Mornings in my house go something like this: hit snooze, scroll through Instagram, stumble out of bed to the shower, get out of the shower and back into bed to warm up, get dressed, make coffee, realise I’m late so give myself three minutes to do my makeup, pack my gym kit and get out the house. Arguably, there's room for improvement. But where to start? How do you go about turning your morning from a frantic shit show into a strategic routine that sets you up for the day and doesn’t leave you in a flap at 9am?
In search of answers, we called on a few calm and collected boss ladies who, while not all larks, have this morning malarkey down. So without further ado, here’s how to start your day like a boss...
Katherine Ormerod, 32, Editorial Director at Lyst
I don't read my emails until I get to my desk or wherever I'm working. My commute is horribly stressful, so I've learnt not to add to the anxiety by reading emails before I leave home or en route. It's a total waste of energy and emotion winding yourself up when you can't offer a solution to a potential problem. If it’s a true emergency, I’ll get a call.
Most mornings, I scramble eggs then cover them in foil and bring them with me to the office. I can't eat first thing but need that protein hit as soon as I'm at my desk.
I think having a fringe is a great timesaver — and anything that gives me more time to sleep is definitely conducive to a more successful day! I wash my hair every other day; on the days in between I just wash and blow-dry my fringe, which takes approx two mins.
I'm a big fan of packing a bag and picking out an outfit the night before. I'm a total night owl so I make sure that in the morning all logistics (gym kit, presentation folder, spare heels) are sorted before I go to bed. My mornings are therefore usually hassle-free. It's all about creating a calm space at home, not running around looking for my keys/ phone/ earrings etc.
What kind of boss do you strive to be?
I strive to be a mentor-boss. Firm, but fair however, ultimately nurturing.
Vanessa Kingori, Publisher at GQ brand
I practise yoga every morning, usually at home. Sometimes for 40 minutes and sometimes, to be honest, it can barely be called yoga if I have limited time. Either way, I find even a 10-minute cat cow stretch and quick vinyasa sequence can help shake off a sleepy head, get the blood pumping and iron out any kinks in the body.
I think it’s important to consume as much media as possible to stay well informed. I always have something playing in the background while I’m moving through my morning rituals. Most often Radio 4 or inspiring music to get me pumped for the day. Recents on the track list include Bob Dylan for nostalgia following his Nobel peace prize, Solange Knowles' tracks from her brilliant new album, Prince – particularly the upbeat, go-get-the-day tracks, but any will do the trick.
Once a busy day gets started I can sometimes struggle to drink enough water and eat the right things. I've learnt that if I start the day on the right track I usually continue in that vein. Before I leave home I have at least half a litre of water and a large spirulina smoothie (it's bright green so leads to some stares if consumed in public!). It sounds boring but I'm so much more productive and sharp when well-hydrated and, with the mix of right ingredients in the Nutribullet, the smoothie can be quite tasty, despite its less fortunate looks!
What kind of boss do you strive to be?
We spend more time at work than we do with our loved ones so it’s important to create a great atmosphere and sense of belonging, so people are happy to work hard for eight hours a day. I strive to motivate through respect rather than fear so I believe my team are as proud of me as I am of them.
Daisy Bird, 35, Founder and Director at Bird PR
A lot of my clients are based all over the world so it's easy to get sucked into emails as soon as I wake up. If I don't have an early conference call scheduled, I'll try to be strict and keep offline until I've done my morning rituals to get into the right mindset for a great day.
Rather than reaching for the phone immediately, I’ll try and spend 1-2 minutes in bed with my eyes still closed to acknowledge what and who I am grateful for. It varies every day but – alongside gratitude for things like friends, family, colleagues, health and home – I try to be grateful for the challenges and testing times too, as these make you grow.
Ideally, I’ll then do 10-15 minutes of meditation using simple pranayama breath retention, which I find is one of the easiest and most effective techniques to calm the mind. I go through phases of being very strict with my meditation practice and then other times it slips down my priority list, but I notice a dramatic difference to the mood and success of my day when I make the effort.
I might hit a Pilates class, then put on some high-energy music while making a protein-packed smoothie before walking over the canal and down to the office.
SJ Speechly, 27, Special Bookings Agent at Models 1
As soon as I wake up at 5.30am, I GET UP. If I snooze that’s the end of me and back into a deep slumber I go. I’ve been practising Vedic Meditation for the past six months which has been groundbreaking! Wake up and do 20 minutes and I am set!
I scan through my emails to make sure nothing urgent has come through. I work a lot with overseas agents and clients and loads of things change last minute, so I need to be on top of my correspondence.
I always have a hot shower followed by a 20-second ice-cold shower, even in winter. It gives me a shot of adrenaline, and leaves me feeling fresh and reinvigorated. It’s honestly like a psychological reset because you can’t focus on anything else apart from getting through it!
What kind of boss do you strive to be?
An inspiring, proactive boss. Persistence, edge, genuine interest and authenticity are the skills I’ve taken from previous bosses I’ve admired, and feeding your team with enthusiasm, passion and drive.
Sarah Raphael (left), 29, Editor at Refinery29.uk
Suffice to say, I am not a morning person. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to have affected my career. I wake up, immediately check my emails (sorry) then put Radio 4 on and probably check Instagram and T he Guardian from bed while I make faces at whatever John Humphrys is saying. I then get ready in approximately 12 minutes, which involves choosing my clothes while I brush my teeth and taking some supplements catered to whatever ailment I'm freaking out about that week. I then spend at least three minutes deciding which trainers to wear, hopping about on either foot to see the look. I down a glass of water and leave the house.
As soon as I go underground and Radio 4 signal fails I put on music to properly wake me up, like hardcore techno or some fired-up grime. When I get off the tube I do life admin like speaking to the gas man or texting my dad back. If I'm peckish I'll get a Tracker bar from the corner shop, which makes me feel 12, then a strong coffee from a café, which makes me feel 45. The day is underway. I wish I were the type of person who gets up early and does a headstand but never mind, eh.
What kind of boss do you strive to be?
I try to give my team the space and support to achieve their potential. I believe in collaboration, creativity, a democratic working environment and having a laugh. I also believe in work-life balance, particularly when your job is reliant on ideas.
Tamara Heber-Percy, Cofounder and CTO at Mr & Mrs Smith. Mum of two — aged 9 and 6
I'm guilty of looking at my phone when I get up – I try and avoid emails, but I do check my calendar to see what meetings I have that day and to remind myself of what's coming up.
I have a family breakfast almost every morning – we make smoothies with the Nutribullet and get quite competitive over whose is the best.
Then we scramble to get to school, laden down with book bags, gym kit, guitar… I drop them off, load up a podcast (Invisibilia, Hidden Brain, Reply All are all favourites) and run to work. That 25 minutes running is my thinking space. It's my 'me' time and my transition from mother to CTO.
What kind of boss do you strive to be?
A boss who is there when needed but who gives space for creativity. I hope I foster collaboration and openness.
Jessica Skye, DJ at Ministry of Sound and Head Yogi at Fat Buddha Yoga, 28, no kids
When I wake up, I have a coffee, I check my diary and I make a list of the things I need to do that day. That way I feel organised, stress-free, and everything is fresh in my mind so I can do all the tasks that need doing that day (or even that week). I get up, get dressed, and I put on some lipstick and I handle it.
What kind of boss do you strive to be?
Fair and badass.
Holly Swayne, Digital Editor at Topshop, 28
I'm not the kind of person that gets up at 6am and makes a green juice. If I have an important day I'll plan my outfit the night before, even down to the underwear, so I can just get dressed and go in the morning.
I take a slightly longer commute to the office to give me the extra time to sort through emails for any freelance projects I'm working on outside of my day job, so that I’m focused when I get to my desk.
I use a brilliant app called MinimaList to plan my to-do list for the day; you just shake your phone to clear completed actions. It’s very satisfying.
What kind of boss do you strive to be?
My dad's mantra for work has always been to 'never underestimate anybody'. I definitely try to channel that in my job and as a manager.
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