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Creating Routines That Support You: Morning and Evening Rhythms for Microbakery Life | Episode 96



Running a sourdough microbakery is a beautiful, rewarding, and demanding thing. And if you're anything like me, you’re balancing it all—family, work, baking, and everything in between.


In today’s post, I want to walk you through something foundational that’s easy to overlook but incredibly powerful: your morning and evening routines.

These aren’t about perfection. They’re about intention. About creating space for rest, presence, and purpose in a life that’s often full to the brim. I’ll share exactly what works for me—what I do, what I tweak, and where I give myself grace—so you can take what serves you and leave the rest.

Let’s dig in.


Why Routines Matter for Microbakery Owners

Whether you’re baking from home or running a small storefront, routines help create a burnout-proof business.


Here’s why they matter:

  • Reduce decision fatigue: You already know what’s next—no guessing or floundering.

  • Protect your energy: Save your focus for high-priority tasks like baking, family, and business strategy.

  • Help you stay present: With a rhythm in place, you're not constantly putting out fires.

  • Minimize distractions: You’re less likely to bounce from one thing to the next without direction.


Even on the days when I don’t follow my routine perfectly, I feel the difference. I end those days feeling scattered and out of sync. But the days where I stick (even loosely) to my rhythm? I feel grounded, focused, and able to show up fully—for myself, my family, and my bakery.


A Flexible Framework, Not a Rigid Schedule

Let’s be real—no two days look exactly the same. Especially when you’ve got kids, shifting priorities, or bake days that start at 3 AM.

Think of your routine as a fluid structure—a framework you can return to, not something that locks you in.


Even the smallest shifts can make a difference.


Evening Routine: Laying the Groundwork for Tomorrow

For me, everything starts in the evening. A good morning depends on how the night before goes.


Here’s what our evenings look like:


Early Dinner

  • We aim for dinner at 4:00–4:30 PM.

  • It sounds early, but it works. We eat a hearty breakfast, light lunch, and then an intentional dinner.

  • We sit down together as a family—my husband (when he’s not on shift as a firefighter), the kids, and I.


Conversation Time

  • We often use a deck of conversation cards to guide family discussions.

  • It helps us stay connected without needing to come up with questions on the fly.


Kitchen Clean-Up + Wind Down

  • After dinner, we clean the kitchen together.

  • Sometimes we’ll play a board game or hang out casually.

  • We start winding down for bed around 7:00 PM.


My Starter + Kid Bedtime

  • While the kids brush their teeth and get in PJs, I feed my starter if it's a dough prep day.

  • They’re 7 and 8 now, so pretty independent with bedtime.

  • I tuck them in, set them up with books, and say goodnight.


Screen Limits + Sleep Hygiene

  • We’re not a big TV family.

  • Most nights, we aim to turn off screens early—ideally around 7–8 PM.

  • We use red light filters on our phones and try to avoid blue light exposure.

  • Some nights are better than others—I’m not perfect here.


Supplements + Skincare

  • My husband is very consistent with his sleep supplements.

  • I love drinking Valerian tea (Traditional Medicinals Nighty Night Extra is my go-to).

  • I do a skincare routine every night: wash, tone, serum, moisturize.

  • I occasionally use Frownies to help with fine lines. They feel silly but work well for me.


Optimizing Our Sleep Environment

  • Cool, dark room with blackout curtains and a ceiling fan.

  • We turn off any small lights (like on the air purifier).

  • Our little dog tries to sneak into bed, but if I need a really solid sleep, I’ll crate him.

  • On good nights, we’re asleep by 9:00 or 9:30 PM.


Morning Routine: Starting the Day with Presence

Bake days start early—between 3 and 4 AM—so those mornings don’t leave room for much. But non-bake days have more flow.


Here’s what my mornings look like when I’m not up before the sun.


Cuddle Time

  • The kids usually climb in bed with me around 7:00 AM.

  • We spend 15 minutes just chatting, connecting, and easing into the day.

  • That little bit of presence makes a big impact for all of us.


Outside Time + Getting Dressed

  • After getting up, I step outside barefoot, let the dog out, and water the garden.

  • Just 2–3 minutes of fresh air helps me wake up and feel grounded.

  • Then I get fully dressed. Even if I’m home all day, getting out of pajamas shifts my mindset.


Morning Skincare

  • Just like at night, I wash my face, use toner, serum, and moisturizer.

  • Sometimes I use a gua sha tool—it may be a placebo, but it feels great and wakes me up.


A Hearty Breakfast

  • We usually prep a breakfast casserole ahead of time with hash browns, eggs, and sausage.

  • If we don’t have that, we might have eggs and toast or an English muffin sandwich from the freezer.

  • I try not to skip breakfast, even though I sometimes forget to eat when I’m in go-mode.

  • When I do eat a solid breakfast, I feel more energized and balanced all day.


My Coffee Ritual

  • I love a shot of espresso with steamed raw milk and a splash of maple syrup.

  • We take our coffee seriously—grinding beans, prepping the espresso, steaming the milk.

  • That ritual, even when quick, makes the morning feel more intentional.

  • I sip it slowly when I can, or reheat it a few times when life is full.


Practical Tips for Creating Your Own Routine

If this feels like a lot, don’t worry. You don’t need to do it all at once. Here’s how to get started:

  • Pick one area to focus on—maybe bedtime or breakfast.

  • Make a small tweak—like blackout curtains, or a few minutes outside each morning.

  • Start with consistency, not perfection.

  • Don’t try to overhaul everything at once—it won’t stick.

  • Give yourself grace—this is about support, not pressure.


Remember, a morning routine isn’t effective without a solid evening routine—and vice versa. They complement each other.


You Deserve to Feel Good

The goal here isn’t to do everything “right.” It’s to feel good—to wake up with energy, to go to bed feeling peaceful, to have rhythms that hold you up on the busiest baking days.

This is about protecting your health, your energy, and your ability to show up for your life and business.


Because your bakery needs you at your best.Your family needs you present.And you deserve to feel supported, rested, and well.

If this resonated with you, share it with a fellow baker or leave a review for the podcast. It helps others find their way here too.

Here’s to routines that serve you well.And to mornings and evenings that help you build a life and business you love.

Links to things you might like!





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