This morning, my alarm went off at 7:05 a.m. I stared at the ceiling, debating if I should stay in bed for another ten minutes or just give in. My new sheets were warm, the floor looked unforgiving. Then I remembered something I’d seen online— count down from five and then you basically have to get out of bed.
So I said it out loud, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. After the count of one, I swung my legs out of bed.
The air was cold. My dog looked at me, excited that we were awake and was ready to go outside. I shudder down the hallway to the kitchen to make my warm coffee, because if I didn’t have that within 5 minutes, I for sure was going right back to bed.
It’s not like I had some groundbreaking morning planned. I had back to back meetings starting at 10:30 and a small window to squeeze in a four-mile walk before they started. That’s been my problem lately—days slipping by, the sun setting before I feel like I’ve even started. Ever since the New year, I cant belive how fast my days go by. So waiting until after work to go on a long walk, wasn’t cutting it.
After coffee, I put on a headband. I wasn’t sure I could pull it off, but I wore it anyways. Threw on layers of warm clothes because for some reason it’s freaking freezing in south carolina. Like, it’s literally supposed to snow this weekend, that’s how cold it is. I quickly did my morning skincare which consists of Nivea Soft face lotion, La Roche-Posay Repair Moisturizing Cream, and Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Face Serum. Then, did my morning-no makeup-makeup, which is Loreal Lumi Glow and Elf Hydrating Concelar, and Mario Debescu mint lip balm.
Got in my car and drove four minutes to the beach. I played a podcast I’d saved, the same one I saw that made me get out of bed this morning—The Skinny Confidential with Mel Robbins. Robbins is the one who came up with the 5-4-3-2-1 method, and I figured if it worked this morning, maybe I should listen to what else she had to say.
The podcast wasn’t some rah-rah motivational speech. It was honest. Robbins talked about how she used this countdown to change her own life when she felt stuck. It’s not magic; it’s just a way to bypass the excuses your brain makes when you hesitate. The part that really stuck with me, though, was when she said most people quit new habits around Day 19. It’s not that it’s too hard—it’s just that it gets boring. The newness wears off, and the results aren’t big enough yet to feel like progress.
It’s exactly why I’ve abandoned so many good intentions. Waking up early, working out, sticking to a schedule—I’ve quit all of them when they stopped feeling exciting. Robbins’ advice was simple: expect the boredom and push through anyway. That’s where the change happens.
By the time I finished my walk, I felt my own motivation bypass me, and just wanted this to be my every morning, so it wasn’t “motivation” it was just my life.
So, can a morning routine change your life? I don’t know yet. But I do know that it’s not just about waking up at the crack of dawn or achieving some Pinterest-perfect morning with matcha and a bowl of ice (although that may help). It’s about showing up for yourself in the smallest ways—even when it’s uncomfortable or uninspiring. It’s about momentum.
So tomorrow, when my alarm goes off, I’ll count down again.