5 morning habits that will make you feel like a badass

Everyone needs a mind reset once in a while. Maybe you’re recovering from a major setback, like an injury, breakup, or work crisis. Or maybe you never felt all that sure of yourself to begin with. Well, CrossFitter and trainer Christmas Abbott wants to give you a massive mojo boost—and she says she can do it in 30 days.

When it comes to cool-girl confidence, Abbott has it in spades. The former soldier (who served a year in Iraq) has amassed an impressive following for her body-strengthening moves, and her vibrant attitude catches people’s attention just as much as her abs and sweet tattoos (okay, almost as much).

Her new book, The Badass Life, is meant to be a monthlong plan to cement good-for-you habits into all areas of your life, including the way you eat, work out, stay mentally sharp, and find spiritual fulfillment. That’s a lot to unpack!

But Abbott swears that it all starts with having a good morning. “Having a routine is imperative to success—we thrive off routine and structure,” she says.

Here, she shares 5 things she does every a.m. to feel empowered, confident, and, yes, completely badass.

1. Set an intention

If you’re prone to hitting the snooze button, Abbott gets you. In fact, she does it, too. But while she’s savoring just a few more precious moments under the covers, she’s also prepping her mind for everything that’s about to happen as soon as she gets out of bed.

“The first thing I do every single morning is set an intention for the day,” she says. “I think about how beautiful the day is, and how grateful I am for everything—even the difficult things.” While her intention for each day may vary, there’s always a through-line: gratefulness.

2. Eat breakfast—sitting down

“Too busy” to eat breakfast? You’re missing out. “I sit down and eat every morning,” Abbott says. “It’s the calm before the storm. Anything can happen during the day, but breakfast is something you have complete control over. Plus, it keeps me from getting hangry so I don’t treat someone poorly!”

Her go-to a.m. meal: fruit, eggs, and, ahem, peanut butter served on top of her eggs. (“Don’t knock it until you try it!”) Sometimes she switches it up, but she says the first meal of her day always has protein and healthy fats. 

3. Use your mirror to reflect…on your goals

While she’s putting on her makeup, Abbott uses her mirror for more than just perfecting her eyeliner. “Permanent marker comes off mirrors with rubbing alcohol, so I use it to write all over,” she says. “I write my goals for things I’m working toward that might take me a few months, or even a few years.”

But once she makes it happen, she doesn’t erase it. Instead, she puts a line through it with the date she accomplished that goal. “Often, we don’t take the time to celebrate what we’ve done—we just blast through it and go on to the next thing,” she says. “So instead of forgetting all the amazing things I’ve done, I still have the reminder to celebrate.” 

4. Meditate on your mantra during your commute

On the dashboard of Abbott’s car, there’s a bright Post-It note with one of her favorite personal mantras: Do today what others won’t, so tomorrow you can do what others can’t. “Things like that remind me, Christmas, check [yourself].” (And hey, it’s a little harder to hold on to road rage with something inspiring right by the radio.)

“There’s a misconception that being grateful means you’re a pushover. It doesn’t. You don’t have to be a bitch to be badass,” says Abbott. “In fact, I think it’s the opposite—the more accomplished you are, the more grateful and kind you should be.”

5. Get strategic when planning your day

To-do list tackling is an art form, and it’s one Abbott’s mastered. Here’s her tip: “Write it in order of the things that need to get done, and then things you want to get done,” she says. Then, give yourself a little wiggle room—it will help you feel more in control and not overwhelmed when inevitably something unexpected pops up.

Plus, “at the end of the day, even if I haven’t gotten through my entire to-do list, I still feel pretty good about the things I have [done],” she says. Because the great thing about being on it starting the early in the morning on is that by rosé  (or spritz) time, you’ve earned the right to cut yourself a break.

If you want to want to make your mornings even more awesome, here’s now to make a.m. workouts happen. And here’s some tips on boosting your mood, when you really just want to stay in bed.