Having a successful morning routine is all the buzz right now. Dr. Whitney breaks down why typical morning routines don’t work for her (or a lot of moms) and gives you an alternative that still allows you to have the benefits but none of the strain and guilt
Key takeaways:
- Typical morning routines for moms usually involve getting up several hours earlier than everyone else and don’t allow for families where that’s just not possible. They’re generally so involved and have so many forms of self-care within them that if you have a morning where your kiddo wakes up early (that’s every day over here), then you end up feeling defeated and angry when something doesn’t work out.
- An alternative is a daily ritual that you go through that gives you time to yourself and allows for a moment of reflection. And that can happen whenever you need it to. Whenever it actually CAN happen. Just like you’d plan your morning routine, you need to make space in your schedule to allow for this to happen.
- Why a DAILY ritual? It reminds us that we are the most important things in our own lives and if we aren’t supporting ourselves, we’ll end up resentful and burnt out because we’ll constantly be giving of ourselves instead of actually receiving anything. If we can receive for ourselves in a consistent way, then we’ll have more bandwidth, more time, more energy, and more mental capacity to be giving to OTHERS in a consistent way.
- What should it look like? Literally anything that allows you to be alone, quiet with your feelings, and to turn inward and practice mindful self-compassion and radical acceptance. Or even to just let your mind wander and be with yourself (to remind you how great you are!) It can also be something structured with journal pages from The Artist’s Way or meditations and mantras from the Mindful Mamas Club App.
- When should I do it? Some people like to do it in the morning simply because it’s a season that they’re in where that works for them. Great! If not, maybe it’s when you go on a walk. Or in the shower (with the door locked!), as you’re driving home from work, taking an extra 5 minutes in the garage or driveway, or on your lunch hour when you decide not to check emails, but instead focus on yourself.
- How long should it take? 5-10 minutes of calm, unrushed time
- How do you make time for this in the day? This is where the Centered Life Blueprint comes into play. Decide to put yourself in the center of your life. That could look like putting aside efficiency or productivity for just a few minutes because you want to honor what you know your body and mind need. Or deciding that you’re only going to check your phone 4 times a day. Or planning a very simple meal one day a week to give yourself a little bit more margin. Or delegating tasks that don't need to be done by you.
Maybe that’s decluttering the stuff in your house so you spend less time cleaning up and more time with you. Or saying no to being on committees or opportunities that are not going to serve you well. Or boundaries on tech about when you’re responding to people.
It starts with deciding that you are worth taking care of. When that doesn’t happen, you turn into a burnt out stress ball. And burnt out, stressed out women have a really hard time being the best mom to their kids. Or wives to their husbands. Or business owners.
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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