As the founder and CEO of Love Squad, a Peloton instructor, and host of the Brooklyn Nets, Ally Love has a lot to get done on any given day. That’s why she strives to start every morning the same way—to set herself up to conquer the day with peace of mind and joy in her heart. Fortunately for Love, mornings come naturally.
“I was that annoying kid that would wake up super early and my parents would hope and pray that I’d stay asleep for just a couple of extra minutes,” she says. “But that was not the case.”
That’s not to say Love hasn’t had to work to hone her routine over the years. But she always remembers to be mindful about the changing seasons of her life.
“There are periods where you have to be steadfast about getting up super early, and times when you need to give yourself a moment of grace and sleep in a little bit. You have to find what works for you and what puts you in the best mood,” she says. “If you feel grounded and good when you wake up, you’re already owning your morning. If not, this is when the self-awareness and the searching begins.”
Watch the video above and read on to learn how Ally Love starts her day.
Ally Love’s Morning Essentials
6:00 a.m.: I wake up—right away.
“I wake up as soon as my alarm goes off, sometimes without the alarm. I think it’s a superpower, my ability to get up with the sun and just get going. It’s my natural energy; I’m motivated, I’m curious in the morning. People say early birds get the worm but I think the early bird gets whatever is leftover by the hustlers, and I feel like I’m a hustler. Pressing snooze puts me in a bad mood.”
6:05 a.m.: I meditate
“Most mornings before I get out of bed—before I do anything, really—I take a few minutes to pray or meditate.
“I believe it’s so key to do something to take care of yourself first thing in the morning. If you’ve loved on yourself a bit, then you’re easier to deal with, you’re more joyful, your bandwidth is a little deeper, and you’re more available, understanding, and tolerant as you go about your day, your meetings, your interactions with your family.
“For me, that’s meditation. It gives me a moment to take my time, not be on my phone, breathe, and get in the right headspace so I can then go over my day. Being mindful is so important.”
6:30 a.m.: I consume some quick but powerful nutrition
“The first thing I do after that is drink a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar combined with four teaspoons of water. I also always drink a bottle of BODYARMOR SportWater in the morning because it’s super important to me to get hydrated and stay hydrated, and BODYARMOR SportWater is fortified with the electrolytes I need to keep me going all day.”
7:30 a.m.: I get after my workout
“Most mornings, I teach my cycling classes early so I’ll quickly shower and get dressed—all while continuing to hydrate with my BODYARMOR SportWater—and then head over to the studio to teach a class.
“On days when I don’t teach, I do a treadmill class or a strength class at home to get my workout in. I try to run and strength train about three times a week as long as my schedule permits.
“Doing anything consistently can be a struggle and I’m no different. I try to stay disciplined without pushing myself. If I don’t feel like working out one day, I’ll actually put on one of my classes in my earbuds while I’m walking around the house, and hearing that encourages me to put on my gear and get it going.”
8:30 a.m.: I come home for breakfast
“Once I’m done with my workout, I like to make a hemp protein or pea protein shake or smoothie for breakfast. I’m not a huge breakfast person during the week. Saturdays, however, are for pancakes. I consider myself a pancake connoisseur, and I know how to make some of The. Best. Pancakes.”
9:00 a.m.: I get to work on job #2
“Next, I like to find a sunny spot in my apartment to answer emails and check in with my Love Squad team to talk about what we’re creating next. Part of my morning energy is just being ready and excited to do the things I love doing, and I love being the CEO and founder of this amazing team. They are truly inspiring.
“I keep a full BODYARMOR SportWater next to my desk, especially when working from home. You’d think it would be easy to stay hydrated during the day because the kitchen is right there, but I think because it’s so readily available you almost take it for granted and forget to do it. So I always make sure I have a bottle ready for the day.”
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