How Podcast Founder Mimi Bouchard Wakes Up at 5 A.M. Every Day Without Snoozing

What is the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning? A well-rounded morning routine sets the tone for the day and gets you prepped—both mentally and physically—before diving into a packed schedule filled with emails, chores, happy hours, workouts, and more. Our series Morning Person profiles those who have mastered the art of the morning routine. From their go-to breakfasts to their sunrise workouts, tune in every Monday morning here and on our Instagram to learn exactly how the pros get it all done before the sun comes up.

For most of us, fighting the urge to stay in bed for five more minutes during the typical workday is struggle enough. But for Mimi Bouchard, who runs her own women-focused podcast and corresponding editorial website entitled MimiBee, a strict morning routine—no snoozing allowed—is a part of her every day. In fact, Mimi says a 5 a.m. wakeup call (which is not met with a sleepy slap on the snooze button, she insists) and a morning routine filled with journaling, meditation, and a batch of her favorite coffee concoction, of course, is her favorite way to start the day: "Your mornings set the tone for your days, your days set the tone for your weeks, your weeks set the tone for your months, then your years, then your life… You get the point."

Looking for some morning routine inspiration of your own (or are you simply curious how one really does get up at 5 a.m. without setting 17 alarms first)? Keep reading.

5:00 a.m. 

I wake up with my alarm, an app called Sleep Cycle. It tracks your sleep quality and wakes you up when you're in your lightest sleep cycle. And yes, I don't press snooze. I get up right away to do a little stretch and drink some water. Then, I'll head to the bathroom and wash my face with cold water, then apply some serum and moisturizer. I'll drink some more water before heading downstairs for coffee.

5:10 a.m.

At this point, I'm downstairs making some Bulletproof coffee—I'm obsessed! I blend one teaspoon of MCT oil with one teaspoon of grass-fed butter or coconut oil with some mycotoxin-free coffee. It's heavenly. 

5:15 a.m.

Next, it's time for the 45-minute priming routine that I teach in my course. This includes some reading, journaling, and visualization meditation. I swear by it!

6:00 a.m.

After I finish my priming routine, I'll either do some work on my "Advantage Hour" (also taught in my course), or I'll start my day with a workout.

If I'm traveling (which has pretty much been 24/7 these days), I'll do one of three online workouts: P.volve, Melissa Wood Health, or a workout from John Benton's online program. If I'm feeling sore, I'll stick to a yoga or stretch session instead—recovery is just as important as the working out itself! If I'm at home in London, I'll go to the gym and work out with my trainer.

7:30 a.m.

I've just finished my post-workout shower, and I'm feeling great at this point because I've worked on my body and soul for the past two and a half hours. By now, I'll turn my phone off of Airplane Mode (yup, I practice a little digital detox every day) and get started on some of the most important tasks of the day. This usually includes writing, other creative work/content creation, conquering big emails, and editing videos. 

9:00 a.m.

I start to get hungry around this time. I practice intermittent fasting, so I probably haven't eaten since around 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. the night before. My breakfast really depends on my mood—if I'm feeling sweet, I'll have some organic berries, almond butter, and some grass-fed sheep's milk yogurt. If I'm feeling something more savory, I'll have some organic eggs, spinach, and avocado sprinkled with turmeric and black pepper.

And there you have it! I value waking up at 5 a..m. every single morning because it gives me the sacred time to slow down and feel really accomplished before the rest of the world wakes up. It starts my day with discipline and it keeps me laser-focused. This morning routine brings me back to me, and I can honestly say that I feel the most incredible I've ever felt.

Next up, the morning routine of gravity blanket founder Elizabeth Grojean.