Life with a Side of AI

Dear Digital Diary,

For years, I had a morning routine without even thinking about it: wake up early, get dressed, drive to the office. It wasn’t glamorous, but it gave my day a rhythm.

Then 2020 happened. Like a lot of people, I started working from home overnight—and at first, it felt like freedom. No commute! No heels! Pajamas all day!

But somewhere along the way, my mornings disappeared. What used to be a structured start became me rolling out of bed minutes before my first meeting, groggy, rushed, and wildly unprepared to exist like a functional human.

I realized recently that I miss mornings, not the traffic, but the soft rituals that used to gently walk me into my day. I wanted that feeling back: a morning that felt calm, cozy, and intentional… but without overwhelming myself with a 27-step routine.

So I decided to ask ChatGPT for help.

🤖 What I Wanted in My Morning Routine

Before I even opened a chat window, I sat down and thought about what I actually wanted to fit into my mornings.

Here’s what felt important to me:

• Make my bed
• Workout (even just a quick stretch)
• Meditate
• Brush my teeth
• Shower
• Daily affirmations or some small self-care ritual
• Breakfast

And most importantly:

I needed the entire flow to get me ready to start working by 8:00 AM.

💬 What I Asked ChatGPT

Here’s the prompt I ended up giving ChatGPT:

“Can you help me create a cozy, realistic morning routine that includes making my bed, working out, meditating, brushing my teeth, showering, making & eating breakfast, and doing daily affirmations? I work from home and need to start work at 8:00 AM. I want the morning to feel structured but not rushed.”

Pro tip:

The more context you give ChatGPT (your goals, timing, vibe), the better the response will feel tailored to you.  It’s almost like talking to a supportive best friend who loves logistics.

🌞 The Morning Routine ChatGPT Suggested

Here’s the cozy, achievable morning plan it created for me:

• 6:00 AM: Wake up, make the bed immediately to create a calm space.
• 6:10 AM: 15-minute workout (gentle yoga, stretching, or a quick cardio circuit).
• 6:30 AM: 5-minute meditation focused on gratitude or setting an intention for the day.
• 6:40 AM: Brush teeth and do basic skincare (lighting a candle for spa energy if you want).
• 6:50 AM: Quick, refreshing shower.
• 7:10 AM: Daily affirmations or reading a short inspirational quote while getting dressed.
• 7:20 AM: Prep a light breakfast or coffee, review priorities for the day.
• 8:00 AM: Begin work, feeling actually awake and human.

The routine ChatGPT gave me wasn’t bad, but here’s the thing… I know myself. I usually take closer to 30 minutes to shower, and “prep a light breakfast or coffee while reviewing priorities” didn’t feel like me. I try to be present when I eat, not multitask through it.

So I went back and had a quick conversation with ChatGPT, tweaking the routine until it felt more natural for my real rhythms. These were tiny edits, but they made all the difference.

The goal is never perfection, it’s always to give my mornings enough structure to feel like an act of care, not obligation.

💡 Prompts You Can Try for Your Own Cozy Morning Routine

Want your own AI-assisted morning magic?

Here are some other cozy prompts you can copy and paste into ChatGPT:

• “Create a cozy morning routine for someone who loves coffee, slow starts, and working from home.”
• “Design a 30-minute morning routine that includes mindfulness, light movement, and getting ready without rushing.”
• “Suggest a gentle morning routine for someone who starts work at 8:00 AM and wants to feel calm, not overwhelmed.”
• “Help me build a morning routine with room for stretching, meditation, and a cozy breakfast ritual.”

🌸 The Takeaway

Mornings don’t have to be a rushed blur or an endless checklist to count.

They can be soft. Intentional. Built for you.

And sometimes, having a little help from ChatGPT (plus a little permission from yourself) is all it takes to create a morning routine that starts your day with care, not chaos.

With freshly made beds and fresh starts,

Nikki (and my very clever ChatGPT assistant) 🌞🤖