Morning Schmornings: Habit Stacking for People Who’d Rather Stay in Bed

Wake, Kvetch, Repeat: How to Stop Starting Your Day Like a Meshuggeneh

Listen, I get it. Mornings are not your love language. Waking up feels like being born again, but worse, because now you have bills and emails. You roll out of bed like a kugel that’s been sitting too long on the counter — stuck, sad, and slightly gelatinous.

But let me tell you something my Aunt Miriam used to say (usually while making brisket at 6am): “How you start the day is how the day schleps along.” And that woman ran her life like a military operation with better snacks. So yes, routines matter. Even for you. Especially for you.

Why You Need a Standard Morning Routine (Yes, YOU, Mr./Ms./Mx. Hot Mess Express)

Without a routine, every morning feels like you’re starring in a low-budget indie film called “What Am I Even Doing?” And spoiler: it’s not winning Sundance. A solid morning routine, on the other hand, is like spiritual shapewear — it pulls your chaos together just enough to function.

But here’s the trick: you don’t need to become some kind of productivity influencer who cold plunges and drinks yak butter tea. Geh gezunterheit. You just need a little structure. A little rhythm. A little something-something to trick your brain into cooperating before it stages a mutiny.

Let’s Talk Habit Stacking: Like Building a Routine Out of Schmear and Guilt

Habit stacking is basically what Jews have been doing for centuries. You’re already doing one thing? Great! Add another thing to it and now it’s a mitzvah! Or at least, a slightly less dysfunctional morning.

Here’s how it works:

You take an existing habit — brushing your teeth, making coffee, kvetching to the mirror about your life — and you stack a new habit right on top. One leads into the next. It’s like a conga line of productivity, only with fewer hips and more Post-it notes

Why it works:

• No need to remember 87 things. Your brain’s already got enough going on, like deciding whether it’s having an existential crisis or just needs a snack.

• You’re piggybacking on autopilot. It's like hiding vegetables in your kugel. Your brain doesn’t know what hit it.

• You start winning early. And when you feel like a winner, you act like one. Even if you're still in your bathrobe and talking to your houseplants.

Here’s How This Might Look (So You Don’t Farklempt Yourself)