The Grounding Rituals That Help This Urban Farmer Set the Tone For the Day

What's the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning? A well-rounded morning routine sets the tone for the day and gets you prepped—both mentally and physically—before you dive into a packed schedule filled with emails, chores, happy hours, workouts, and more. Our series Morning Person profiles those who have mastered the art of the morning routine.

Tune in every week here and on our Instagram to learn exactly how the pros get it all done before the sun comes up, from their go-to breakfasts to their a.m. workouts.

For urban farmer, sustainability activist, and Origins Global Influencer Indy Officinalis, an ideal morning routine always starts with tuning in to her body’s needs and asking what she needs to be successful for that day. Whether it’s allowing her body more time to sleep in, take a dance break, or even put some extra TLC into her skincare routine, Officinalis sets each day with self-care and intention.

Her grounding morning rituals help to create the framework that she needs to continue her advocacy work in making urban farming accessible to all BIPOC folks. Keep scrolling to see the rest of her self-care-focused routine.

7 A.M.

While I typically wake up around 7 a.m., sometimes, I'll allow my body to sleep in, depending on what it needs. As soon as I wake up, I like to drink a large glass of lemon water along with a warm mug of tea. Drinking soothing beverages in the morning is almost like a meditation to me.

I try to focus only on the things that I can sense — the earthy steam rising off of the tea, the sour lemon waking up my tongue, and the warm clay mug in between my palms.

While I hydrate, I also like to gently use a jade roller under my eyes and on my cheeks. Jade is so soothing for the skin, and perfect to depuff the face if I stayed up late!

8 A.M.

Next up, I'll do my morning skincare routine. I start with washing my face with Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Cleanser with White Tea, followed by their Mega-Mushroom Treatment Lotion. This cleanser and lotion combo is perfect for a day out in the garden and really helps me put my best face forward.

If I'm in more of a rush to get to the garden, I use the Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Micellar Cleanser. It’s a no-rinse and alcohol-free formula that’s amazing for busy mornings! 

8:30 A.M.

I like to spend the next 30 minutes at home tidying up while working on some functional stretching. I've realized that if I combine stretching with household activities, I can save time in the morning and also feel refreshed during otherwise mundane tasks.

I'm sure I look silly, but I'll do a round of squats when I bend down to get my laundry out of the washing machine, a few sun salutations between unloading the dishwasher and putting away my plates, and break into a little dance while watering my houseplants. 

9 A.M.

After my household chores, I'll move on to my basic self-care activities, like brushing my teeth, putting floral oil in my hair and putting on a podcast or music in the background while I get dressed.

Since I spend so much of my day outside, I always have to consider the weather, but also the landscape, when I'm deciding on what to wear. I love to wear clothes that compliment my environment, and warm tones that mimic the soil and plants are my go-tos. That, and also jumpsuits!

9:30 A.M.

Finally, I'm ready to jump into my work for the day. Sometimes, this can mean being at home doing garden planning work and answering emails, but on most mornings, I'll drive downtown to the garden (usually with a to-go cup of more tea!) and listen to 90's throwback music to get myself powered up. 

Up next, This Fitness Influencer Breaks Down Her Productive Morning Routine.