The Morning Routine for the Girl Who’s Just Not “That Girl”
Written by: Lydia Lepping Illustrations by: Cora Hochstetler
We all know 'that girl' from social media: she has a perfectly aesthetic routine and a seemingly idyllic life. AND she posts it all on social media. We love her, but it's just not realistic. Find an attainable version of this routine with MAVEN.
Do you know that persona that we all know from social media? “That girl.” She’s usually posting on TikTok, showing you her perfect morning routine that starts hours (YES, I said HOURS) before she even must leave the house. I tend to watch these videos before bed, which leads me into a panic about how my next morning will not add up to hers. Don’t get me wrong, I love her and aspire to be her, but I am not her, nor do I think I will ever be her, and that’s okay.
Below is the not-too-perfect, not-too-early weekday morning routine specifically for this girl who is just not “that girl.”
Step one – Figure out your timing
Set your get-out-of-bed-time time just one hour before you leave the house. I need to leave the house around 8:45/8:50. So I should plan to get out of bed at 7:45. If you’re a serial alarm snoozer or a morning scroller like I am (be honest with yourself), an hour and 15 minutes. This means that my first alarm goes off at:
Step 2 - Wake up, kinda...
7:30 am
ding ding ding!! (THIS is my least favorite moment of the day, so I love hitting the snooze button or scrolling on my phone).
Step 3 - Go time!
7:45 am
Get up, come on, you can do it; you’ve got this! Put a light or a lamp on and throw a hoodie or robe on for extra coziness. Now straight to the bathroom to wash your face and your skincare routine. I wash with Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, moisturize with Cetaphil Deep Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Cream, and brighten with Cetaphil Deep Hydration Refreshing Under-Eye Serum. I like to give my moisturizer a little time to sink in before makeup.
Step 4 – Make Your Bed
7:52 am
Head into your bedroom and make your bed. I promise you that this is a VERY important step for two reasons:
1) It makes you feel productive first thing in the morning.
2) Nothing is better than coming back to a made bed after a long day of classes or work.
Step 5 – Let’s Get Glowy
7:57 am
Doing your makeup now allows you to maximize time in your pajamas, which is ideal. It is time for makeup (if you wear any, if not, you can move on to the next step)! I lovingly apply five products that allow me to feel confident, glowy, and bright all day. I start with Supergoop! Glow Screen on the face before dabbing some Morphe Perk Up Cheep and Lip Color on my cheeks for a blushy look, then I move to the eyes with the Honest Beauty Eye Catcher Lid Tint for the perfect sparkle, Benefit Roller Lash Mascara to open up the eyes, Colourpop tinted brow gel to tame my eyebrows, and Smith’s Rosebud Salve for some added hydration on the lips.
Step 6 – Find the Fit
8:10 am
At this point, my makeup is on, and I’m feeling fresh and glowy. I’ll head to my closet to pick out my outfit and lay it on my bed. DO NOT PUT IT ON YET! As I said earlier, I like to maximize my time in my pajamas.
Step 7 – Time to Eat
8:13 am
Something quick-and-easy-but-will-keep-me-full-until-lunch breakfast is ideal. What do I typically eat for breakfast? Oh, thank you for asking! If I am in a sweet mood, I make a packet of Trader Joe’s cinnamon protein oatmeal, but if I am in a salty mood, I go for a classic, two scrambled eggs with a slice of cooper sharp and a slice of toast. Plus, while I cook, I like to turn on the NPR News Now podcast to get my daily dose of what is happening, but that’s just me… you do you.
Step 8 – Sit, Eat, and Relax
8:25 am
Take this time to relax for 10 minutes while you eat. Maybe you’re answering some texts, scrolling on Instagram or TikTok, or even being oh-so-perfect and reading a book; I don’t know what your prerogative is. I’m typically watching TikTok videos or chatting with my roommate. Then, all dishes into the sink; we’ll deal with those later!
Step 9 – Finishing Touches
8:35 am
You have just 10 minutes until you leave. I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth, take my vitamins, and put on my deodorant. Then I head to my room to put on the beautifully laid-out outfit from earlier (see how easy that is since we picked it out earlier?) and a little perfume.
Step 10 – Ready, Set...
8:40 am
Five Minutes! You’ve got this; all you need to do is pack up your backpack and bundle up for your commute.
Now… sometimes, by some miracle, I finish the 8:35 step with 10 minutes to spare instead of 5. In this case, I have two options: do my dishes, or scroll once again. Do the dishes; it’s worth it, and your future self will thank you.
Step 11 – Heading out the door
8:45 am
Pop those Air Pods in, or um on, or maybe over… whatever you do! Turn on something that will set a positive tone for the day: for a walk to class, I like some pump-up music (lately, it’s been Disco), and for a commute to work, I opt for a podcast (What We Said has been a favorite recently). Now grab your keys, lock your door, and go off into the world for another amazing day.
As you can see, you don’t have to be “that girl” to have a perfectly productive and energizing morning routine. Instead, you can be “this girl” who does what works best for her and leaves the house feeling confident and ready for her day.