My Morning Routine that Changed and Sustains My Lifestyle

Why It Still Works—and How You Can Build One That Works for You

What I’ve learned is, in life, there are those who fill up their life with all.the.things, and those who build up their life from all.the.things.

I’m the latter. 😎

What does that mean?

It means that rather than looking at my life, and thinking, “Wow, Deni! You do a LOT of things! How do you even get all of that done?”

You might look at my life, and think, “Wow, Deni! You do very key things, that support your life...well.”

You see…I’m not trying to fill my days. I’m trying to live my days. I want to live long…well and whole. And it all starts…with my mornings.

I thought I’d give you a little behind-the-curtain moment.

My morning routine has been with me for decades. Sure, it’s evolved over time, and so have I. I mean:

My kids are grown.
My neighborhood location has changed several times.
My work schedule has changed and been restructured.
I’m older. 😊
My time is even more valuable.
My lifestyle is more relaxed.

But the foundation of my routine? Still solid as ever.

That’s the power, efficiency and effectiveness of a routine that actually works. One that’s not based on trends, or borrowed from someone else’s highlight reel…my routine is crafted from me, for me, from the inside out.

Truth is, the rhythm of my routine hasn’t just transformed my days…it’s transformed my life. It’s how I start each morning with clarity, direction, and JOY. And…it keeps me moving forward. Yes…even in the hardest, darkest times. Even in the easiest, most JOY-full times.

The result?

My body is still moving effortlessly with strength and mobility. My mind is still sharp, focused, and renewed. My spirit is daily lifted, guided, and obedient.

I live for today, with tomorrow in mind.

Want to know what it looks like?

My Non-Negotiable: Gratitude and Mindset

Still in bed, I begin with a gentle “twist and tuck” to loosen up my torso, pelvis, heart and mind. It helps me check in with my body as I begin checking in with my mind and spirit. Thank you, Lord, for another day!
Bathroom time, I sip water, and take care of the rest. After that, I get dressed and ready for movement.
Mobility work is next, if I'm not going out for a walk or jog. Or...if I need the extra movement prior.
Gratitude and mindset work continues while I walk or jog. This is part of my “quiet” time and my “looking forward” space.
Connection comes as I make eye contact, smile, and greet as many people as possible. It adds light to my day…and I hope I return the blessing.
I also pray for wisdom, knowledge, understanding, insight, and guidance: How can I show up today from who I am, not just what I do? How can I honor God, throughout the day? This clears the clutter. Anchors me. Builds confidence...from purpose.

Fueling Body, Mind and Spirit

Back home, I nourish my body with breakfast: a homemade spicy almond or oat milk latte, turkey bacon, and oatmeal with nuts and fresh fruit.
While the turkey bacon cooks, I do a full-body movement flow right there in the kitchen. It only takes 5 minutes. Even on strength days, this targets my whole body, warms me up differently, and keeps me in motion.
While the oatmeal cooks, I prep for my spiced latte.
Then, I sit down for my physical and spiritual refuel: I pray, and read my devotional. While eating, I listen to a short Biblical training, read supporting Scriptures, journal (any insights), and post a prayer to my Facebook story, to encourage others.

Preparing for the Day

I clean up from breakfast
Spend about 30 minutes getting work-ready:
- Clear emails from overnight (delete the noise, flag the important)
- Check calendar for any appointments or surprises
- Review my planner/notebook, to confirm clarity on the how of the day

This simple sequence frees up so much headspace for when it’s time to serve my clients.

If it’s a strength day, I head to my workout area of choice (in my home), and knock it out. I end with foam rolling, a stretch/release flow, and a bit of thoracic work to keep my chest…and my heart…open.
Then it’s time for a shower reset. I treat it like a “washing away” and “reset-of-mindset” time. I get dressed for the day, and officially step into the other part of it.

What Makes This Routine Work

I love that it’s:

Simple, efficient, and effective
A smooth and steady pace
Grounded in my 4 Pillars of Self-Care
Completely in alignment with who I am
Prepares me, and supports me for where I’m going

It brings me calm, peace, clarity, focus, grounding, power, and JOY.

But listen, before you start thinking I do this perfectly every single day...(I see the eye roll 🙄)…

Let’s clear that up:

Are there days I don’t feel like it? Yep.
Days I cut things short? Absolutely.
Days that get interrupted or flipped upside down? You betcha.

I’m human. I expect those days. So…I build in grace for myself and others, and have backup plans (routines) to honor that.

Your Routine? It Should Look Like…YOU.

I’m not sharing this so that you copy my routine.

And I don’t suggest that you copy the latest guru’s version either.

Sure…you can use it for inspiration, but you want to use your identity and calling as the greatest inspiration.

Your routine should reflect:

Who you are
How you are
What you need
Where you’re going

In fact, yours might be super simple:

Journal in bed
Bathroom routine
Dress for success
Smoothie
Planner
Work

And guess what? That can be powerful…for YOU. And…it can evolve over time.

Because the key isn’t just the “what.” It’s the why behind the what. That’s how you build consistency.

Pro Tip: The Night Before Matters

One major secret sauce to my morning routine? My evening routine.

I take a few minutes to:

Reflect on my mission and intentions for the next day
Look over the next day’s entire schedule
Confirm that I have everything I need to get things going…to done
Do whatever I can to reduce friction for the morning ahead

Some things I choose to save for the morning flow, and others I prep in advance. It’s all about what serves the process best…in the moment.

I even prep my work space—laying out exactly what I’ll need to touch first when I sit down.

Ninja move? Yes.

Control freak? Not in a negative way.

Helpful? Absolutely.

Your morning routine shouldn't break you.

And here’s something I do every night, that isn’t recommended in the “books.” I have some screen time. Yep.

After a short bedtime mobility stretch, while expressing gratitude for the day…I use 3 game apps on my phone…yep…for my mind.

Here’s why this works for me:

It shifts my mind to different types of problem-solving, than I’ve had all day. (Cue the sigh.)
It feeds the parts of me that are my talents/strengths.
AND it challenges the parts of me that are…challenged. LOL
In the end…I’m not frustrated. I’m totally relaxed. I’m sleepy. I’m shutting down. I’m…😴