Why an Imperfect Morning Routine Might Be the Best Thing for Your Energy

When it comes to health and wellness advice, there’s a lot of pressure to have a “perfect” morning routine.

Ice baths at sunrise, 10-step journalling rituals, two-hour gym sessions before breakfast…

If that works for you, brilliant — but for most of us, especially when life is full with family, work, and everything in between, it’s just not realistic.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a perfect morning routine to support your energy, hormones, and overall well-being.

In fact, sometimes the messy, imperfect, “work with what you’ve got” approach is far more powerful — and far more sustainable.

The Power of Real-Life Morning Routines

I’ll be honest with you — I get up at 5am, six days a week.

Not because I’m part of some ‘5am club’, but because we home educate our two young children, and this is the window I have to focus on my work.

Is it ideal? Not really. I’d love to rise naturally with the sun, move slowly, spend time outdoors before opening my laptop… but that’s just not the season of life I’m in right now.

And that’s okay.

Instead of aiming for perfection, I focus on making small choices that support my energy, my health, and my circadian rhythms, even within an imperfect setup.

What Ancestral Wisdom Can Teach Us About Mornings

When I talk about ancestral health wisdom, I’m not saying we need to live exactly like our ancestors.

They had their challenges too — weather, predators, food scarcity — life wasn’t perfect back then either!

But what we can learn from ancestral patterns is the power of working with nature instead of against it.

Our ancestors woke with the natural light, moved their bodies daily, ate seasonally, spent time outdoors, and allowed rest when it was needed.

They didn’t follow rigid 10-step routines. Their health practices were woven into the fabric of daily life.

Today, modern science backs this up — studies show that morning light exposure, movement, hydration, and nourishing food choices first thing can have a huge impact on everything from hormone balance to metabolic health.

It’s not about doing it all perfectly — it’s about doing what you can, when you can, consistently enough to make a difference.

How I Work With What I Have (Not Against It) – to Create My “Imperfect Morning Routine” that works for me

Here’s a little window into my own morning rhythm, in case it gives you a few ideas for your own:

• Blue-blocking glasses: Because I’m up before sunrise, I wear my blue blockers while working, to protect my melatonin levels and circadian rhythms.

• Herbal tea instead of caffeine: I wait until after sunrise for caffeine. Instead, I start with a big mug of Tulsi Clarity tea (my current favourite in the morning) with a pinch of sea salt for hydration and minerals. (I know lots of people recommend plain water, but honestly, cold water first thing just doesn’t work for me.)

• Sunlight as soon as possible: As soon as the sun rises, I step outside to get natural light into my eyes and onto my skin. I then continue working outside using my camping table I can move around according to the direction of the sunrise (under shelter if it’s raining). This helps anchor my body clock for better energy and sleep.

• Movement later in the morning: I’m not doing a hardcore workout at 5am. Instead, once my children are up and we’re into our day, we walk, garden, and move together naturally. Some days, I do some trail running for 30-60 minutes, as this really helps me with mental clarity.

• Evening wind-down: I sometimes need to work again after dinner, while the children have some independent play time. I make sure we have an early dinner before sunset – which I know is really early in winter, but we also usually eat between 5 and 6pm in the summertime. I also make sure I use blue blockers again when I’m on my computer at night.

None of this is perfect.

Some days it’s rushed. Some days the weather is terrible. Some days the children wake up earlier than planned.

But by focusing on small, consistent choices rooted in both ancestral wisdom and modern science, I’m able to support my energy without adding extra pressure or guilt.

Why an “Imperfect Morning Routine” Might Be Exactly What You Need

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or drained trying to get everything “right,”

I want you to know — you’re not failing. You’re living.

And working with your body’s natural rhythms doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

You don’t need to wake up at exactly the same time every day, or immediately do 20 minutes of meditation and yoga, or drink a gallon of water on an empty stomach.

You just need to find what fits your life right now — and tweak it gently to support your health, not fight against it.

Small, imperfect actions, repeated often, are what lead to real, lasting change.

Takeaway: Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this, it’s that perfect doesn’t exist — and it’s not required for better energy, better health, or a better life.

Instead of aiming for some idealised routine, focus on small, doable habits that honour your current season of life.

Work with nature when you can.

Use modern science to support you.

And remember that messy mornings are still powerful, if they’re rooted in intention and self-care.

If you’re ready to create more energy and balance — without the pressure of perfection — I’d love to support you.

Click here to learn more about how we can work together.

Exciting news!

THE RESYNC SUMMER RESET starting Monday 16th June, £57 or £69 for 2. Email me at hello@resyncwellness.com to find out more and be added to the waitlist (there will be an early bird price)!