Mindful Mornings: Slowing Down Before Life Runs You Over

I used to have slow mornings. Back before kids, before the endless mental to-do list, I had days off where I actually took the day off. When I lived in Hermosa Beach, I’d spend those days walking along the sand, grabbing a coffee, maybe doing a little shopping - no real agenda, no small humans asking me for a snack five minutes after eating breakfast. I had time to breathe, to think, to simply be.

Fast forward to now, and my mornings are . . . different. My alarm clock is either a child standing two inches from my face asking for food or a dog making direct eye contact while trying to lick my face. There’s no strolling the strand with a latte in hand - there’s me, trying to wake up while my kids are already in a good mood, making jokes (both things I love), and casually trying to convince me that today should start with a little TV.

But here’s what I’ve learned: I can have both. I can be the mom who shows up for my kids and the person who still gets to feel like me.

Taking the Pause You Deserve (Without the Guilt, Please)

Somewhere along the way, we were all made to believe that taking time for ourselves is selfish. Like, if we’re not running ourselves into the ground, are we even doing life right? But here’s the thing: being mindful of yourself makes you better for the people around you. A well-rested, showered, slightly-less-burnt-out version of me is a much better mom, wife, and human than the one who skipped breakfast, ignored her skincare routine, and has been answering emails from bed.

So, let’s talk about slowing down - not in a drop your entire schedule and move to a remote cabin way, but in a real-life, I still have responsibilities kind of way.

How to Actually Have a Mindful Morning (Even if You’re Not a Morning Person)

1. Get Up Before Your Kids (Even Though It’s Painful)

Listen, I love sleep. Deeply. But I also know that if I roll out of bed at the same time as my kids, my morning feels like a chaotic sprint. So, I try to get up before them. Do I always succeed? Absolutely not. But when I do, it makes a difference.

Even if it’s just 20 minutes to take a shower, do my skincare, and not be immediately bombarded with questions about where someone’s other sock is, it helps. The goal? Start your day as a person first, then as someone’s mom, boss, employee, or whatever title you carry.

2. Romanticize Your Routine (Yes, Even If It’s Just Coffee at Home)

Not every morning is going to be a self-care montage with soft music playing in the background, but small things do add up. Maybe it’s drinking coffee before it gets cold. Maybe it’s listening to music that actually puts you in a good mood (for us, it’s always Forrest Frank or Surfaces). Maybe it’s not grabbing your phone first thing and instead just sitting in silence for a moment before the day starts.

Whatever it is, make it feel good. Your morning is yours, even if you only get 10 minutes of it.

3. Walk, Move, Breathe - Whatever Works for You

Before kids, I used to go on walks in the morning and evening - just me (or with my mom), my thoughts, and whatever music or podcast I felt like listening to. Now, those walks look different. They’re slower, and they involve my kids (who do not walk at my preferred adult speed), but they still happen. And you know what? That’s okay.

I’m still getting outside. I’m still breathing in fresh air, getting some vitamin D, and making memories with my kids. It’s not the solo, brisk walk I once had, but it’s something. And sometimes something is enough.

4. Let Go of the Control (Just a Little)

Speaking of kids, mine love making their own breakfast. At first, I hated it. Not because they weren’t capable, but because my inner control freak had a lot of thoughts about what their cooking process would look like. (Spoiler: messy. Their cooking process looks messy.)

But here’s what I realized: letting them do it means I get a little more time for myself. They’re learning independence, they’re proud of themselves, and I’m not standing over the stove making eggs while simultaneously answering emails and planning the day. Win-win.

5. Set Boundaries (Because No, You Don’t Have to Say Yes to Everything)

This one’s big. Sometimes, self-care looks like a fun night out with friends. Other times, it looks like staying home, taking a bubble bath, and listening to a podcast instead of pretending you’re up for socializing when you’re actually exhausted.

We don’t always have to be “on.” We don’t always have to be available. If you need a night (or morning, or weekend) to just be, take it. The world will survive.

Pause. Breathe. Repeat.

Life moves fast. It’s easy to get caught up in work, school, kids, or just the general chaos of existing as an adult in 2025. But if we never pause, we never reset.

So this is your reminder: slow down. Drink your coffee hot. Stand outside for five minutes and just be. Whether you’re a full-time working woman, a stay-at-home mom, or somewhere in between, you deserve a moment to feel like you.

And if that moment includes an overly complicated matcha recipe that makes you feel like you have your life together, go for it.

Links for a Mindful Morning

• Happy Mornings Playlist

• My Morning Skincare

• Items I use every morning to help me along

  
  

xx

Taylor