Ditch Your Morning Routine for an “Opening Shift” To Have a Better Day

In a former (albeit short-lived) life, I worked retail, and opening up shop was the sought-after shift. There was a certain satisfaction from stocking shelves of perfectly folded shirts (yes, you can call me obsessive), taking my time merchandising the displays, and embracing the stillness before the rush. As part of the opening shift crew, I set the tone for the day and made sure it went off without a hitch. Well, TikTokers are taking a page from the concept and reframing morning routines at home in a way that will make you actually look forward to yours. If you’ve heard of the flipside “closing shift” as a method to clean up before going to bed, think of an opening shift as a morning routine that helps ground your home, body, and mind so your day is as optimal as possible. Cue the Mel Robbins sound bite: “When that alarm rings, get up and start the day.” It’s time for your opening shift.

What Is the “Opening Shift” Morning Routine?

Just like I would follow a protocol before opening the store at my retail job, the “opening shift” morning routine calls for sticking to a list of to-dos you need to feel calm, collected, and ready to take on the day. Maybe you view your opening shift as chores to lay the groundwork for a productive day, such as making your bed and meal prepping your lunch, in addition to tasks that prepare your mind and body, like stretching, drinking a big glass of water, or meditating. The point is to tailor your opening shift to fit your lifestyle and goals; your opening shift can be as long and detailed or as quick and simple as you’d like, as long as it helps you feel organized and successfully kick off the day.

The Benefits of an Opening Shift

To quote the viral queen of morning routines (Mel Robbins) again, “Do not lie in bed. Do not hit the snooze button. Lying in bed is making how you feel worse.” We all know that as hard as it is to keep your promise of getting up early and fulfilling your morning agenda when we don’t heed Robbins’ advice, we spend our mornings scrambling to get ready before clocking in for work. Instead of having everything in place and a decluttered mind, you feel frazzled, creating a domino effect on the rest of your day. But when you have a set opening shift morning regimen that you see through every day, you’re more energized, mindful, and productive (science says so). The “opening shift” trend flips the script on the idea of a morning routine from a burden you feel obligated to do to a major plus that enhances your day.

How to Try It

While TikTok can provide some serious opening shift morning routine inspo, think about your personal goals and what rituals can help you reach them when creating your own.

If your goal is to reduce stress…

Romanticize your mornings by making the most of your morning wake-up call. Open the curtains, do a quick declutter (because clutter in your space results in clutter in your mind), prep and savor your beverage of choice, light your favorite candle, practice some deep breathing exercises, and spend 10 minutes with your new read. Talk about way better than rushing onto your first meeting of the day or out the door disheveled.

If your goal is to be more productive…

Step one: Make your bed. Just by performing the simple morning habit, you can get a quick, small win that will encourage more accomplishments throughout the day. Follow that with eating a nourishing breakfast while reviewing the to-do list you created as part of your closing shift the night before to prioritize your tasks. Perhaps most importantly, minimize distractions; that goes for your phone and TikTok (sorry, not sorry).

If your goal is to boost energy…

This starts with a night of quality Zzzs, of course (see: The Hot Girl Nighttime Checklist). But your morning shift can include drinking a full glass of water (bonus points if you make it sexy), going on a walk while getting morning sunlight, and taking a cold shower.

Feature images credited to: Bradley Evette | Dupe, Lotte Nielson | Dupe, Madison Brown | Dupe,