Tag Morning

I’ve been off my morning workout game for a while now. Where I once bolted out of bed, ready and energized for a 6 a.m. barre class, I now face a daily battle with my alarm clock. It’s a scene many others experience—puttering downstairs and relying on your (blessed) coffee to wake you up. I won’t lie: compared to my previous morning person status, the grogginess and slow start to my day are less than ideal. And because there’s something so gratifying about getting your fitness in first thing, I found the very best morning workouts to kickstart your day.

I want to be clear: you don’t have to be a morning person to establish healthy routines. The AM hours aren’t for everyone. Depending on our sleep chronotypes, some of us perform best in the morning while others feel the most energized later on. Before convincing yourself a morning workout is a must, do a little digging and reflection (journaling can help) to better understand what you need and what realistically fits into your day.

If you’re a mom and can’t get a minute to yourself before the kids head to school, squeeze something in during lunch. Or maybe you’re booked around the clock and look forward to your precious evening hour at the gym. But if a morning workout is calling, read on. These are the very best workouts for building strength, getting energized, and connecting with your body and mind before heading into the day.

Featured image by Riley Blanks Reed.

The Benefits of a Morning Workout

That 30-minute workout you did in the morning will have a different impact later in the day. Taking into account everything from metabolism to mood to your energy, when you work out matters. While common reasoning might suggest that working out in the evening will tire you out before bed, it’s in fact the AM exercisers who experience this benefit. Studies have found that working out in the morning can result in deeper sleep with fewer disruptions throughout the night. To max out the benefits, try exercising outside. Exposure to natural light first thing can help regulate your circadian rhythm and help you produce more melatonin at night.

Beyond better sleep and boosted energy, the benefits of a morning workout include:

• Improved mood
• Increased focus
• Blood sugar regulation

Anecdotally, I personally find that if my motivation to work out is lacking, it’ll only continue to decrease throughout the day (just as the excuses simultaneously pile up). Want to ensure you get that workout in? Make it happen in the morning.

10-Minute Morning Workouts

Mobility Yoga Workout — Well + Good

Equipment: Yoga mat

While improving your mobility isn’t as sexy as, say—six-pack abs or a toned upper body, prioritizing it is a key element of promoting longevity. This is a great workout if you’re short on time and still looking to warm up your body before taking on the day. It’s a juicy, heart-opening flow that has you moving through postures including Downward Dog, Cobra, Child’s Pose, and more.

10-Minute Morning Yoga — Yoga With Adriene

Equipment: Yoga Mat

Adriene Mishler is a favorite around here for her intention-driven routines and mindset. A darling of the online yoga world, millions have flocked to Adriene for years for her calming voice and accessible routines. This morning yoga workout is specifically designed to help you bridge the gap between sleep and the start of your day. It’s not just a lovely stretch for your body, but an invitation to step into your morning with alignment and clarity.

10-Minute Resistance Band Booty Workout — Livestrong Women

Equipment: Yoga Mat, Resistance Band

I love a good resistance band workout. The prop is not only unbelievably effective at engaging your muscles, but it also puts less impact on your joints (i.e., less chance of injury). And though this is seat-specific workout, using resistance bands activates your core as your body works to maintain balance throughout the posture. With burpees, side squats, and glute bridges trust me—you’ll be feeling this.

15-Minute Morning Workouts

15-Minute Good Morning Workout — @MadFit

Equipment: Yoga Mat

Low-impact, low-intensity workouts are great to get the blood flowing first thing without putting too much strain on your body. Featuring different Pilates postures and moments of stretch, this quick workout is a go-to if you’re looking to establish a stronger mind-body connection before you start the day.

15-Minute barre3 Signature Workout with Allison — barre3

Equipment: Yoga Mat

Barre3 is my go-to workout, and I’ll shout my praises until I’m blue in the face. This low-impact routine combines strength conditioning, cardio, and mindfulness for a super efficient, full-body workout that actually feels good. If you’re looking for modifications, keep your eye on the gal in the back. She’ll provide you with the direction you need to ensure you’re getting the best workout.

15-Minute Low-Impact Lower Body Cardio — Pvolve

Equipment: Gliders or paper plates

PSA: You don’t have to go for a run or spend an hour in the cycle studio for effective cardio. With squats, lunges, and mountain climbers, this workout will get your heart rate up in no time. You might be surprised by how slowly some of the postures go, but if you’ve ever held a plank for more than 30 seconds, you’ll know you don’t have to move at all to get a good sweat. My other favorite part of this workout? The instructor provides clear verbal and visual guides to ensure your technique is top-notch.

20-Minute Morning Workouts

20-Minute Full-Body Pilates HIIT Workout

Equipment: Yoga Mat

This is a fun fusion workout if you like routines that mix it up. It starts with a slow, yoga-inspired warm-up and progresses to Pilates postures designed to lengthen the body and challenge your core. While the postures will challenge you in subtle ways, there’s adequate time for rest in between exercises, making it a great workout for beginners or anyone just getting back into their routine.

20-Minute Low-Impact Full-Body Workout — @growwithjo

Equipment: Yoga Mat

The smile on her face is proof enough: this is a feel-good, mood-boosting workout. To set the tone for your day, get pumped up with a vibey, beat-driven playlist and moves that feel intuitive and good in your body. Expect to get sweaty, because though the exercises are simple, you do not stop moving the entire 20 minutes.

20-Minute Full-Body Barre Workout — Well + Good

Equipment: Yoga Mat

Barre workouts are designed to challenge the body through tiny, targeted movements. Expect to work your glutes, core, and lower body with kick-backs, bicycle crunches, and squats aplenty. You’ll feel balanced and energized once the 20 minutes are up. There’s also ample time given for stretching at the end to ensure you have the space to cool down and recover.

30-Minute Morning Workouts

30-Minute Full Body Pilates Workout for Strength and Flexibility — Isa-Welly

Equipment: Yoga Mat

If you want to ease into your day feeling loose in your body and energized all over, press play. Of all the instructors in this roundup, Isa-Welly’s my favorite. Her voice is soothing and her cues help you get deeper into the postures and experience greater alignment in your body. The music is chill, creating a rejuvenating space for you to start the day strong.

30-Minute Total-Body HIIT Workout With Natalie White — PopSugar Fitness

Equipment: Yoga Mat

PopSugar Fitness is a treasure trove for all kinds of workouts—setting you up for success no matter how you’re feeling. For those who crave a little more intensity in the morning, this HIIT workout features moves that target your entire body, with particular focus on your arms and core. Expect planks, reverse lunges, burpees and more. Fitness trainer Natalie White is joined by Madisyn Sloane Maniff and Luisa Fonseca who each show modifications so you can make the workout your own. It’s totally customizable, helping you wrap up this sweaty workout feeling confident and energized.

30-Minute Mood Boost and Anxiety Release Cardio Workout — @growwithjo

Equipment: None

If you’re in need of a major mood boost, this is the workout for you. @growwithjo brings her usual high-vibe energy to this 30-minute cardio workout. Much of the workout keeps you moving and on your feet, but the heart-pumping postures are strategically spliced with squat holds and stretching, helping you activate your muscles and leave the workout feeling totally refreshed.

Whether you’re setting the table for morning brunch or looking for a WFH sidekick, a well-loved mug is a must. I love a mug with sentimental value, but I’ve often found that the best coffee mugs—the ones you’ll hand wash daily just to keep them in rotation—have one of two things in common: they look (and feel) great in your hands and they’re excellent at regulating temperature.

But there are a few more details that can elevate a mug from good to favorite. Durability is crucial (being dishwasher safe is a non-negotiable in our book) as is a sense of pride (supporting a sweet story or noteworthy pottery studio can make all the difference in your morning routine).

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

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The Best Coffee Mugs

Ahead, we’ve rounded up a variety of unique coffee cups that check nearly every box, from gorgeous hand-thrown ceramics to double-walled glass mugs and battery-powered beauties. Whether you’re an aesthete, an iced coffee devotee, or identify as both, there’s a go-to glass for everyone.

Every product is curated with care by our editors and we’ll always give an honest opinion, whether gifted or purchased ourselves. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Two types of morning people exist. Some roll out of bed and hit the ground running without giving much thought to breakfast, or even eating, for hours. (Move first, fuel later.) Then, there are the ones who revel in a morning routine that very much revolves around food. Healthy breakfast ideas are constantly swirling as they slide out of bed to craft the perfect cup of artfully poured coffee.

There isn’t necessarily a right morning person to be. But generally, I assume anyone who doesn’t identify as a breakfast person simply hasn’t found an AM meal they truly love. So, we’re here to help. Below, I’ve rounded up a collection of easy, healthy breakfast ideas to suit every kind of morning mood, from sweet chia puddings and hearty favorites to nutritious takes on global-inspired brunches. And if you don’t have time to sit and savor, no worries. There are plenty of make-ahead meals you could easily grab and go, too.

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

Healthy Oats and Porridge

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Millet and Amaranth Porridge with Figs and Papaya

Why We Love It: Hot take: porridge is far from a bland breakfast. With so many variations, including anything from fresh fruit to yogurt, you’ll never be bored with your morning bowl. We’re obsessed with Sarah Copeland’s porridge, which uses millet and amaranth as the main grains. Top with sliced papaya and a drizzle of honey for the perfect touch of sweetness.

Hero Ingredient: Sarah recommends salt over sugar when seasoning your grains. Try it and you’ll be a believer, too.

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Spiced Buckwheat Porridge with Yogurt, Mulberries & Maple

Why We Love It: Nutty buckwheat melds with warming spices to create the perfect, cozy bowl of porridge. With complementary toppings like apples and cinnamon, it’s hard to start your day on a bad foot.

Hero Ingredient: Buckwheat might just replace your overnight oats.

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Creamy Pumpkin Oat Bran Porridge

Why We Love It: It’s hard to turn down a breakfast bowl that satisfies your sweet tooth. This pumpkin porridge is the perfect bowl for chilly mornings.

Hero Ingredient: Pumpkin puree and oat bran are my new favorite morning combo.

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Strawberry Buckwheat Porridge with Cocoa Crumbles

Why We Love It: Pink porridge is one of the only breakfast bowls that makes me excited to get out of bed. When you’re looking for a protein-packed meal that you can enjoy in the warmer months, these fresh flavors will do the trick.

Hero Ingredient: Cocoa crumbles create a crunchy texture that will wake up your taste buds.

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One Bowl Baked Banana Cashew Oatmeal

Why We Love It: Meal-prepping your oatmeal is the ultimate, rush-out-the-door morning hack. This one-bowl baked banana cashew oatmeal is a stunning dish that will simplify your AM routine.

Hero Ingredient: Bananas might just be the best breakfast fruit. They’re endlessly versatile and just sweet enough—as beautifully exemplified in this stunner of a morning meal.

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Kitchari

Why We Love It: This cozy kitchari is one of our food editor, Suruchi’s go-to recipes. The one-pot meal uses savory spices that double as anti-inflammatory ingredients to boost your morning.

Hero Ingredient: Add a scoop of yogurt for the ideal creaminess.

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Blueberry Overnight Oats

Why We Love It: These blueberry overnight oats combine breakfast and dessert to start your day in the sweetest way. This recipe also includes chia seeds that deliver a dose of healthy fats into your morning routine.

Hero Ingredient: Blueberries and oats are an elite combination.

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Tropical Overnight Oats from Eating Bird Food

Why We Love It: This recipe has your back with the perfect summer make-ahead meal. Spooning up tropical fruits and cozy oats will have you feeling like you’re waking up at the beach.

Hero Ingredient: Shredded coconut keeps your breakfast sweet and summery.

Healthy Muffins

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One Bowl Morning Glory Muffins

Why we love it: Morning Glory muffins take a delicious, grab-and-go bite that we know and love and introduce fresh, nutritious ingredients into the mix. Who knew you could up your veggie intake in such a sweet way?

Hero Ingredient: We love shredded zucchini as a great glory muffin go-to.

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Jam-Filled Gluten-Free Muffins

Why we love it: If the idea of gluten-free baking conjures up dry, bland baked goods, this luscious, sweet recipe (which also happens to be dairy-free) will be a game changer.

Hero ingredient: The details are key when it comes to nailing gluten-free baked goods. (Camille learned a lot from a bit of trial and error.) This is a rare case when add-ins. like cinnamon, vanilla, and almond extract, are particularly important.

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Blueberry Power Muffins

Why we love it: Both gluten- and dairy-free, Brooklyn-based baker Lani Halliday’s go-to blueberry muffin recipe also serves as a nourishing, energy-boosting snack.

Hero ingredient: Use almond or hazelnut flour for baked goods that are naturally gluten-free.

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Vegan Nutty Banana Muffins

Why We Love It: Banana bread is one of those morning staples we love but don’t always have the time to throw together. These muffins take the same nostalgic flavors and pack them into a bite-sized morning meal (that’s much healthier, too).

Hero Ingredient: Sliced almonds make a great topping with the perfect texture.

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Banana Pumpkin Muffins

Why We Love It: The flavors of banana and pumpkin pair together in a way that will never disappoint. Grabbing one of these on your way out the door is guaranteed to brighten up your morning.

Hero Ingredient: Cinnamon keeps these muffins warm, cozy, and just sweet enough.

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Cranberry Orange Muffins

Why We Love It: In this recipe, fresh fruit flavors meet the warmth of a muffin in the best way possible. And if you’ve ever thought the tasty combo of cranberry and orange is only for the holidays, it’s time to think again. I love snacking on this tart-and-sweet pairing all throughout the year.

Hero Ingredient: Orange zest adds the perfect hit of sweet, sour, and citrusy flavor.

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Pumpkin Morning Glory Muffins

Why We Love It: Pumpkin flavors are hard to turn down, especially when they’re used in a healthy and flavorful recipe like morning glory muffins. They’re exactly what you want when the temps cool down in the fall, but truthfully, I’d happily scarf one of these down any morning.

Hero Ingredient: Sub in your veggies, but don’t skip out on the pumpkin puree.

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Anti-Inflammatory Berry + Turmeric Muffins

Why We Love It: I absolutely love when an anti-inflammatory recipe makes its way onto my morning menu (bonus when it’s as delicious as these muffins!). With bright fruit and a hearty texture, this is the perfect recipe to boost your energy first thing.

Hero Ingredient: Turmeric’s golden color is just too pretty to pass up.

Healthy Smoothies

Tropical Turmeric Smoothie

Why We Love It: Camille Styles wellness editor, Edie Horstman, developed this smoothie recipe specifically to help you enjoy your favorite flavors without having to worry about that uncomfortable post-breakfast bloat. This tropical turmeric smoothie packs a whole lot of goodness in one glass, including inflammation-fighting ingredients. Trust me—it’ll go down easy.

Hero Ingredient: Turmeric is an inflammation-fighting champ.

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Strawberries and Cream Smoothie

Why We Love It: A bit on the sweeter side, this bloat-beating smoothie is the perfect light and healthy breakfast idea. This classic flavor combination is done with nutritious ingredients like strawberries, coconut milk, and vanilla protein powder to help meet your daily protein goal.

Hero Ingredient: Ground flaxseed makes this smoothie easy on the stomach.

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Matcha Plant Power Smoothie

Why We Love It: I’m down for anything matcha at any time of day, but this smoothie makes it ultra easy to incorporate into my morning ritual. Along with a variety of sweet (and healthy!) ingredients, cucumber is high in water and may help beat bloat caused by dehydration. Spinach—made up of 93% water—is another great ingredient to have to wake up your digestive system in a good way.

Hero Ingredient: Cucumber in a smoothie may be a refreshing surprise.

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Get Figgy With It Smoothie

Why We Love It: Eating with the seasons is something we’re trying to do more of—especially because it’s healthier and oftentimes cheaper, too. This summer/fall fig breakfast smoothie will help you get the practice down pat.

Hero Ingredient: If you haven’t yet fallen for fig’s sweet, complex flavor, this smoothie is sure to hook you.

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Chocolate Banana Almond Butter Smoothie

Why We Love It: Chocolate and banana commonly complement each other in dessert dishes. But in this smoothie, they combine to create a protein-packed breakfast. Simply throw it all in a blender for a quick and easy start to your day!

Hero Ingredient: Get in your recommended daily dose of protein early with chocolate protein powder.

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Almond Butter Kale Smoothie

Why We Love It: Super simple, and even more delicious, this almond butter smoothie takes fresh greens and combines their mild sweetness to brighten up your morning.

Hero Ingredient: What better sweetener is there than almond butter?

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Tropical Pineapple-Ginger Smoothie

Why We Love It: This kid-friendly favorite will surely make its way onto your weekly menu. Look to honey as your natural sweetener to keep the sugar content low.

Hero Ingredient: Fresh ginger is a must-have.

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Blueberry & Avocado Fascia-Boosting Smoothie

Why We Love It: Prebiotics and probiotics are essential in my daily routine. Sometimes, I like to take it beyond a traditional supplement and incorporate these digestive aids into my foods. Plain kefir is used to provide the prebiotics and probiotics in this smoothie, along with ingredients like blueberries and apples to increase antioxidants and supplement fiber.

Hero Ingredient: Fresh or frozen coconut brings a whole lot of flavor to this smoothie.

Healthy Egg Recipes

Spicy Mexican Baked Eggs

Why we love it: A mix of kale, avocado, bell pepper, and eggs offers a balanced breakfast, but we’re always pro anything that doubles as a clean, healthy dip.

Hero ingredient: With so many ingredients mixed in, the eggs are what hold it all together. But never underestimate the power of garlic.

Masala Eggs

Why we love it: This traditional Indian dish might just be the most flavorful breakfast you can make. (Bonus: the easiest, too.)

Hero ingredient: In addition to fragrant herbs and spices, getting the eggs silky smooth is key. Let the pros lead the way.

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Arugula Breakfast Salad With Toasted Pistachio, Radish & Soft Eggs

Why We Love It: One of the things we love most about breakfast salads (or any salad for that matter) is the freedom the basic formula gives you to mix and match ingredients as you please. This particular array of components brings in flavor, a surprising mix of textures (pistachios and quinoa, anyone?), and the knowledge that you’re doing your body—and your taste buds—a whole lot of good even before opening your laptop.

Hero Ingredient: Nothing competes with the pistachio’s crunch.

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Power Greens Breakfast Egg Bites

Why we love it: These power green-packed bites encompass two of our favorite recipe qualities: they can be made days ahead of time, and they’re incredibly easy to whip together.

Hero ingredient: The eggs may be the ones gluing it all together, but it’s the dark leafy greens (kale, chard, or spinach) stealing the show.

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Mushroom, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Frittata

Why we love it: This could really be called the “whatever-you-might-have-in-your-fridge frittata.”

Hero ingredient: For those adhering to a gluten-free diet, browned eggs are a top-notch vehicle for enjoying a savory breakfast.

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Baked Eggs With Heirloom Tomatoes, Herbs & Feta

Why We Love It: I think tomatoes are always a great breakfast ingredient. Sun-dried, grape, or finely diced, they’re such a versatile and flavor-packed ingredient to brighten up any plate. These baked eggs do the fruit justice, pairing it with creamy feta cheese and freshly chopped herbs.

Hero Ingredient: Feta and eggs together are simply divine.

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Scrambled Egg and Mushroom Toast

Why We Love It: If the idea of mushrooms and eggs is a bit much, don’t knock it before you try it. Mushrooms are the perfect texture to enjoy with fluffy eggs and crunchy green arugula. (And we can’t stop talking about how nutritious they are!)

Hero Ingredient: If I said anything but mushrooms, I’d be lying.

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Baked Egg With Ricotta, Thyme & Chervil

Why We Love It: There’s something about ricotta that makes it an all-day kind of food. Whether it be for dessert, on savory toast, or in a batch of baked eggs like these, it makes everything just the right amount of creamy.

Hero Ingredient: Ricotta is the real winner.

Healthy Toast Recipes

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Sunday Night Avocado Toast With a Jammy Egg

Why We Love It: This toast recipe gives all the breakfast vibes. The 8-minute egg with a jammy yolk is the perfect complement to fresh ingredients like avocado and cherry tomatoes.

Hero Ingredient: How can you go wrong with everything bagel seasoning?

Yogurt Toast With Peanut Butter and Banana

Why We Love It: The custard toast trend has taken TikTok (and really the entire internet) by storm. Camille’s version skips the baking and instead layers a slice of sourdough with super smooth yogurt, bananas, granola, and runny PB for a toast that doesn’t skimp on flavor, creaminess, or crunch.

Hero Ingredient: My childhood self would go hard for the peanut butter-on-toast combo. My adult self? Still a fan.

Avocado Toast with Kale Pesto and Crunchy Veggies

Why We Love It: This recipe gives a fun variation on the classic avocado toast with garlicky pesto, crunchy radish slices, and—don’t you dare skip it—everything seasoning.

Hero Ingredient: Hands up for the nutritional yeast that gives the pesto a distinctly cheesy flavor while still being plant-based.

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Smashed Avocado Toast

Why We Love It: Tired of your basic avocado toast? This recipe has all you need to freshen up the timeless recipe. The possibilities are endless when garnishing this dish, but eggs in any form or flavorful herbs are always a great option.

Hero Ingredient: A squeeze of fresh lemon or lime can make all the difference on this toast.

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Smoked Salmon Toast With Mustard And Herbs

Why We Love It: I’ll be honest—smoked salmon as a breakfast food wasn’t always on my radar. However, since my taste buds have matured, I greatly enjoy pairing this smokey and nutritious fish with crunchy veggies and other savory herbs.

Hero Ingredient: Salmon is the real winner!

This post was originally published on August 26, 2021, and has since been updated.