How I Elevate My Morning for FREE!

You don't have to spend more money to have a better day.

Author

Michela Allocca
May 27, 2025

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MONEY
Morning Habits That Cost $0 that Make My Life BETTER! 💸

There’s this weird idea that we’ve been trained to believe on social media. And it’s that to improve any aspect of our lives, we need to spend more money.

In some cases spending a little extra money can help. But it definitely isn’t REQUIRED to have a good morning, a good day, and a good life.

I recently have started going to therapy (a story for another day), and my therapist has suggested that I write down what I am grateful for every day.

Now, I am not going to tell you to do that (and it’s not one of the things we’ll discuss in detail in this edition), but it did bring to light some of the things I do and HAVE BEEN doing that improve my morning.

I document many of my mornings over on my personal Instagram page - so if you want to see more, check that out.

But what I realized, is many of (4/5) of the habits I stick to every morning are free. And they are repeatable… and after a few months of truly sticking to them, I can attest that they do, in fact, make my life better.

So let’s talk about it. And if you’re looking for little ways to make your mornings (and ultimately, your day) better without spending any extra money, you’ll love this.

1️⃣ I freshen up my space first thing.

I work really hard to live in a beautiful space! And so it is my duty to keep that space clean and fresh. Every morning, I take about 5 minutes to make my bed, put any lingering clothes away, fold the blankets on my couch, and pick up my desk.

If it’s warm, I will open the windows and the door on my balcony for some fresh air! This tiny habit helps me wake up my space, and when I get back from my morning walk, I walk into a clean apartment. It’s a mood booster.

2️⃣ I get up and get OUT!

I make it a mission every morning to leave my apartment and either go on a walk or go to the gym. I would say i do this 4/5 mornings of the work week on average. It costs nothing to walk outside (or very little to go to the gym if you have a membership) and it totally changes how you feel during the day.

Unfortunately the morning workout-ers are telling the truth and when you start your day with movement, you do in fact feel better.

3️⃣ I ritualize my coffee routine.

I have a Breville Barista Express - which I know is not free. But I bought it years ago so it’s “free” to me now lol (girl math). The only true ongoing cost with this habit are my monthly coffee beans, which are like 50 cents per day.

Anyways, I take the extra time in the morning to truly slow down making my morning drink. There is something about the process - smelling the beans, pulling the shot, and concocting my drink exactly the way I like it that just feels so… luxurious.

Regardless of what your morning drink looks like, take the extra time to slowwwww down the process. Pause, and appreciate it for a moment!!

4️⃣ I take the extra 10 minutes to get ready.

This is a 2025 resolution of mine that I have successfully stuck to. Everyday, I take the extra 10 minutes in the morning to get myself put together for the day. And yes, most days I just work from home.

10 minutes in the morning sets me up to have a better day. When I am dressed in an outfit (or at least, a coordinated sweat set), I FEEL a lot better. When I have my hair properly styled, and a touch of makeup, I FEEL better.

And when I FEEL better, I DO better. I am productive, I am happier, and I generally just have a better day. Who’d have thunk? Gift yourself 10 minutes in the morning to pull yourself together and watch how it transforms your entire life.

5️⃣ I do morning pages!

This is a practice I learned from the book ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron. Each morning, take about 15 minutes to write 3 pages of a “brain dump” - it can be anything and it doesn’t have to be coherent.

The goal is to get everything clouding your mind OUT before you start the day. I have been doing this for about 2 months now, and let me just say - it is THE BEST!!!

I go into more detail about my luxe for less morning routine in this video!! 

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  • Luxe for Less Morning Routine: If you’re looking for more details about my (almost) free morning routine, check out this youtube video!!

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xoxo,

Michela