I Invented a Self-Care Workout—Here's My Morning Routine

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 diving 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 Monday morning 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.

As a wellness editor (and ClassPass member), the ongoing list of workout classes and wellness practices I've tried could be comparable to a CVS receipt. There are all the usual suspects, like Pilates, yoga, and spin, but I've also tried "surfing", infrared saunas, acupuncture and even floating (which casually involves 60 minutes of hanging out in a sensory deprivation tank). 

So when the typical plethora of pitches for cutting-edge workouts and wellness practices hit my inbox, I usually breezily skim past them. Except for this one time, where interestingly enough, this workout concept had never before crossed my mind.

Tayor Morrison's new startup, appropriately coined Inner Workout, probably won't leave you sweaty as a typical fitness class would. But that doesn't make it any less of an exercise. This concept is a workout that completely revolves around self-care. Each session works out both your body and mind, focusing on a blend of movement, meditation, journaling, and breathwork. It just launched a few months ago, so to say that Taylor is busy is an understatement. She has major goals on her mind for her new business: "As a woman of color in the wellness space, I'm dedicated to creating the most inclusive wellness company out there," she says. 

Taylor is most definitely a Morning Person, but she isn't pinned down by one consistent routine. "I went through a phase where I had a super-regimented morning routine," she tells me. "I'd wake up around 5 a.m., work out, journal, meditate, and enjoy a luxurious shower ritual. That routine served me well in the summer months, but once fall arrived, that same morning routine began to feel less like self-care and more like work. So I adjusted." 

Read on for a glimpse into Taylor's morning and how she incorporates self-care into her daily routine.

I stopped using an alarm several months ago. Unless I have an early morning meeting, I trust my body to wake up when it needs to. I tend to wake up between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the spring and summer and from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. in the cooler months. 

Most days, I use the Flipd app to lock me out of my phone until about an hour after I wake up. This eliminates my temptation to check email or social media because I have very little willpower in that area. 

I normally lay in bed for at least 15 minutes, enjoying cuddles with my husband and my dog. I might do some simple breathing exercises, practice gratitude, or reflect on the day ahead.

I’ll head to the bathroom to scrape my tongue. There’s something very satisfying about literally starting the day with a clean slate.

I leave my phone at home and take my dog for a walk. Some days it feels almost like a walking meditation and other days I’m brainstorming for a project. My company, Inner Workout, publicly launched in September, so there are always a million ideas vying for my attention.

This is where I like to incorporate movement, but, I’ll be honest, that doesn’t happen every day. I’m a big fan of the at-home workout. I may play a YouTube workout, improvise a yoga flow, or just put on a song and move my body. It all depends on what I need that day.  If I feel called to it, I’ll spend some moments journaling.

I’ll make a smoothie, a cup of tea, or both (!) and start getting ready. I’m finding myself drawn to ginger teas in this cooler season. Some days getting ready means showering and heading off to my co-working space, other days that means preparing to hop around the city, and my favorite days involve comfy clothes and knocking out work from home. 

No matter where I’m going, I’ll always do my quick morning skincare routine. I wash my face with Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple Cleanser, and I’ll always put on my SPF 50 sunscreen, no matter what season it is.

I reference my Get To Do list for the week, and start working. I started using the term “Get To Do” list in an effort to operate from gratitude rather than obligation. That tiny switch has really changed my outlook. 

Next up: I Mastered a Phone-Free Morning Routine—Here's How