That Girl Morning Routine and How To Actually Pull It Off

Check out this realistic version of that girl morning routine and channel your best self every day without feeling drained. Super-woman mode on!

If you scroll the Internet even a little, chances are you’re familiar with ‘that girl’ morning routine. It’s basically a routine that can help women tap into their best selves every morning.

Or you could say it’s a morning routine for women who are already at their best?

I mean, we’re talking about ‘that girl’ here. She’s got sass, loads of energy, and somehow plenty of time to spare during the busiest time of the day.

But the real life ‘that girl’ (you and me, that is), we have stuff to deal with that can get in the way of even the best laid intentions.

We got jobs, kids, or maybe school, heartbreak, and loads of other drama that only women can understand.

So, how, with all of this going on, do we adopt ‘that girl’ morning routine?

Because honestly, I do get the appeal: The clean sheets, matcha in a glass mug, neatly written journals, and workouts in matching sets. What’s not to like?!

Though after properly experimenting with the trend myself, I’ve come to realize the key to hacking it is to make it a little less perfect and flexible.

To put it simply, I’ve created a realistic version of ‘that girl’ morning routine that most women can adopt.

It’s powerful, impactful, and most importantly, very to-the-point. If followed long-term, it could change your life, but frankly, doing this even once a week would be awesome for you.

But before you go on, pin this post to save it for later!

If you want to pull off ‘that girl’ morning routine while keeping things real, then read on! You’re going to have so much fun with it.

Realistic That Girl Morning Routine

1. Wake Up An Hour Earlier

‘That girl’ doesn’t hit snooze ten times. She’s up around 5:30 or 6:00 AM, before the world gets loud. But for most of us, this isn’t very realistic.

Now, if you’re already a 5am girl, that’s awesome! Nothing to change there for you.

But if you are someone who wakes up at a much later time (which is more common), then just start waking up earlier by one hour.

You are not doing this to torture yourself with less sleep. You are doing this to have an extra hour at the start of the day for yourself.

You are going to need this time to see your morning routine through to the end.

Early mornings are peaceful, quiet, and honestly kind of magical when you’re not rushing through them.

So, get up, open the curtains to let the light in, and maybe the windows too if the weather’s nice outside to soak in some fresh air.

2. Hydrate Yourself Right Out Of Bed

Most women roll straight out of bed and reach for caffeine. But ‘that girl’ knows hydration is a superpower, and so she taps into it every single morning without fail, and you should too!

When you drink water first thing in the morning, you’re not only waking up your system, but you’re literally telling your body that you care about it.

If plain water feels boring, then add lemon slices for detox vibes, cucumber for freshness, or chia seeds for extra fiber.

And pour it in your cutest glass so it feels like part of your ritual instead of a chore. It’s such a simple step, but it makes your morning instantly more healthy and refreshing.

But if it still feels like too much of an effort, then just fill up a bottle the night before and keep it on your nightstand.

All you gotta do after waking up is reach for it and take a few mindful sips, and it’ll be a good morning!

3. Quickly Tidy Up Your Bed

It’s a tiny habit, but making your bed immediately does two things: it wakes you up, and it makes your room look instantly cleaner.

Even if you just pull the sheets straight and fluff your pillows, you’re checking something off your list. That sense of accomplishment is something you need in the morning.

Also, coming home to a neat bed at the end of the day is a hundred times better than staring at a crumpled mess. Agreed?

‘That girl’ isn’t obsessed with perfection. She’s just smart enough to know that her environment shapes her energy. Because when your space looks good, you feel good too.

4. Make Yourself Tidy and Presentable (For Yourself)

Okay, just to be clear, I am not asking you to do a full glam at 6am. Just some basic grooming to make you feel fresh and a little pretty.

Wash your face with cold water to wake yourself up, apply a light moisturizer, swipe on lip balm, and tie your hair in a neat ponytail or clip.

Then, quickly put on your workout clothes, like comfy leggings and a tank top. Because yes, of course, there’s going to be a workout. Surely you didn’t think otherwise.

When you look presentable and tidy, you subconsciously start treating yourself with more respect.

This positive shift makes it easier to follow through with the rest of your routine and actually enjoy it too.

5. Do Something Inspiring and Positive

Instead of doomscrolling on Instagram, ‘that girl’ fills herself up with positive and inspiring thoughts in the morning.

You can listen to a podcast, read one chapter of a book, or practice guided meditation. Maybe journal and write whatever comes to your mind?

This will help you find your peace before the day starts demanding things from you.

If you are running short on time, then you can just play a podcast in the background while you go about your morning routine.

You can also just skim through some morning affirmations. It’s quick, positive, and very inspiring.

And oh, if you can’t function early morning without coffee, have some during your positive me-time. But not on an empty stomach, okay? Have a digestive biscuit or half a banana with it.

6. Move Your Body

I know, I know. Morning workouts are not most women’s idea of a good morning.

But I am not asking you to head to the gym here. This is a realistic morning routine for the everyday ‘that girl’, so we’re keeping it light and good.

You need to understand that morning exercise is less about how you look and more about how you feel.

So, if you choose something that makes you excited to move, then you will want to move.

Maybe it’s a quick yoga flow in your living room, a jog around your block, or a dance workout on YouTube. Even a 20-minute walk outside while listening to a motivating podcast counts (my personal favorite).

Keep it short, sweet, and something you can do every morning.

The point is to shake off sleepiness, get those endorphins flowing, and remind yourself that your body is a priority.

Matching workout sets are optional, but they do make you feel a little extra fabulous. Just saying.

7. Do Your Morning Skincare

Once you’re done sweating, it’s time to tend to your skin.

If your workout was super sweaty, take a very quick shower with your fav body lotion. You can skip if you did light yoga or went for a slow walk.

And then spend a few mindful minutes on skincare. Not optional, and not negotiable.

Cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and SPF are the basics and should not be skipped ever.

But if you want to be extra, grab your gua sha or jade roller to get a rosy glow up.

And if makeup makes you feel more polished, then add a touch. Use a tinted moisturizer, mascara, and tint on your cheeks and lips.

The confidence you gain from this step will stay with you all day long. So, make it count, woman.

8. Have an Aesthetic Breakfast

Okay, this is where the Pinterest vibes come in. You can let yourself be complacent about the aesthetics in the other steps, but please put in some effort here.

Because for ‘that girl’, breakfasts are a sacred ritual. She puts effort into her morning meals and then eats it slowly, like she’s sitting in an Italian cafe.

So, for this, you don’t need to whip up a smoothie bowl that takes 30 minutes to decorate (unless you actually want to).

Just make something nourishing, light, and presentable. And serve it in a pretty plate!

Examples: Avocado toast with a sprinkle of chili flakes, a bowl of oats topped with banana slices and peanut butter, or a smoothie in your favorite tall glass.

Even a boiled egg with toast and a fruit on a cute plate counts (that’s my breakfast most days).

You just need to fuel your body in a way that feels energizing but also a little fun for your eyes.

And yes, this is where you can sip that iced matcha, or your beloved coffee in a glass mug if that makes you feel like you’re living your best life.

9. Plan Your Day

Okay, we’re down to the last step now, and this is what separates a rushed morning from a smart ‘that girl’ morning.

We’re going to end the morning by planning out the day in advance.

Pull out your planner, journal, or even just a sticky note, and plan the day out to whatever extent feels good to you.

If you like being super organized like me, you might want to use a daily planner or Google Calendar to create a schedule for the day.

I use my own daily planner, and it hardly takes me five minutes to fill it in. It really helps me stay sorted. You can grab it here for free:

But if a schedule isn’t your jam, then just write down three priorities for the day. Not a dozen tasks that make you feel crazy, but just three.

It could be finishing a work project, making a doctor’s appointment, or finally putting that pile of laundry away.

You can tackle the minor tasks as you go about your day, while still keeping your focus on the major tasks.

When you’re clear about what matters most, your whole day feels more aligned.

This is why I say, always plan your day (even if it’s a simple plan). It’s a habit that can seriously change your life.

Ready To Enter Your ‘That Girl’ Morning Era?

If you’ve ever wanted to know what ‘that girl’ does before 8am, you now have a realistic, step-by-step version that actually works in real life.

But just a friendly reminder for you: You don’t have to do this every single day to reap the benefits.

Try it once a week, once a month, or just when you feel like hitting the reset button on your mornings.

Even if you only manage half of the steps, you’re still carving out intentional time for yourself, and that’s what the whole trend is really about.

The glossy Instagram version of ‘that girl’ is fun to look at, but the real magic happens when you adapt it to your life.

Because in the end, you are already that girl while you’re navigating your messy, beautiful, busy life. These steps just help you channel her energy when you need that little extra push.

So go ahead, set your alarm, pour your matcha, roll out your yoga mat, and start the day like the best version of yourself. You deserve it, queen!