Celebrity Morning Routines That Are Actually Doable, Even for People Who Hate Mornings

Not everyone is a morning person by nature. But anyone can make peace with the early hours of the day by establishing the right morning routine. If you have yet to establish your own, you've definitely seen celebrities post their morning routines on social media because, much like avocado toast, they're everywhere. Yes, morning routines are trendy AF, but experts say there's nothing wrong with establishing little rituals that make waking up on the right side of the bed more feasible. In fact, doing so is encouraged—even if you don't post yours on the 'Gram.

"A morning routine helps with organization, efficiency, and having one sets the intention for the day, the tone for the day," says impact coach Katie Sandler, M.S. "It doesn't need to be elaborate, lengthy, or expensive. It simply needs to be yours and filled with what you're most inclined to follow through with so that you're set up for success for the rest of the day."

Curating a routine that reflects your lifestyle is key, adds Sandler. In other words, if you don't like green juice, don't drink it. If going for a three-mile run the second you open your eyes sounds like torture, maybe a gentle morning stretch routine in your PJs would be up your alley. Regardless of what your routine looks like, the goal is to create daily practices that help you feel more resilient and intentional in the face of whatever your day has in store for you, explains Sandler.

While celebrities' morning routines tend to be a bit more extensive—not to mention more expensive—than those of the average person, they set an example for the kinds of practices that can realistically be embedded into your own day. Here are some celebrity morning routines to draw inspiration from.

For This Is Us actress Chrissy Metz, "zen" is the word. In a recent interview with Good Housekeeping, Metz revealed that gratitude and meditation come before social media and her inbox. She said she keeps a gratitude list, which she reads every morning, then she meditates "for at least 25 minutes," she told the publication.

"I didn't realize how much an extra 35, 45 minutes [in the morning] would change my life, but it sets the tone for the whole day," explained Metz. "It's like, whatever happens, I'm going to figure out how to react to it in a sane way and not from a place of harried chaos."

Considering research has shown that practicing gratitude on the reg can benefit your relationships, your sleep, and even your heart health, it's an excellent addition to any solid morning routine. (These gratitude journals can help you get into the habit of appreciating the little things in life.)

Similarly, meditation has been shown to lower stress levels, increase self-awareness, and help you feel less lonely. If 25 minutes alone with your thoughts sounds overwhelming, though, no worries—beginner-friendly meditation apps can help you ease into the practice. And remember: There's no right or wrong way to meditate.

Some people can't function without chugging coffee first thing in the morning. Victoria Beckham, on the other hand, would rather down two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a nutrient-packed green smoothie, according to Hello!. In a 2017 Instagram Story, the fashion designer showcased her signature "green monster" breakfast smoothie, made with apples, kiwi, lemon, spinach, broccoli, and chia seeds, per Hello!.

While this might not sound like the tastiest combo to some, it's certainly a nutritious way to start the day. Spinach can help boost your workout performance, while apples and chia seeds are solid sources of fiber. As for apple cider vinegar, it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it is said to help with digestion by encouraging the growth of healthy gut bacteria.

Still not feeling Beckham's go-to smoothie? These other healthy green smoothie recipes taste amazing.

There's a solid chance Jennifer Aniston gets more done before noon than I get done in an entire day. She told Well+Good that her morning routine—which can start anywhere between 4:30 a.m. (!) and 9 a.m.—begins with a cup of hot water and lemon, followed by a quick skin-care routine, meditation, a breakfast smoothie, and then a workout—or, more accurately, multiple workouts.

"I have a trainer, a wonderful woman who I do this spin-yoga class [with]," explained Aniston. "We spin for half an hour, and then do yoga for 40 minutes. That's pretty intense. Then I go to a gym, where I do strength training or just my own thing on the treadmill, the bike, or the elliptical, just to change things up." (Related: Is It Time to Change Your Exercise Routine?)

It's true that working out first thing in the morning can lead to plenty of health benefits, like lower blood pressure and improved sleep. But if Aniston's routine sounds a little too ambitious for you (same), try this quick-start morning workout to get your blood flowing after you wake up.

If simply being conscious before 9 a.m. is a struggle, it's okay to ease into the morning with low-key "me time" activities. Take a cue from Felicity Jones, who begins her days with some gentle, candlelit stretching.

"I have a little space where I put down a yoga mat and I light the candle—Diptyque in scent No.34 (Buy It, $80, nordstrom.com), which is almost unisex, with a spiciness to it," Jones previously told us. "Even if it's just for 10 minutes, I have a stretch. Then I feel a little more centered and ready for the day." (Another alternative to a candle: this essential oil hack that can help you wake up in the morning.)

Jones also carves out time to pamper her skin every morning, using a face roller and brightening serum to give herself a little "wake-up massage," she told us. Her beauty picks are a little pricey, but these jade rollers and derm-recommended anti-aging serums won't break the bank.

In a "Waking Up With" video for Elle, Ashley Graham shared that she likes to set her intentions for the day by reading an uplifting excerpt from one of her favorite books.

"I have this awesome book—it's called The Magnificent Word of The Lord (Buy It, $15, amazon.com)—and in the contents, it has all these different words like anxiety, loneliness, comfort, conversation. You look up the word that you're feeling in the moment, and it takes you to almost every single verse in the Bible that talks about [that emotion]," Graham explained in the video.

Even if connecting with a higher power isn't really your thing, research shows that in general, reading for just 30 minutes a day can help reduce stress and lower blood pressure—not to mention it's a great way to pass the time if you're stuck in public transit during your daily morning commute. (Here are some other ways to revamp your commute so it doesn't suck.)

Plus, setting intentions for the day—whether you do so with a book à la Graham's morning routine, or even just by jotting them down in your phone's Notes app—can help you stay present and follow through on those goals, Andrea Gottlieb, Ph.D., a psychologist at Sheppard Pratt Health System, previously told us.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas loved listening to music long before meeting her husband Nick. But marrying the 27-year-old musician only amplified her appreciation for a good tune—so much so that music is now an essential part of her morning routine, she recently told Harper's Bazaar. "The first thing I do in the morning is put on music," Chopra Jonas told the glossy. "But I don't like playing music on my phone; I have to have a JBL speaker to really hear it."

A good playlist can really set the tone for the day, especially if you dread your daily commute. Research published in the Journal of Ergonomics suggests that listening to music while sitting in traffic can not only improve your mood, but it might also help you drive more safely if you're behind the wheel every morning.

Not every celeb is a fan of the stereotypical hot water with lemon. "Good As Hell" singer, Lizzo, for example, doesn't just drink water in the morning; she has a spray bottle prepped and ready to mist as soon as she rolls out of bed.

"Water is really important for face and hair," the performer recently told the New York Times. "I go to the bathroom and, believe or not, hit myself with some Evian spray to the face."

Spraying yourself with straight-up H2O will definitely cool you off and help you shake off those morning cobwebs. But if you're looking to *really* hydrate your skin in the morning, you might want to see what the rosewater trend is all about.

If waking up to a blaring alarm clock is the worst part of your morning, you're not alone. Oprah Winfrey can't stand it either—so instead, she's trained herself to begin her morning routine by rising and shining sans ear-splitting noises.

"I don't believe in [alarm clocks]," Winfrey told The Hollywood Reporter. "[Instead,] I put the number in my mind and I wake up before that, usually between 6:02 and 6:20, because the dogs are trained to go out around that time."

Granted, waking up on your own without an alarm is much easier said than done. Still, while it won't necessarily happen overnight, it's not totally impossible. The key is to create a consistent daily rhythm in the time you wake up and the time you go to bed so your body can become naturally accustomed to that pattern, according to the National Sleep Foundation. And yes, that does entail waking up and going to bed at roughly the same times, every day (including weekends and days off).

With practice and consistency, waking up without an alarm like Oprah is doable. But if you want another alternative to the typical irritating alarm, look no further than the Philips Wake-Up Light (Buy It, $95, amazon.com). The device's gentle light and alarm sound (choices range from chirping birds to melodic piano music) slowly increase as it gets closer to your wake-up time, easing you into your morning instead of thrusting you headfirst into the day. (Not convinced? Read how one editor became a morning person after using this wake-up light alarm.)