Why everyone does soft mornings
Do you ever feel like there are not enough hours in your day? You are certainly not alone. We cram our days full in the hope of checking off that to-do list. And it starts early, in the morning. Whoa, stop. Time for a break. TikTok is done with that rush in the morning. Enter: the ‘soft morning’. A calm routine to really start your day well. Experts are fans of this wellness trend. And we secretly are too.
What is a soft morning?
Does your morning look something like this: a ringing alarm clock, a sprint to the coffee maker, a race to the gym to quickly catch a lesson and check your emails on the way. And all of that before your workday really begins. As soon as your eyes open, you are on. Full speed ahead.
The soft morning trend does it completely differently. No morning that is scheduled down to the minute, but a calm start where you put yourself first for a moment. It's not about the perfect morning routine, but about consciously slowing down and starting the day at your own pace.
Start for example with a book instead of (doom)scrolling. Take a short walk, do some yoga. Drink your coffee slowly. We postpone the busyness and all the must-dos of the day for a moment and start with ourselves. A little me time. The rest of the world can wait a bit.
Why soft mornings are good for you
Whoever starts with a soft morning actually sets the tone for the rest of the day. By starting calmly and with intention, you give your body and mind a mentally and emotionally stable foundation that you can rely on until the evening. Such a calm start doesn’t have to look the same every morning. As long as you do what gives you energy and start with the right intention, you’re good. And perhaps most importantly: leave that to-do list aside for a moment.
“A calm start to the day can mean a lot, but often means that you consciously pay attention to your body, breathing, and immediate needs, without immediately going into a productive frenzy,” says clinical psychologist Ayanna Abrams. Your day starts more relaxed, and that carries through.
Why a quick start to the day actually works less well? According to Todd Dorfman, MD, co-chief medical director at Rebalance Health and a specialist in hormone management, it has everything to do with the cortisol hormone, which is responsible for stress responses in your body. Normally, your cortisol level rises gradually in the morning, making you slowly more alert and ready for the day.
With our tight routines, the opposite often happens. “When we abruptly wake up to a blaring alarm clock, this rhythm is disrupted and the body switches to fight-or-flight mode, with a spike in cortisol and adrenaline. As a result, we can feel stressed, anxious, or exhausted even before the day has really begun,” says Dorfman. With a calmer morning, we return more to that natural start of the day. And yes, it just feels really nice.
How to create your soft morning
Step one towards your soft morning routine is one that you might need to get used to. That blaring alarm clock that almost makes you hit the ceiling can go out the door. A better option is a daylight alarm clock, or an alarm clock that wakes you up gently with soft music. Do check, for example on the weekend, if it really wakes you up. Sleeping in is wonderful, but your boss is probably a bit less enthusiastic about that on Monday morning. Setting a different alarm tone can also help.
A second tip, and this one also requires some detoxing: leave your phone for what it is for a moment. Immersing yourself directly in the news or open emails is anything but soft. Preferably grab a book first or watch a bit of your favorite series. This way you start calmly, before your head fills up with everything that needs to be done. And that first cup of coffee and breakfast? You should really take your time for that. Those days of hurried yogurt cups on the train are over.
How you fill the rest of your morning is entirely up to you. What gives you energy and what fits your day? Rushing because you still want to walk while that meeting is about to start creates stress. So no soft morning. Enjoy that calm start without distractions. This moment is yours, and you will be grateful for it for the rest of the day.
