. I don’t rush here to finish the pages, no urgency to learn something new, just gentle unwinding. I love practicing being in the moment in these hours.
I do leave social media out of my evenings intentionally, just as I do in my mornings. So, yes, that’s it.
I love the quiet hours, love being in bed by 10, and nothing else is more tempting than following my own evening routine every day.
Do you follow a routine every day? If yes, I’m curious, let me know!
P.S. There are other boring things (not mentioned above) that I don’t skip in the morning, like my coffee (hazelnut these days), making my task list for the day (Yes, I never skip this, not even on a Sunday or Christmas), and doing my skincare.
