The Morning Routine Shift That’s Changing My Energy, Focus, and Business
Do you ever feel like your mornings set the tone for your entire day — for better or worse?
Same.
This school year, after our first full week of students (and my brain feeling totally fried), I decided it was time to get back to one of the most grounding habits I’ve ever practiced: a powerful morning journaling routine focused on gratitude and intentional goal setting.
It’s simple, it’s quick, and it’s genuinely making a difference in my mindset, my focus, and even how my days unfold.
Here’s what I’ve been doing — and how you can make it your own.
🌞 Step 1: Start With Gratitude (But With a Twist)
Every morning, I write down five things I’m grateful for — and I don’t let myself repeat anything from the day before.
This part isn’t about checking a box or writing “my health” every day. I challenge myself to get specific and present:
- The amazing conversation I had with a student yesterday.
- My dog’s excited morning tail wags.
- The iced coffee that hit just right.
- The flexibility to work on my business dreams.
- A great night’s sleep.
Writing these down helps me actually feel the gratitude, not just think it. And it grounds me before my day starts to spiral into busy mode.
🎯 Step 2: Write Down 10 Big Goals — As If They Already Happened
After gratitude, I write my 10 big life goals and dreams — but in present tense, as if they’ve already come true.
Instead of saying:
“I want to have $100,000 in savings.”
I write:
“I have $100,000 or more in my savings account.”
That little phrase “or more” is powerful. It opens my mind to abundance, to possibility — and it stops me from putting a limit on what’s possible.
Some of my goals are financial. Others are about my business, relationships, or personal growth. The mix doesn’t matter; what matters is seeing them as done.
This trick, which I first picked up through Rachel Hollis’s Start Today Journal, keeps my goals fresh in my mind and reminds me daily what I’m working toward.
💫 Step 3: Focus on One Goal Right Now
At the bottom of my journal page, I write out the one main goal I’m currently focused on — and I write it twice.
It’s not that I’m ignoring my other goals. But having one focus keeps me from feeling scattered and helps me align my actions throughout the day.
When you know what your main thing is, you can prioritize your time and decisions with purpose.
🧘♀️ Step 4: Add a Mindfulness Practice
Alongside my journaling, I’ve been intentional about adding in breathwork and meditation to help me slow down and stay centered.
I recently did my first breathwork session (thanks to my friend Jen who’s getting certified!), and I’ve been loving guided sleep meditations using the Peloton app before bed.
It’s become a habit that not only helps me unwind but also signals to my body that it’s time to rest — something so many of us busy women forget to prioritize.
✨ The Real Magic: Consistency
All of this — gratitude, journaling, breathwork — takes me less than five minutes in the morning.
But the consistency is where the magic happens.
When I did this practice consistently in 2020, I saw real results. My mindset improved, I made progress toward my goals faster, and I just felt more aligned with the life I was creating.
Now that I’ve started it again, I can already feel that same shift happening.
Try It This Week
Here’s your challenge, friend:
- Write down 5 new things you’re grateful for each morning.
- Write your 10 big goals as if they’ve already happened (and add “or more” where it fits).
- Pick one goal to focus on right now.
- Do it for one week — and notice how your energy, attitude, and focus start to shift.
You don’t need a fancy journal to start — just a notebook, pen, and five quiet minutes.
Try it out, and let me know how it goes! Screenshot this post, tag me on Instagram @lindsaydollinger, and share what you’re manifesting this season.
You deserve to create and own your magic — one intentional morning at a time. 💫