Welcome to Waking Up Well, a column where we hand-select people we admire and ask them to share how they start the day. We think morning routines are a crucial part of an intentional wellness journey and we’re fascinated by the practices of our favorite figures.

The first full week of January usually finds us slowly settling back into routine after the holidays. Instead, this year, many in LA were in or on the border of evacuation zones as deadly wildfires destroyed thousands of homes and beloved community spaces. As of publication, two weeks after the initial outbreaks of the Palisades and Eaton fires, neither blaze is fully contained, and air quality across the city remains a concern. While we’re still between the harried rush of evacuations and the establishment of a new normal, we’ve sought solace in the stories of others who have managed to navigate the situation with the flexibility and tenacity it calls for. We were especially keen to hear how one of our favorite people was taking care of herself and others during this time.

“We’ve sought solace in the stories of others who have managed to navigate the situation with the flexibility and tenacity it calls for.”

We’re lucky enough to be in touch with Erica Chidi, an LA-based writer, strategist, and health advocate whose work we’ve followed for years across many different sectors. She was a co-founder and former CEO of LOOM, where she pioneered a groundbreaking health education app (later acquired by Perelel Health in 2024). Her decade-long experience as a full-spectrum doula and health educator laid the foundation for her influential book “Nurture,” which continues to guide thousands of women through pregnancy and early motherhood — our editors included. We’ve loved following along as her thoughts were featured in The New York Times, Vogue, and Marie Claire — and on The goop Podcast which she co-hosted until 2023. We can’t wait to see what she does next with her transformation agency, ISE ISE, where she advises on innovation strategy and develops television projects exploring untold narratives. ✨

For now, Erica is taking things day by day and trying her best to restore and nourish her lung health and nervous system. Here’s how she’s finding her way in the mornings after the wildfires. We hope you find it as inspiring and comforting as we do.


7:00 am | Sunrise alarm & air quality check ☀️

I wake up naturally most mornings, thanks to the large, shade-free windows in our bedroom that overlook a small valley. Without much light pollution, the sunrise acts as my alarm clock. While I do set a 7 a.m. alarm just in case, I usually wake a few minutes before. Rising with the sun has been a part of my life for nearly a decade, and it’s a privilege I’m always grateful for — it feels restorative and intentional.

These days, I start my mornings by checking Watch Duty, AirCare, and KTLA for updates on the Southern California fires. While I try to avoid my phone first thing, knowing the air quality, fire containment status, and any other safety concerns helps me prepare for the day ahead.

7:10 am | Five-minute meditation 📿

I settle into a quick, five-minute meditation. Having practiced since I was 17, I’ve learned that even a short session can be grounding. Right now, with so much uncertainty in the air, these quiet moments of mindfulness are invaluable. Also, my preference is to take potentially intense information and then discharge it through meditation. 

7:15 am | Aroma therapy & intentions 🪞

I always blend aromatics with my meditation, though right now with the smoke I’m not burning a bunch of stuff. I love breathing in Snow Lotus’s Respiratory aromatherapy blend, choosing the scent based on my mood or needs for the day. Sometimes, I’ll pull tarot or Akashic records as a way to focus my intentions or get some clarity. It’s a simple but meaningful ritual — my way of setting the tone and speaking to the day about what I’d like to call in.

7:25 am | Calm, organizing workout 💪

I move into my workout, which over the years I tailored to my short attention span and sensory preferences. I’ve stepped away from gyms and group classes in favor of short, focused strength-training sessions at home. My routine prioritizes progressive overload with dumbbells and incorporates a power plate, which adds vibration to activate all your muscle groups. A typical morning session includes 30–50 goblet squats with a 20-pound kettlebell and three sets of Romanian deadlifts with 20–40 pounds dumbbells. Weightlifting is really organizing for me. My workouts are usually between 15–30 minutes to help me build strength and calm my nervous system without consuming too much of my morning.

7:50 am | Steamy shower 🚿

I finish my workout with a steam shower. This has been especially helpful lately, as many healthcare providers recommend steaming to bring moisture into the lungs, which are affected by the dry, smoky air. I follow this with a sparkling saline nasal spray called Breathe Right, which contains CO2 to help clear my sinuses of particulate matter.

8:00 am | Balancing shake & lung tonic 🥛

For breakfast, I make a protein shake with ProMix raw cacao protein powder and Peak, a high-quality powdered milk, a nostalgic favorite from childhood. I blend it in my Our Place Splendor Blender. It’s become a dependable anchor. As someone with sensory sensitivities, finding a breakfast routine that feels easy and consistent has been a challenge, but this one works. Starting the day off with over 35 grams of protein helps regulate my blood sugar and keeps me focused throughout the morning. While sipping my shake, I take my supplements and medications. I’ve recently added a lung tonic from WishGarden Herbs to support my respiratory health given the fires.

8:15 am | Body doubling with docs 📺

I ease into work with some background inspiration. I’m a body doubler, so it’s helpful for me to have something relatively engaging, but not disruptive in the background to help me focus. I enjoy watching “Democracy Now!” or a documentary from DW (“Deutsche Welle”), a German public broadcasting channel. Their documentaries are often really insightful and well-produced.

8:30 am | Rose water & electrolytes 💦

Before diving fully into work, I fill my water bottle with rosewater, ice, and liquid electrolytes. This small ritual keeps me hydrated and energized as I settle into the day’s tasks.


Thanks to Erica Chidi for providing images for this piece. Additional imagery from Snow Lotus and ProMix.