Therapist Shares Morning Ritual She Says Is Key to Daily Success

Sadie Salazar, therapist and chief operating officer of Sage Therapy, says her daily success hinges on one non-negotiable habit: waking up early. The self-described Type-A, recovering perfectionist told CNBC Make It that her mornings are dedicated to grounding herself and creating space before the day’s demands begin.

Salazar explained that waking up with her alarm sets the tone for her day. “If I don’t wake up on time, it will throw everything off, and then it just compresses the morning so that I feel rushed and chaotic. I think that’s the biggest ritual. No matter what, I’m getting up when the alarm goes off,” she said.

Woman stretching in bed | Source: Pexels

She uses the extra time for personal activities unrelated to work or chores. “Maybe it’s reading a chapter of a book or listening to a little bit of a podcast, or taking some extra time to walk my dog,” Salazar noted. As a mother with a new baby, waking at 7 a.m. gives her space to prioritize self-care.

While she values her early start, Salazar avoids rigid routines. “A big thing is giving permission for other routines and rituals to ebb and flow. I would love to be the kind of person that does a workout every morning or listens to a podcast or a book or something, but I personally find it hard sometimes to stick with routine,” she said. “No one wants to start their day feeling like you’ve already failed at something.”

Woman working remotely | Source: Pexels

Beyond her early wake-up, Salazar focuses on dressing for work—even when working remotely. “There’s so much temptation to wear our comfy clothes and just kind of lounge about… I try to resist the temptation to stay in pajama bottoms, and really get myself ready for the day [to] feel like I’m actually going to work,” she explained.