For years, I believed that the best way to start the day was to jump out of bed, check my phone, answer emails, and get moving. There was always something waiting for me. A deadline. A meeting. A family obligation. A flight to catch. Something.
Now I've discovered that sometimes the most productive thing I can do is... absolutely nothing.
Well, not nothing. It's more of allowing myself to begin the day gently. I do have days that start at 5 am and I'm rushing in the shower and running through the airport. I have mornings where "the sky is falling," and everything starts out on the wrong foot. I wouldn't be normal if that weren't the case. But, on those days (even if I have to schedule them, which I prefer not to do), when I'm home and can open my computer at noon instead of early morning without what feels like everything around me falling apart, I try to start out slowly.
A lazy morning isn't about being lazy at all. It's about choosing yourself before the world starts asking for pieces of you. It's about creating a little pocket of peace before work, relationships, errands, or the news have a chance to dictate your mood. It's about being intentional to put yourself first.
I've found that when I spend even a half hour (I prefer longer) moving at my own pace, I show up differently for everything that follows that day. I'm more patient. More creative. More present. I answer emails with a clearer head. I listen better. I stress less. Even the inevitable little annoyances seem much smaller after I've had time to simply be.
I want to lounge; I don't want to get up and get all dressed up. I want comfort. But at just 5'1", I need clothes that don't overwhelm my petite frame. So, on those days, whether I've slept in them or not, I put on a set of Boxy Tee pajamas from Smol. I've absolutely fallen in love with the brand.
They make PJs specifically for those my size (petites) that are soft enough to sleep in, but they're also the kind of pieces I happily stay in long after I wake up. On mornings when I don't have to rush out the door, they're my favorite loungewear. Comfortable without feeling sloppy, relaxed without looking oversized. Sometimes I curl up with a book. Sometimes I write. Sometimes I simply sit outside on my back porch that overlooks the pool and listen to the birds while the world slowly wakes up around me.
If you're 5'3" or under, check out WearSmol
I don't think there was ever a chance I'd become anything other than a coffee lover. I spent years in the coffee business (my husband owned restaurants and I'm retired from Starbucks), so it's practically in my DNA. As a child, I grew up on Rhode Island's state drink - coffee milk. My favorite way to start the day is a rich dark roast or a good espresso, whether it's brewed in a simple drip coffee maker or made the traditional way in a moka pot. The ritual of grinding the beans, waiting for the aroma to fill the kitchen, and pouring that first cup is almost as satisfying as drinking it.
Some things simply make everyday moments feel more meaningful.
I've collected several pieces by ceramic artist Gina DeSantis over the years, and they've become some of my favorite treasures in my kitchen. Lately I've been reaching for her Black Clay Coffee Cup every morning. It isn't just a mug. It's a piece of art that happens to hold coffee. It reminds me that art doesn't have to hang on the wall to be appreciated. It can be held in my hands as an inspiration that I too can create something today.
The Black Clay collection was inspired by Gina's visit to Oaxaca, Mexico, where black clay pottery has been crafted for centuries in San Bartolo Coyotepec. She sourced a beautiful black stoneware clay from Spain that fires into a rich dark brown, then finished each cup with a glossy gray glaze that reveals warm brown undertones unique to the clay. Every piece is thrown by hand, making each one slightly different from the next. That's part of what makes them so special. No two are exactly alike. Just like my days, just like the pattern of my life.
Holding one reminds me that someone actually shaped it with their own hands. In a world filled with mass-produced everything, there's something incredibly grounding about drinking your morning coffee from an artisan's work. It turns an everyday habit into a small act of appreciation.
It's also practical. The cups hold about twelve ounces, are microwave and dishwasher-safe, and are the perfect size for that first cup that signals the official beginning of the day.
Available at Nordstrom and Anthropologie
But honestly, it's not about the pajamas.
Those are simply the tools that help create a ritual.
The real ritual is permitting yourself to slow down before life speeds up. It's recognizing that taking care of yourself isn't selfish. It's a gift to yourself. When you begin the day feeling rested, centered, and grateful, you bring a better version of yourself into every conversation, every project, every relationship, and every challenge that comes your way.
We spend so much of our lives taking care of everyone else.
Maybe tomorrow morning, before you check your phone or your calendar, take ten extra minutes for yourself.
Drink it from a mug that makes you smile.
Watch the sunlight come through the window.
You may be surprised how something so simple changes the entire rhythm of your day.
Sometimes the smallest rituals create the biggest transformations.