My Morning Routine Is Sacred to Me—This Is the One Step I Never Skip

I've recently started something I call "No-Snooze September," where my only goal for the month is not snoozing my alarm clock. As a former morning person who has unfortunately slipped back into old habits, I know waking up on time is the first step to a successful morning routine—one that gives me time to get in some movement and maybe even squeeze in a 10-minute meditation before I crack open my laptop. Ambitious, I know, but it can be done, and my co-worker McKinna Pace is proof. McKinna not only works full-time, but she also has her own side business, creates content for brands, and always seems to be running around from social events to workout classes. In other words, she knows a thing or two about prepping for a busy day.

While she claims she's not naturally a morning person, her routine says otherwise. I'm not ready for a full-fledged wellness overhaul just yet, but I did ask McKinna to walk me through her morning and highlight the one step she thinks I could really benefit from. Spoiler: It involves prioritizing my nutrition with a powerful yet compact appliance like the Vitamix Nano Blender.

Though she rarely wakes up hungry, McKinna is incredibly active and understands the importance of proper fueling before her morning workout. A pre-workout snack and a post-workout meal are nonnegotiable, so she needs something quick and simple.

"One thing I've learned as an adult is that even if you don't feel hungry first thing, not fueling yourself can catch up with you later in the day, especially when it comes to workouts and even sleep," she says. "I'm always on the go, so having easy snacks and protein, along with nutrient-dense foods I can grab quickly, is really important to me. I also try to move my body every day, whether that’s a workout or simply getting in a good walk, so making sure I'm actually fueling that activity makes a huge difference in how I feel."

After she wakes up, she heads to her vanity to throw on some eye patches to look a bit more awake, then grabs a pre-workout snack, usually something carb-focused like fruit or rice cakes: "I've been learning a lot more about how important it is to properly fuel before and after a workout, especially when it comes to carbs. I think carbs can sometimes get a bad reputation, but they're such an important source of energy, especially before a higher-intensity workout when you want to perform your best. I can always tell the difference when I haven't eaten enough beforehand because my workout just isn't as strong."

After her snack, she's ready for a workout. Every workout is different and depends on McKinna's schedule. "When I'm planning my day, I actually tend to work backward from my workout. I look at my schedule first and make sure I'm carving out some window to move, even on my busiest days. I strength train twice a week at a squad-based studio. From there, I'll usually add another lower-body strength day, a heated mat workout, some runs, and lots of walking throughout the week."

According to McKinna, her post-workout breakfast is where she really sets her day up for success. While the importance of breakfast isn't a new concept to me—I've heard it's the most important meal of the day for years—I struggle to find time to make something nutritious in the morning. I can't be bothered cooking or cleaning multiple dishes before my day has even started. McKinna agrees and says she gets in a well-rounded breakfast (with protein, fat, and carbs) with a morning smoothie.

While I'd normally argue that a blender is not the most space-efficient option for us New Yorkers (nor the most time-efficient to clean), McKinna has a solution for that too. She uses the Vitamix Nano Blender, a personal, single-serve device that has the performance of a Vitamix, so prep and cleanup are seamless.

"I'm always on the go, so the single-serve convenience immediately made sense for my lifestyle. I love being able to customize exactly what I want in my smoothie, make one serving for myself, and then take that same cup with me and head out the door. And living in NYC, I definitely don’t have unlimited kitchen space, so I love that the Vitamix Nano has a more space-friendly footprint without feeling like I'm compromising on the actual quality."

To fit in all the nutrients McKinna needs for a well-rounded meal, her blender also needs to be powerful. The Nano's SmoothiePilot™ function actually senses ingredient activity and automatically adjusts the blender's timing and speed to determine the right texture for your smoothie—or you can use the single dial to adjust the speed yourself. As for my concern about cleanup, the cups are dishwasher-safe, but you can also make your blender "self-clean": Just add a bit of warm water and dish soap and run the blender.

Now that I've officially run out of excuses, I asked McKinna to recommend her favorite smoothie: "My current go-to is my take on a Coco Cloud: coconut water, yogurt, mango, banana, pineapple, vanilla protein powder, and blue spirulina. Sometimes I'll swap the blue spirulina for matcha when I want an extra little boost of energy. It's tropical, creamy, and super easy to throw together in the morning."

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