A 5-Minute Morning Routine for Busy Professionals

Wellness content often assumes you have an hour to spare before work. Most of us don't. So here's a version that fits into five minutes, because a routine you'll actually keep beats a perfect one you'll abandon by Wednesday.

Minute one: hydrate before caffeine. A full glass of water rehydrates you after a night's sleep and takes the edge off your first coffee craving.

Minutes two to three: two minutes of stretching — neck rolls, shoulder circles, a forward fold. It costs nothing and undoes some of the damage from sleeping curled around your phone.

Minute four: write down your one non-negotiable task for the day. Not five tasks — one.

Minute five: order or pack a lunch you're actually looking forward to. Decision fatigue at 1pm is real, and pre-deciding your meal removes one more thing from your plate — literally.