Achieve More Balance With This Simple Daily Routine
People often ask me for my anti-aging secrets and how I look so youthful. It’s my simple daily routine. My routine is a combination of mind, body and soul rituals that give me balance, reduce stress, and increase focus. I wrote down my routine for those who may want to improve their own daily rituals.
Sacred Morning Hours
There’s something sacred about the early morning hours, when the world is still quiet and the day’s demands haven’t yet made themselves known. I begin my day around 6:30am, not with the jarring buzz of an alarm or the glow of a phone screen, but with the gentle practice of putting pen to paper. For twenty-five minutes each morning, I journal, allowing my thoughts to flow freely across the pages. This isn’t just a pleasant way to start the day—it’s essential. These morning pages clear my head and calm the negative thoughts that might otherwise set the tone for everything that follows.
Morning Journaling
I discovered the transformative power of morning journaling through Julia Cameron’s book, “The Artist’s Way.” Cameron advocates for what she calls “morning pages”—three pages of longhand, stream-of-consciousness writing done first thing in the morning. This practice has become the cornerstone of my daily routine, a non-negotiable appointment with myself that allows me to process emotions, work through problems, and set intentions before the day truly begins. It’s in these quiet moments, before I’ve brushed my teeth or gotten dressed, that I find the mental clarity I need to navigate whatever lies ahead.
Skincare Routine
After journaling, I move through my morning preparations with intention. I brush my teeth and get dressed, but before I dive into exercise, I take time for skincare—a ritual that has yielded visible results. I use Korean skin toner pads that have been remarkably effective at clearing up dark marks on my skin while also brightening my complexion. The K-beauty approach to skincare emphasizes gentle, layered products, and these toner pads have become an indispensable part of my routine. Following the toner pads, I apply a daily moisturizer with SPF, protecting my skin from sun damage that can accelerate aging and cause hyperpigmentation.
Natural Hair Ritual
Since I wear my hair natural, my morning routine also includes a specific approach to hair care. I lightly mist my hair with water and apply a light oil to lock in moisture—essential steps for maintaining healthy, hydrated curls. Before working out, I pull my hair into two buns, secured with satin hair ties. This isn’t just about keeping my hair out of my face during exercise; I’ve learned that pulling my hair back while working out actually helps secure the curl pattern. When I take the buns down later, my hair is fuller and the curls are more defined. It’s a small technique that makes a significant difference in how my hair looks and feels.
Meditative Walk
Some mornings, before my main workout, I’ll take a fifteen to twenty-minute walk to meditate. I often listen to affirmations during this walk. On these days, I wear a fifteen-pound weighted vest, which adds resistance and turns a simple walk into a more effective cardiovascular and strength-building exercise. This weighted walking has become one of my favorite ways to ease into the day, combining fresh air, movement, and the extra challenge of the vest to wake up my body and mind.
Daily Exercise Routine
Though I’m naturally a morning person, I’ve learned to be flexible with my exercise routine. I make sure to work out for at least thirty minutes every day, whether that’s in the morning or the afternoon. The timing matters less than the consistency. Exercise has become one of the three pillars of my stress-reduction strategy, alongside journaling and maintaining strong connections with family and friends. I was recently told that reaching 15,000 steps per day is an excellent goal if you’re trying to lose weight. While I haven’t hit that number consistently yet, it’s become a target I’m working toward.
Typical Work Day
My work day typically runs from 7:30am to 7:30pm—a full twelve hours that requires sustained energy and focus. This demanding schedule makes my morning rituals even more important. By the time I sit down to work, I’ve already journaled, taken care of my skin and hair, and moved my body. I’ve set myself up for success before most people have finished their first cup of coffee.
Avoiding My Cell Phone
One boundary I’ve set with myself is avoiding my phone for at least an hour after waking up. Looking at social media or text messages first thing in the morning is a real distraction for me. It pulls my attention away from my own thoughts and intentions. By protecting that first hour, I preserve the calm and clarity I’ve cultivated through journaling and my morning routine.
Eating & Hydrating
My approach to eating is equally intentional. I eat two substantial meals per day, supplemented by three snacks. I aim to drink between 64 and 80 ounces of water daily. Rather than obsessively tracking my water intake, I simply fill up my Stanley cup whenever it’s empty. This simple system removes the mental burden of counting ounces while ensuring I stay adequately hydrated.
For brunch, around 11am, I typically eat eggs and broccoli—a protein-rich meal that provides sustained energy without weighing me down. Dinner usually consists of fish paired with salad or a green vegetable. I meal prep strategically, making salmon and crab cakes once a week. I incorporate them into different meals throughout the week by adding them to broccoli or salad. This approach saves time while providing variety and ensuring I’m eating nutrient-dense foods. I also eat two pieces of fruit each day, avoid bread as much as possible, and stay away from gluten entirely.
This way of eating—focused on whole foods, lean proteins, vegetables, and fruit while minimizing processed carbohydrates—has contributed not only to my physical health but also to the condition of my skin. The secret to my youthful appearance isn’t complicated or expensive. I don’t wear a lot of makeup, I use daily moisturizer with SPF, and I don’t eat greasy foods. Simple choices, practiced consistently, yield remarkable results.
After Dinner
After dinner, I like to take a thirty-minute walk. I’ve noticed that on days when I walk at night, I generally sleep better. There’s something about that final bit of movement, the transition from the demands of the day to the quiet of evening, that helps my body and mind prepare for rest.
Connection is another essential element of my daily life. I try to call my friends four to five times a week to keep our connections and bonds strong. I’m not someone who relies on text messages—I’m a pick-up-the-phone-and-call-you type of person. There’s an intimacy and authenticity in hearing someone’s voice, in the pauses and laughter and spontaneous tangents that can’t be replicated through written messages. I also talk to my kids every day or every other day. We’re pretty close, and maintaining that closeness requires consistent, meaningful communication.
As my day winds down around 9pm, I return to journaling, this time focusing on the highlights of the day. This evening practice helps me keep gratitude at the front of my mind, ending each day by acknowledging what went well, what I’m thankful for, and what moments deserve to be remembered. This bookending of my day—beginning and ending with journaling—creates a sense of completeness and reflection that I find deeply satisfying.
I watch very little television or streaming content. Instead, I prefer to unwind with an audiobook or by playing a game on my iPad. These quiet, low-stimulation activities help my mind transition from the alertness required during the day to the relaxation needed for quality sleep.
How my simple daily routine all connects
Looking at my routine from a distance, I can see how each element supports the others. The morning journaling clears space for the day ahead. The skincare and hair care routines are acts of self-respect. Listening to affirmations strengthens mental focus. The exercise and walking reduce stress and improve my physical health. The intentional eating nourishes my body without weighing me down. The phone boundaries protect my mental space. The connections with friends and family feed my soul. And the evening journaling allows me to reflect on and appreciate the day I’ve just lived.
The keys to reducing my stress are simple but powerful: journaling, exercising, and maintaining connections with family and friends. These aren’t revolutionary practices, but they’re transformative when done consistently. They’ve taught me that a good life isn’t built on grand gestures or dramatic changes, but on small, intentional choices made day after day. Each morning when I wake up around 6:30am and reach for my journal instead of my phone, I’m choosing the life I want to live. And each evening when I reflect on my day’s highlights, I’m acknowledging that I’ve lived it well.
