(Patio-friendly habits to start your day with purpose and peace)
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If your morningroutines feel rushed, disconnected, or repetitive, you’re not alone. But mornings don’t have to be chaotic or forgettable if you have morning routines — especially when you have a porch, patio, balcony or She Shed that’s just waiting to become your peaceful launching pad. These seven morning routines are designed for women who want to move with purpose, live with Soul, and start each day with clarity — not just caffeine. From gentle movement to intention setting, every step brings you closer to the version of your day that you choose. Welcome to Patio and Porch life, where mornings aren’t just about getting going — they’re about grounding, centering, and living beautifully.
☀️ Start Your Morning Routines With Sun-Light and a Sip
Before anything else, open the blinds in your room and the outside door and step outside — even if it’s just for a moment. Let the morning light touch your face and the air fill your lungs. Get your favorite coffee or tea, or grab that water bottle and perhaps some affirmations. It’s not just about hydration — it’s a cue to start your day on your own terms. Keep a table or side table setup on your patio so it’s easy to make this ritual stick.
🧘♀️ Ground Yourself With Stillness
Find your favorite spot — a rocking chair, a porch swing, your floor cushion or pouf or if you have a She Shed head to your private space. Close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths. Let your thoughts settle as you listen to the morning sounds. You don’t need a formal meditation practice — just a pause to center yourself. Bonus points if you place a water feature nearby for soft background sound that brings instant calm and flow.
✨ Set a Soulful Intention
Now that you’re present, choose one intention for the day. It could be a feeling, a word, or a simple phrase. “Clarity.” “Peace over pressure.” “Get one meaningful thing done.” Setting an intention isn’t about to-do lists — it’s about direction. Keep a dry-erase board, sticky notes, or a notepad handy or inside your She Shed put a board on your wall. And if you’re heading out the door, try setting a lock screen on your phone with your intention written on it. Tape a note to your laptop or workstation. These tiny cues become part of your powerful morning routines — anchoring your mindset before the day begins.
📓 Put Pen to Paper
Grab a simple notebook (weather-safe journals are great if you want to leave them on the porch – mine is a beautiful hard cover notebook from Hobby Lobby and it never ‘lives’ long enough to get weathered or dusty – I also have one of their small ones too for my purse) and jot down three things: what you’re greatful for, then what really matters today, and what you’re letting go of. This clears mental clutter and helps you lead your day instead of reacting to it. You don’t need paragraphs — just presence. Keep your journal in a small woven basket near your outdoor chair, if you live alone, to make it feel intentional and easy. A family home you may need to find your safe place to keep your personal stuff, personal.
📚 Read or Listen to Something That Feeds Your Soul
Keep a book of daily readings or quotes to read or even listen to a motivational podcast or a speaker you adore — something that lifts you without demanding focus. Even one short passage can shift your mindset if time is of the essence. Try rotating your books seasonally. Spring might call for nature writing, while summer could lean into creativity or joy. If you have a She Shed, dedicate one corner to your morning reads and keep a soft throw or small table nearby for comfort and ease.
🌿 Move With Gentle Intention as Part of Your Morning Routines
Your porch can be your movement space, too. Lay out a foldable yoga mat in a clear space, stretch, or try a 5-minute breathing flow outdoors. Movement doesn’t have to mean sweat — it just has to mean aliveness. If mornings are tight, plan your movement later in the day: a walk on the greenway, a home workout, or a gym session. Keep resistance bands or dumbbells stored in a decorative basket and comfortable walking shoes by the back door so they’re ready when you are to begin your morning routine.
🌸 Notice One Beautiful Thing
This final morning ritual is the easiest and most profound part of your morning routines: look around and notice one thing that’s beautiful. A blooming flower. The curve of your coffee cup. The way light hits your porch. Let that moment — that flicker of beauty — be what starts your day. It’s simple, but it shifts everything. I have a crystal that stands on my porch and the sun catches it every morning and paints rainbows all over my porch and even into my living room. I also have one on my window sill in my bedroom and when I wake up in the morning, the rainbows sparkle all over my room from the gap I leave in my last three or four blind louvres. I love it!
“Start the day with intention. Mornings are particularly good for things that are important to you but that life has a way of crowding out.” – Oprah Winfrey
You don’t need to do all seven rituals every morning. Some days you might do one. Some days you might breeze through them all. Some days you may not get to them at all – this is a no guilt thing – however the more consistent you are – the better you feel. The point isn’t perfection — it’s presence. When you start your day with Soul and direction and in a space you love outdoors or in nature, your whole life begins to follow that lead.
🛍 Shop The Stuff I Love
- Glass water bottle and straw or motivational water bottle
- A writing surface like a laptop tray or hard cover journal (My favorite ones come from Hobby Lobby)
- A patio water feature
- Dry-erase board and color dry erase markers
- Journal and a pen you love (IYKYK) – I have a blue pen for to do, a black for writing and a green one to underline when it’s important to me – but you do you! (red makes me think of school and wrong)
- Foldable yoga mat or pouff if you don’t enjoy sitting on the floor. I love my rocking chair and grass foot stool – I never think to sit on the floor
- Resistance bands or hand weights and a vibration plate.
- Comfortable walking shoes – I bought mine off Amazon and were cheap but sooooo comfortable. Don’t make it expensive – who cares what you wear to walk – I also had a favorite pair of sandals that I had to throw away because I wore a hole in them. I walked everywhere in them!
📌 Want More Inspo?
We just launched our Pinterest board: Patio and Porch — full of peaceful setups, outdoor coffee corners, She Shed ideas, and dreamy porch routines that inspire soulful starts. Be sure to follow and save your favorites!
This website contains links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on qualified products at no extra cost to you.