How This Lifestyle Blogger Turned Wellness Entrepreneur Starts Her WFH Mornings

What's the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning? A well-rounded morning routine sets the tone for the day and gets you prepped—both mentally and physically—before you dive into a packed schedule filled with emails, chores, happy hours, workouts, and more. Our series Morning Person profiles those who have mastered the art of the morning routine.

Tune in every week here and on our Instagram to learn exactly how the pros get it all done before the sun comes up, from their go-to breakfasts to their a.m. workouts.

Like many of us, Siffat Haider, a former magazine editor turned wellness and lifestyle entrepreneur, longed for a miracle antidote that worked to ease everyday ailments like her anxiety. When Haider was undergoing personal health issues, she took matters into her own hands and sought solace from herbal remedies. Through working with and learning from leading wellness experts, Haider, along with her partner Nishant Samantray, founded Arrae, an all-natural supplement brand, to help people feel their best day-to-day. 

Since launching the brand in 2019, the pair have been steadily building a growing list of loyal customers, as evident through the countless rave reviews on their site. You might have even seen them pop up on your FYP on TikTok. While starting and running a business from your apartment is no easy feat, Haider has her productivity routine down pat. 

Keep scrolling to see how this CEO and co-founder starts a busy workday from her home in Toronto, Canada. 

I’m an early bird, so my alarm goes off around this time. I have a "no phone until after meditation" policy, which is why I use a Google Home to set my alarm.

I always listen to an audiobook or podcast while doing my skincare routine. Currently, I’m listening to Lifespan by David A. Sinclair. This morning, I’m doing a mask from Biologique Recherche.

In 2017, I read Dave Asprey’s Bulletproof book and have been starting my day with a Bulletproof coffee ever since. It’s done wonders for me—I have no brain fog and am a ball of energy for hours. I normally do a 16-hour intermittent fast, and my Bulletproof coffee keeps me satiated until my first meal. I'll use 4th and Heart's Vanilla Bean Grass-Fed Ghee with MCT oil and cinnamon with my coffee. But before that, I'll always chug a big mason jar of water with vitamin C, which is crucial for my immune system.

I journal while sipping on my coffee, and I've had a journaling practice for the last four years. I do a combination of gratitude and "future me" journaling, which I’ve found to be essential for manifesting.

Time to take off my face mask and do the rest of my skincare routine. I border on obsessive when it comes to my skincare routine. I won’t list every product I use because I’m afraid it’ll turn into an essay, but my nonnegotiables are a vitamin C serum (AlumierMD's C&E Serum), a hyaluronic acid serum (Vichy's Mineral 89 Daily Skin Booster Serum), and SPF (Coola's Sun Silk Drops). 

Lastly, I’ll use a nourishing face oil to give my skin a nice, glowy finish. I've been loving AmorePacific's Botanical Radiance Oil.

Time to meditate for 10 minutes. I incorporated this into my daily practice at the beginning of my day, and it’s made a huge difference in my mental well-being.

After I finish meditating, I take two of our Arrae Calm capsules, which help activate the parasympathetic nervous system. The combination of four ingredients we use in our capsules helps beat jitters and a racing mind.

Today, I have a private yoga session at 8:30 a.m., so I’m spending the next 45 minutes doing emails and going through my to-do list.

I’m working with Yazmin Harris on opening up my back and shoulders with a gentler flow. Movement first thing in the morning always sets me up for a great day.

Even though I’m working from home, I love getting dressed. I swear it has an impact on my productivity and overall mood!

And we’re off to the races. Today, I’m recording intros for my podcast, reviewing contracts for new hires, and going into back-to-back meetings. On the agenda is a meeting with the entire social team, a strategy meeting with my husband and co-founder Nish, and a call about a new initiative we’re doing.

Up next, This Clean-Skincare Founder Shares the Essentials to Her Morning Beauty Rituals