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Aesthetic morning routine videos seem to have taken over TikTok. Short clips of satisfyingly tidy and productive mornings strung together to create a full aesthetic morning routine videos are trending.
To be honest, some of these TikToks can be harmful in their unrealistic perception and encouragement of comparison. However, if you feel confident that you will not compare, but simply gain inspiration from these videos, you can use them to fuel your own morning routine plan.
With that, if you’ve found yourself wanting to build your own TikTok-worthy morning routine, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are all the steps, strategies, tips, and tricks you need to create your own aesthetic morning routine that you can be proud of!
10 Key Steps to an Aesthetic Morning Routine
If you have seen the trending TikToks of aesthetically pleasing morning routines, you may have noticed that most of them share some key similarities. With that, we can make the foundation of our own morning routine.
How you organize your own aesthetic morning routine is largely up to you. The order of these steps can be altered and shifted to best suit you and your lifestyle.
Regardless of how you structure your routine, knowing these 10 key steps helps to build the foundation of your TikTok-inspired morning.
Step 1: Make Your Bed
Making your bed seems to be one of the most essential parts of these aesthetic TikTok morning routines. Honestly, this is something I can really get behind.
I’ve experimented with making/not making my bed in the mornings and I can tell you from personal experience that it makes a difference. Making your bed has been linked to many positive effects, such as better mood, increased motivation, improved positivity, better organization, etc.
Needless to say, if you’re building an aesthetic morning routine, having a neat, tidy, and aesthetic environment is a must. That includes a made bed.
Step 2: Open Your Blinds
This is such a simple morning routine habit that I think so many of us forget to do. We roll out of bed and just get moving… but we forget to let in some natural light!
In addition to brightening up your room and making your space feel more cheerful (and aesthetic), letting in natural light actually has real benefits for your health, happiness, and wellness. Opening your blinds to let in natural sunlight can help “regulate hormones and neurotransmitters that have strong effects on mood, behavior and the body’s natural rhythmic patterns”, as per Dr. Barbara Nosal.
If you are someone that suffers from SAD (seasonal affective disorder), letting in sunlight can be even more beneficial. Opening your blinds can be really helpful to help combat this seasonal mood shift in the fall and winter.
Del Tip: If you live in a darker place in the winter (like me), I highly recommend getting a sun lamp to help fight SAD.
Step 3: Drink “Fancy Water”
I specify “fancy water” because it seems that all those TikTok aesthetic morning routines really showcase their infused waters. Honestly, I understand why.
I recently got a water infuser pitcher and I’ve been making “fancy water” nearly every night so it’s fresh and infused in the morning.
Infusing water can actually help you drink more of it. In addition to other benefits of infused water, often the biggest benefit is just that you are more inclined to drink it!
By adding some flavor, water becomes more than just a boring glass of “water”. It makes it more delicious, is good for your body (skin, immunity, etc.), and looks aesthetically pleasing.
Get yourself an infuser or start making some fresh lemon water in the morning to wake you up and jumpstart your aesthetic morning routine.
Step 4: Get in Some Movement
Moving in the morning is great for your mind, body, and soul. Your health – both mental and physical – is impacted by movement.
This doesn’t have to be an intense gym session or a crazy sweaty workout. A simple walk outside, quick yoga session, or at-home workout in the morning can be just as beneficial. There are even some specific movements that are geared towards mornings that help set you up for a good day.
To keep your morning aesthetic, try putting on your favorite workout outfit. I’ve found that having workout clothes that make me feel confident in my body helps me feel motivated to get moving.
Consider buying a cute workout set or putting together comfortable outfits from the clothes you own for your morning workouts. They might just be the little push you need to get moving in the morning.
Step 5: Skin Care/Shower
Post-workout you may find yourself in need of a full-body shower. If this is the case, it’s important to make your shower feel luxurious and special. As part of an aesthetic morning routine, you should make it your goal to practice self-care and romanticize your life wherever possible… shower included!
If you are not in need (or want) of a shower, simply make some time for your morning skincare routine.
A brief overview of my aesthetic morning skincare routine & products:
- Wash my face with a gentle cleanser
- Apply eye cream
- Apply toner
- Cost-Effective: Mario Badescu or Thayers
- Higher-End: BareMinerals (BareMinerals has some of the BEST skincare)
- Apply Moisturizer
- Cost-Effective: Aveeno
- Higher-End: Elemis or Drunk Elephant
- Serum/Oil and Gua Sha/Jade Roll
- Gua Sha/Jade Roller
- Cost-Effective Oil: The Ordinary
- Higher-End Oil: no personal experience
Shop some essentials:
Taking time for skincare in the morning is a way to practice self-love and self-care. I love to turn on a favorite podcast or relaxing music, light a candle, and take my time practicing my skincare routine. I’ve found that gives me the most relaxing and aesthetic feelings in the morning.
Step 6: Make a Coffee
No aesthetic morning routine feels complete without an aesthetically pleasing cup of coffee. To be honest, coffee is the highlight of my morning most days. I absolutely love a warm, homemade cup of coffee early in the morning.
{RELATED POST: How to Make Better-Than-Starbucks Coffee at Home}
To make your coffee fit into your aesthetic morning routine, try making something a bit “fancier” or something that feels more like a treat.
Maybe this means making a latte with an espresso machine rather than standard brewed coffee. Maybe you consider adding in some yummy flavored syrups to spice it up. Or maybe it’s just using your favorite mug that makes you feel fancy.
Whatever it is, do what makes YOU feel like you are having an aesthetic, romanticized, happy morning.
Step 7: Make an Aesthetic Breakfast
One of the easiest ways to romanticize your life and make simple things feel more aesthetic is to simply focus on your meals.
The food you make, how you arrange it, the serveware you use, your surroundings, and your overall dining experience are all things that can make a meal feel significantly more special.
As part of an aesthetic morning routine, consider choosing a breakfast that you thoroughly enjoy. Some of the most common breakfasts I see in TikTok aesthetic morning routines are oats, yogurt bowls, avocado toast, pancakes, or smoothies. But that does not mean this is what you have to choose. Your breakfast can be anything that sounds appealing!
What matters when making your breakfast feel more aesthetic isn’t the meal as much as it is the things surrounding the meal.
Some tips for a more aesthetic breakfast:
- Take time to plate your meal in a visually appealing way
- Use your favorite dishes, utensils, serveware
- Set the scene
- Sit in a comforting area of your home
- Incorporate natural light
- Consider lighting candles
- Choose a comfortable seat
- Include a variety of colors on your plate
These tips are truly just about the appearance of your breakfast time. At the end of the day, this does not matter. Breakfast is about nourishing your body.
But if you are taking the time to intentionally have a slower, more relaxed, aesthetic morning routine, these are some fun things to incorporate.
Step 8: Journal
Morning journaling can be so incredibly enlightening and blissful – it’s such a powerful practice to incorporate into your morning routine.
Whether it’s simply a free write, a prompted journal entry, or just a quick 5-minute journal entry, taking a moment to be with yourself and your thoughts in the morning is a great way to start your day.
Journal Prompt Ideas:
55 Journal Prompts for Self-Love
80 Self-Discovery Journal Prompts
50 Therapeutic Journal Prompts for Mental Health
55 Journal Prompts for Body Image
As part of the aesthetic morning routine videos on TikTok, journaling seems to be a highlight of most. While it may seem cheesy if you are not a journaler by nature, it really can be wonderful – for more than just aesthetic reasons.
Mental clarity, improved self-awareness, anxiety relief, emotional balance, and increased happiness are some of the many benefits of journaling that I feel when I journal in the mornings.
If you are not used to a morning journal routine, consider investing in a morning journal or a 5-minute journal.
The best journals for an aesthetic morning routine:
All it takes is 5 minutes in the morning. Take your coffee, get a cozy blanket in a comfy spot, take out your journal and write. It can change the tone for the rest of your day.
Step 9: Tidy Up
I like to call this my 10-minute tidy… and honestly, sometimes it doesn’t even take 10-minutes.
As someone who likes to do most of my tidying at night to prepare for the morning, there is not usually much to clean up. But there are always a couple of things to pick up and put away.
Take a moment to tidy up your space. Neatness is key for having an aesthetic morning. Not much is aesthetic about a pair of dirty socks on the floor.
In just a few minutes, go around and pick up anything that’s out of place. Put cups in the dishwasher, make sure you’ve cleaned up from breakfast, put your retainers back in their case… those types of simple clean-up acts.
It takes barely any time, very minimal effort, and keeps you in a tidy and aesthetic environment.
Step 10: Get Ready for the Day
Last but not least, it’s time to get ready for the rest of your day. This process will look totally different for each individual.
Your schedule, your desires, your standard routine, and your definition of “ready” all impact what this step looks like.
This is the time to get dressed, do your hair, and put on makeup if you choose. Basically, get yourself ready for whatever is left on your agenda for the day.
To make this more aesthetic and relaxing, consider taking it slow. Put on some music or a podcast while you do your hair/makeup. Wear an outfit that matches your mood for the day and makes you feel fabulous. Take care of yourself!
8 Simple Essentials to Make Your Morning More Aesthetic
There are some things that can contribute to your morning aesthetic just by existing. These tools are perfect for when you are wanting to make minor adjustments to feel the benefits of a relaxing, peaceful, aesthetic morning.
Here are some of my personal favorite essentials for my aesthetic morning routine.
1. Plants
Keeping plants in your space is a great way to immediately up the aesthetic of the area. Fresh greenery, flowers, or plants is one of the best ways to make a room feel more lively.
Consider investing in a cute planter or pot that matches the aesthetic of your space and get a few plants for your living area.
Studies have also found that plants have both physical and psychological benefits for your health.
Some of these benefits include:
- Improved mood
- Lower fatigue/Higher energy
- Less stress/anxiety
- Improved focus
- Improved air quality
Overall, adding a plant or two to your space is typically a good move. Your health, happiness, and aesthetics will thank you.
2. Simple Mugs
There’s something so satisfying and aesthetically pleasing about drinking coffee out of a clear, crisp, simple mug in the morning.
I have a lot of clear mugs, but my most recent mug purchase is this clear “girl boss” mug (I joke that this is my “Monday mug” because it empowers me to get stuff DONE! Haha!).
I, unfortunately, cannot find the exact mug I have anymore, but there are tons of mugs with other sayings or plain glass mugs on Amazon.
Having a mug you love can make your morning coffee experience THAT much more satisfying. Whatever mug makes you feel the happiest, you should get it for yourself. It’s worth the investment. Morning coffee time is sacred.
3. Gua Sha/Ice Roller
Depending on how I feel when I wake, I either use my gua sha, my ice roller, or both every single morning.
If my face feels puffy and a bit bloated, I use my ice roller. Ice rollers boost circulation, leaving you feeling refreshed and de-puffed. It feels heavenly in the morning.
Del Tip: There are a ton of super expensive ice rollers on the market. Personally, I think that the price is pretty crazy for some. I use this cheap Amazon dupe and I have had no issues. It works great for me and it’s a fraction of the price of others.
After ice rolling, I will use my gua sha. I’ll link the gua sha routine I follow and I have seen great benefits. My face is less bloated and I notice my jawline and cheekbones starting to pop a bit more. Using my gua sha has helped me get a more defined face shape and feel more confident.
4. Cozy Blankets
Cozy blankets are the perfect addition to a bed or couch to make it a bit more aesthetic and inviting. Big, comfy, knit throw blankets can completely cozy-ify a room. (They’re also great for seasonal decor and shifting between different vibes in your space!)
Amazon has plenty of beautiful knit throw blankets that are rather affordable and of great quality! However, my all-time favorite blankets come from Target, Ugg, and Barefoot Dreams.
This is the blanket that resides on my bed every day. I have 4 different colors that I rotate throughout the seasons to change up my room decor. I love the chunky knit look of this and it’s the most affordable one I’ve found! Thanks, Target!
5. Cute Backgrounds
This aesthetic morning routine essential is super simple and won’t cost you one penny.
Change all your electronics backgrounds to something positive, uplifting, or aesthetic. For example, my computer background is my virtual vision board for my manifestation practice. My phone lock screen is a cute picture of my pup and my home screen is a beautiful sunset.
Consider exploring uplifting quotes or aesthetic images on Pinterest for your phone and/or computer backgrounds.
6. Candles
Much like blankets and plants, candles can completely change the tone of a room. If you’re looking for an aesthetic morning routine, adding some candles into your space might be a great way to achieve that.
I used to buy all my candles from Bath and Body Works. Don’t get me wrong, I still LOVE them. But, I’ve found that I can get candles that are just as good for a fraction of the price elsewhere.
Target is my favorite place to buy candles now. They are nearly 1/3 of the cost and smell just as amazing! You can find some great candles almost anywhere though! Check out Amazon, TJMaxx, Marshalls, and Target for some great options. (Bloom and Prosper is one of my favorite brands from those stores!)
7. Morning Journal
As discussed in the aesthetic morning routine step 8, journaling is an important practice, especially in the mornings. I’ve found that the most successful journaling occurs when you are well-prepared.
For me, this meant getting a separate morning journal for my morning journal entries. I love the guided morning journals… they help to get my writing juices flowing when I’m unsure what to write.
8. Postive Affirmation Wall Art
Filling your space with positivity is a great way to raise the tone and vibration of your morning. I love to have wall art, signs, desk art, and cute graphics around my space.
This is the framed art that is above my bed year-round. I love the inspirational quote and the simplistic look. You can get this wall art quote on Etsy HERE.
A Note About TikTok Aesthetic Morning Routines
One of the biggest negative effects of TikTok is comparison. Comparison is truly the thief of joy.
If you came to this post based on the TikTok aesthetic morning routines, I want you to know that it is okay if your life doesn’t look like those TikTok videos every day (or ever).
As a whole, social media is a highlight reel. Everyone shares their best moments. Oftentimes, those moments aren’t even real for them and their lives. This is no shame in sharing this on social media – it’s just the culture we live in. But, it is so important to know that you cannot compare your behind-the-scenes to their curated highlight reel.
Having an aesthetic morning routine every morning just isn’t realistic for most. This morning routine is intended to be for those days that you feel really on top of your game and in need of some extra spice in your life.
Ultimately, an aesthetic morning routine is just a way to romanticize your life. This is a great thing to do and it can make you feel happy – if there is no expectation or comparison tied to it.
So, as a gentle reminder, do not compare your life to the aesthetic morning routines you see on social media. Take inspiration and build your own that is curated to your personal life. Do what makes YOU feel happy.
How will you build your aesthetic morning routine?
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