Truth is: optimizing our mornings isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially if being a “morning person” doesn’t come as second nature. While being a part of the coveted "5 a.m. Club" may be an aspiration for many, it can feel unfeasible depending on our lifestyle and routines.
As the new year takes off, the desire to make the most of our day is palpable. Our collective allure of 10-step morning routines and productivity hacks can make forming a solid routine feel daunting. And with the added pressure to hit an immediate stride with our new year practices, it’s easy to fall into the trap of creating false momentum that can fade as the year progresses.
Lucky for us, building the calm morning routine of rising before the sun and resisting the urge to get just ten more minutes of sleep can start with one small habit at a time. And you don’t necessarily have to be a “morning person” to make the most out of your day.
That’s why it’s important to choose habits that not only fit your lifestyle but can be sustained and built upon over time. In fact, all it takes is a little bit of planning, small goals, and consistency to stay committed to your goals in the new year. To help, we’re sharing the top morning micro habits to add to your daily routine and set the foundation you need to embrace calm in your mornings.
Micro Habits, Major Peace: Crafting Your Ideal Morning Routine
1. If You Want a Distraction-Free Morning, Try: The No-Phone Rule
Let’s be honest, sometimes our phones get the better part of our morning before we ever get a chance to roll out of bed. With that in mind, it may be time to adopt a new habit that deprioritizes your screen time and allows you to stop the mindless scrolling before it starts. Social media and work emails all have a way of sucking us into a time-draining rabbit hole that’s hard to get out of. But when we create the micro habit (read: boundary) with our media consumption and personal time, we can make space for a more mindful morning.
2. If You Want To Be More Organized, Try: Making Your Bed
Making your bed in the morning may seem like a small thing to look over, but there are great benefits to marking this task off. Bed-making in the morning is often associated with a sense of order, discipline, and accomplishment. With this habit being small and within your control, the sense of self-management can create order and structure in your immediate environment. Completing a simple task like making your bed is a quick win, and, with such an accomplishment early in the day, it can set a positive tone and motivate you to tackle more tasks ahead.
miniseries/Getty Images
3. If You Want Less Morning Jitters, Try: Hydrating Before Caffeine
We all love making coffee in the morning or stopping by our local coffee shop before heading to work, but when it comes to our overall wellness, we may forget to give our body the hydration it needs at sunrise. Since we tend to go hours without water while we’re sleeping, it’s important to refuel upon waking up to avoid dehydration and fatigue. As a coffee-lover, it feels nice to start the day off with a warm or iced caffeinated treat, but when we sip on a glass of water (with lemon or cucumbers added), it can reduce brain fog and cleanse us from the inside out.
4. If You Want To Be More Health-Conscious, Try: Taking Your Vitamins/Supplements
What we give our bodies on the inside is just as important as how we look on the outside. Prioritizing our vitamin and supplement intake is a great habit to form for the betterment of our overall well-being. When we take our supplements in the morning, we’re creating a routine and commitment to ourselves to replenish our bodies with the minerals and vitamins that we may be deficient in. Taking your vitamins every day at the same time also allows you to create a system that you can rely on and create a sense of predictability for the tasks to follow within your morning routine.
Studio CJ/Getty Images
5. If You Want To Be More Mindful, Try: Setting Your Intentions
No matter how far we get into a digital, AI-focused world, nothing beats the power of putting pen to paper. Taking a moment to pause before the noise of the world creeps in allows us to approach the day with a preview of the goals and aims we hope to see come about. Sometimes, it’s hard to wrap our heads around all the responsibilities that beg for our attention, but when we set smaller, achievable intentions, we can set our own pace and raise our awareness of what matters the most that day — and what can wait until tomorrow.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Johnce/Getty Images
Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Franco Zulueta
Issa Rae On Burnout & Why Protecting Her Marriage Is The Ultimate Act Of Self-Care
Brooke DeVard created theNaked Beauty Podcast in 2016 as an experiment to tell the stories of people who view beauty, wellness, and fashion as a form of self-expression. The podcast connects with people who share a similar approach and love for the practice of living through the lens of beauty and wellness. DeVard finds inspiration in people who take risks with their self-expression.
Who better represents self-expression than THEE Issa Rae?
Homegirl has been empowering us to be our most authentic selves for over a decade. Issa Rae’s The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl redefined representation by showcasing a relatable, quirky, and imperfect Black woman navigating life’s challenges. Through humor and authenticity, she dismantled stereotypes and empowered audiences to embrace their individuality. Rae’s work highlighted that Black women can be multifaceted and vulnerable while still deserving of love and success.
Beyond representation, she created opportunities for other Black creatives through her production company, Hoorae, fostering inclusion in Hollywood and inspiring a new generation to tell their stories unapologetically.
So, when Issa and Brooke decided to have a kiki on Naked Beauty, best believe we were locked in. Keep reading for the moments that highlight her journey through self-discovery, embracing her authenticity, and prioritizing her well-being.
On Feeling Beautiful
The Insecure starshared that she didn’t feel beautiful until visiting Senegal at 16-17. Seeing people who looked like her was life-changing. “What I look like was the beauty standard was life-changing.” She went on to say, “LA was not the place to feel beautiful, I will say that.”
On Her Hair Relationship Evolution
Issatransitioned from seeing her natural hair as a “burden” to embracing it after seeing more natural hair representations in college. She cut it all off to promote Awkward Black Girl and encourages others to do the same at least once because it changed her life. Issa proclaimed, “It really frees you of your hair expectations in a lot of ways.” The actress continued, “Being free was a feeling I had never felt before.”
Miss Coco Chanel once said, “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.” A fresh haircut's transformative power can create a sense of confidence and a sharp new look, symbolizing new beginnings. This sentiment is echoed in Coco Chanel's famous quote, highlighting the profound impact of a well-executed hairstyle.
When it comes to the natural hair moments on Insecure, Issa’s collaboration with Felicia Leatherwood was everything. Together, they created iconic natural hair moments for the show even when Issa had three inches of hair.
On Advocating for Herself
She has learned to advocate for herself but admits she sometimes overdoes it. “Sometimes I advocate a little too hard and have to fall back… I know I’m not always right.” With having one opportunity to get it right, she holds it dearly while she also sees the power of collaboration.
On Her Movie 'One of Them Days'
SZA and Keke Palmer’s roles stood out in the trailer dropped a few weeks ago. Issa shared, “SZA was a muse for Insecure. Keke can make anything entertaining… I have a new respect for her.” She calls their chemistry “funny as fuck” and “immediately amazing.” She can’t wait for people to see them together.
On Style Evolution
The LA native recognizes that she has become more aware and intentional about her style choices over time. Issa Rae's red carpet style is anything but safe. She's known for her bold prints, statement heels, and a particular fondness for jumpsuits. Over the years, Rae has graced events in show-stopping pieces by top designers.
Memorable looks include a frilled Off-White dress at the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards, a custom Pyer Moss jumpsuit adorned with 180,000 Swarovski crystals at the 2018 CFDA Awards (where she also broke ground as the first Black female host), and a stunning icy blue Vera Wang jumpsuit at the 70th Annual Emmy Awards. The woman is a star in every way.
On Skincare Routine
Issa recently had skin tags removed, aiding her “poreless” complexion. “I wasn’t always a ‘sunscreen girly.’ ” Her current skincare routine includes hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C serum, and her favorite product, Dewtopia by Ole Henrikson.
On Work and Self-Care
It’s no secret that Issa loves working but she shared that she honors self-care through baths, time with friends, and random outings. And on the drinking and smoking front, she says that she’s much more of a sipper than a smoker… very different from Issa Dee.
On Privacy and Boundaries
Protecting her privacy is a part of her self-care. She believes it’s important to keep things private and precious. “Being able to know that this is mine and nobody else’s,” is what serves her most. We saw this actualize when she popped out with a whole husband and we had no clue. But we get it because sometimes you have to protect what you hold dear when you’re in the spotlight. Issa also believes that other people are significantly more interesting than her.
On Burnout
Issa has gotten better at taking time off but admits struggles with burnout.“Sometimes unhealthily in terms of shutting down. It manifests as powering through, which is also really unhealthy.”She now has one day a week where she does absolutely nothing.
Watch her interview with Brooke in full below:
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images