15 Wellness Leaders On How They Find Energy First Thing In The A.M.

We reached out to a few of our community members to get a sense of the time they set their alarms for optimal energy and the morning routines that leave them ready to tackle even the craziest of days. Here’s what they had to say:

1. Dr. Lissa Rankin, integrative health expert: 7:15 a.m.

Unless I’m traveling for a speaking gig or a workshop and am in a weird time zone, I never set an alarm. When my daughter is with me, I always rise naturally before it’s time for school. (I wake her at 7:15 a.m.) When she’s not with me, my body sometimes lets me sleep later – 7:30 a.m. or so. I love mornings and it’s my most productive time, so I don’t need help energizing. But I used to be a dancer, so I always do at least one dance before I begin my contemplative practices in the morning.

2. Fern Olivia, thyroid expert, 7 a.m.

My alarm is set to wake me up to Oshuns of Love, a beautiful sound bath with vocals, shamanic healing, and didgeridoo by my dear friends Aya & Tyler. Once I rise, it’s time for herbal tea, lemon water, and my daily Thyroid Yoga practice and essential oil routine. This ritual is a habit made holy, and I look forward to waking up to luxurious self-care!

3. Light Watkins, meditation practitioner: 6 a.m.

I’m up around 6 a.m. each morning, and the first thing I do is slide up to my headboard, drink a glass of water, and enjoy a 20-minute morning meditation. I’ll download some ideas for the day and proceed from there to the kitchen for a green tea and some breakfast.

4. Dr. William Cole, functional medicine practitioner: 6:30 a.m.

I wake up around 6:30 every morning. I normally start my day off with some burst training and yoga with a glass (or three) of green tea. I use the drive to my functional medicine center as a time for mindfulness breathing and prayer. Your morning is the seed to your day. Start it off right.

5. Shelly Bullard, marriage and family therapist: 6 a.m.

I wake up with the sun, usually around 6 a.m. I lie in bed for a while after I wake, breathing, reflecting, meditating, and taking time to just be.

6. Emma Mildon, author and spiritual guru: 5:30 a.m.

I’m an early bird. My alarm wakes me at 5:30 a.m. with my favorite track – at the moment it’s Lapsley’s Station – and then I get up to do some transcendental meditation…bed bliss that kick-starts every day off right.

7. Dr. Tiffany Lester, functional medicine practitioner: 6:30 a.m.

My body is programmed to wake up around 6:30 a.m. no matter what time I went to sleep. I’ve always been an early bird and enjoy the stillness that morning brings. To get energized, I’ve recently begun jumping on a rebounder (mini trampoline) for 10 minutes while listening to my favorite cardio playlist. This gets my blood pumping and lymphatic system flowing for the perfect start to my day!

8. Dana Claudat, feng shui master: 6 to 7 a.m.

Ideally, I’m up somewhere between 6 and 7 a.m. without an alarm and with water boiling for tea about a minute later. I grab my tea and a journal to write outside before my day officially starts.

9. Kristin Dahl, holistic nutritionist: 7 a.m.

I generally go to bed around 11 p.m. and wake up at 7 a.m. (Love my eight hours!) The morning is always the most important part of the day for me. Starting my mornings with two large glasses of water helps kick-start my digestion and ensures that I’m well-hydrated. I also always like to get outside and get active first thing, so I’ll set out on a hike, run, or sweaty yoga session.

10. Dr. Sara Gottfried, gynecologist and hormone expert: 6 a.m.

I wake up at 6 a.m. to brew green tea, practice yin yoga, and meditate for 30 minutes before my family wakes up. The ritual resets my hormones and brings order to my disorderly mind.

11. Tara Stiles, yogi: 6:30 a.m.

I’m usually up at 6:30 a.m. if I’m not traveling or up earlier for an event. I like to roll out of bed and onto my mat for 10 to 20 minutes of easygoing yoga and meditation. Then after a smoothie and shower, I’m ready to jump into the day’s schedule.

12. Dr. Joel Kahn, cardiologist: 6 to 6:30 a.m.

Two days a week, I’m up at 6 a.m. to train and the other days it’s 6:30 a.m. to work out at home. The first thing I do in the morning is take five minutes in bed to count my blessings, give gratitude for awakening healthy, and set an intention of service for the day.

13. Adriana Ayales, herbalist: with the sun

I love to rise with the sun. I crawl onto my mat and do a round of gentle and soulful stretches.

14. Dr. Robin Berzin, functional medicine physician: 6:30 a.m.

Lately, I’ve been getting up around 6:30 because the new puppy is my alarm clock. For me, walking the dog is a chance to get outside and wake up naturally. From there, I start my day with an almond milk macchiato from our local coffee shop and my favorite Parsley Rebuild protein smoothie, which I can’t go without – the protein in the smoothie keeps me full and energized all morning.

15. Kathryn Budig, yogi: 8 a.m.

If it’s without an alarm clock, I get up at 8 a.m. I drink two glasses of room temperature water first thing in the morning to get my system going and follow it up with a trip to my favorite local cafe for an almond milk latte!

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe. 

Photo: Stocksy