Realistic ways to start your day with a little more calm—and a lot more control.
Let’s be honest. Divorce mornings hit different. Whether you’re waking up alone for the first time in a long time, wrangling kids on your own, or adjusting to the eerie quiet of an empty house on your off-parenting days, mornings can feel…weird.
You’re not broken if you don’t leap out of bed feeling “empowered.” This isn’t a Pinterest board. This is real life. And sometimes, real life means you’re drinking your coffee with a side of grief.
But here’s the good news: You can create small, steady rhythms that help you feel a little less like you’re floating and a little more like you’re steering the ship.
Step One: Start Where You Are
Forget the glossy influencer routines. You don’t need to meditate for 40 minutes, drink mushroom tea, and journal under a weighted blanket while your toddler screams from the other room.
This isn’t about doing it “right”—it’s about building something that feels doable and grounding. Ask yourself: What’s one thing I can do each morning that helps me feel more like myself?
Maybe it’s putting on real pants. Or making your bed. Or lighting a candle before opening your laptop. Choose one anchor—big or small—that gives your brain a cue that you’re starting the day on your terms.
Step Two: Make Peace With the Silence
Sometimes the hardest part of the morning is the quiet. Maybe you’re used to making two cups of coffee. Maybe the only sound is your own thoughts spiraling. That’s normal.
But silence can be your ally too. Use it to breathe. To check in with yourself. To play your favorite song at full volume. To dance a little in the kitchen while you wait for the toast to pop.
You don’t have to fill the silence—just don’t let it boss you around.
Step Three: Skip the Shame Spiral
Didn’t drink your water? Yelled at your kid? Stared into the fridge for 10 minutes and ate half a bag of Goldfish instead of breakfast? Cool. That was today. Try again tomorrow.
Mornings aren’t about performance. They’re just a reset. An opportunity to start again. The beauty of this transition is that you get to rewrite your routines, your rituals, your rhythm. One day, you’ll look up and realize you’ve crafted something new—a life that actually fits.
Be gentle with yourself. Keep it simple. Pick one small thing that brings you a sense of control, comfort, or calm—and let that be enough for today.
