A Gentle Morning Ritual
When you wake up, don’t turn on any lights.
Don’t look at your phone (be better than me).
Allow your eyes to adjust to being open.
Don’t be afraid to sit in the dark.
Get comfortable in silence.
When you get up, open the blinds. Let the light fill your room, no matter what time of day. This helps my eyes adjust to being awake.
Side note: Do not turn on any lights.
Preparing the Space
Go to the bathroom.
Avoid turning on the lights if you can. I like to use the flashlight feature on my phone.
Find a lighter.
Pro tip: find it the night before so it’s ready for you in the morning.
Find a candle to light. I like to use whatever I have — from tapers to votives to scented candles. Personally, I prefer tapers. They feel like less of a commitment than scented candles or votives. I don’t recommend tea lights because they don’t last long, but this is your shower, so do what you want.
Now that the bathroom is lit, turn on the shower and prepare the space — and yourself — in whatever way feels right.
The Shower
Get in the shower.
Side note: If you have a child, I recommend keeping the door cracked or open, depending on your preference. If you don’t have a child, you can skip this step — along with steps later on.
Once you’re in the shower, stay under the water for five minutes. This allows the water to soften your skin before washing. If that doesn’t matter to you, skip this step.
Wash and rinse as usual.
If this is an “everything shower” — shaving, exfoliating, scrubbing, eating a cookie in the shower, whatever your version looks like — do that.
If you are relaxed and have a baby, now might be the moment they wake up. Do not panic. This is your time. Simply dry off, address the child, and return to your shower.
If your child is mobile and doesn’t cry to let you know they’re awake, they might come looking for you — and they will probably find you in the shower. Don’t panic. Again, this is about you.
Embrace the moment for what it is. Give them a bath toy, or — if you don’t mind the mess — a towel or even a roll of toilet paper (you can roll it back up later if they’re not the type to eat it). Sprinkle them with water. Bark like a dog. Have fun. Don’t be afraid to make this a bonding experience for both of you.
Aftercare
When you’re done, turn off the water and dry off.
Apply lotion, creams, and whatever else feels good.
Wrap yourself in a towel or put on comfy pajamas.
Pro tip: If you feel like being naked, don’t worry about clothes. Try wrapping yourself in blankets once you’re back in bed.
Lastly, blow out the candle.
Side note: If you’re burning a votive or scented candle, wait until the top has fully melted into a pool of wax before blowing it out — otherwise you risk tunneling and shortening the life of the candle.
If you have a mobile baby who woke up from their nap, wandered into the bathroom while you were showering, and stayed with you while you did not panic — I suggest you do not leave them in the bathroom afterward. They will likely come find you for a snack.
light & gather 
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