I write about mornings because they used to be the worst part of my day.
I’m Amy Kinlaw. I run Morning Routine from a small house in Cheshire, Connecticut, where I’ve spent the last five years testing every morning ritual I could find so you can skip the bad ones.
The best way to reach me.
Different things go to different inboxes. Pick the one that fits and you’ll get a real answer faster.
General hello
Questions, kind words, routine suggestions, or just want to say hi? Email me directly. I read every single one.
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Some real mornings from the last few years.
Not styled, not staged. Just what showing up at 5:42 actually looks like.
Why I started writing about mornings.
Five years ago, I was a chronic snooze-button hitter. I’d set seven alarms, hit dismiss on all of them, and stumble out of bed at 7:15 feeling like I’d already lost the day.
If I haven’t done it myself, I won’t tell you to do it. Simple as that.
Then in March 2020, like a lot of people, my whole routine got thrown out. Working from home, no commute, no excuse. I started experimenting. Cold showers. 5am wake-ups. Journaling. Lemon water. Yoga in pajamas. The whole internet-famous list.
Most of it didn’t stick. Some of it did. And what I kept noticing was that almost every “perfect morning” article I read online was either written by someone with no kids, no job, and a personal chef, or it was just a list of habits copied from another list of habits, with no actual experience behind them.
So I started writing my own. Mornings I actually tried. Mornings that worked. Mornings that fell apart by Wednesday. The whole truth, including the parts where I quit cold plunges after three days because my apartment didn’t have a bathtub deep enough.
That’s what this site is. Five years in, 200+ routines tested, 42,000 readers a month, and one rule I haven’t broken: if it’s not something I’ve actually done, it doesn’t go up.
Quick answers before you dive in.
Do I have to wake up at 5am?
Not even a little. The best morning routine is the one that works with your actual schedule. I have 5am routines because I wake up at 5am. If you wake up at 8, you build an 8am routine. Same principles, different clock.
Is this site for women only?
Nope. I write from my own perspective (woman, mom, runner, skincare nerd), but most of what I cover works for anyone. Routines for kids, men, students, seniors. The body and brain don’t really care.
Do you work with brands?
Sometimes. When I do, I tell you. I never review a product I haven’t used myself, and I won’t write about something just because someone paid me to. Full disclosure on every post that includes one.
Can I share or reprint your articles?
Quote me, link to me, share screenshots. Just don’t copy whole posts. If you’re a publication or podcast, send me an email at hello@morningroutine.fit and we’ll work it out.
Are these routines doctor-approved?
I’m not a doctor or a dietitian. Anything on this site is based on personal experience, books I’ve read, and conversations with experts. If you’re starting something new (fasting, cold plunges, supplements), check with your own doctor first.
Five rules I won’t break.
These are non-negotiable. They’re the reason this site exists and the reason readers stick around.
I test before I write.
Every routine on this site is one I've personally tried for at least 14 days. No theory, no rumors, no "my friend told me" anecdotes. If it's here, I lived it.
No AI drafts. Ever.
Every word on Morning Routine is written by me. I use spell-check and a thesaurus. I don't use ChatGPT to generate articles, intros, or outlines.
I tell you when something is paid.
If a brand sponsors a post or I earn affiliate commission, it's labeled at the top. I won't review products I haven't tried, even if they pay me.
I cite experts I trust.
When I write about science (sleep, cortisol, light exposure), I cite peer-reviewed research, board-certified doctors, and books from credentialed authors. No "scientists say" hand-waving.
I update old posts.
If I change my mind about a routine, or new research comes out, the post gets updated and the change is noted at the top. Old advice doesn't silently disappear.
I read every email. Even the angry ones.
Whether you’ve got a question, a routine that worked for you, a routine that didn’t, or just want to say hello. I’m a real person and I write back.