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.

Kylie Sakaida — or @NutritionbyKylie as her online moniker goes — is followed by millions for her easy and nutritious recipes, thoughtful advice, and the candid snippets she shares from her life. She believes that nutrition and health can be realistic and fun — and that is what makes her such a magnet. (Seriously, if you’re not already following her, go check out her Instagram and see how many of your friends do!)

“Kylie’s work has enabled so many to heal their relationships with food and find their way to a nourishing relationship with their bodies.”

Kylie’s work has enabled so many to heal their relationships with food and find their way to a nourishing relationship with their bodies. Her work speaks to those of us who are busy, overwhelmed, or for any reason unable to devote any more time and energy to our time in the kitchen. Her simple, nonjudgmental approach is a breath of fresh air amongst an algorithm full of wellness and nutrition content.

Kylie grew up as a picky eater in her hometown of Honolulu before finding her way into nutrition through her education in Boston. Now, she spends most of her time in LA, where she’s deep in book launch mode for her latest, “So Easy So Good.” That means life these days is pretty nonstop. Most are packed with emails, podcast recordings, interviews, meetings, filming, editing, writing recipes for her website, planning book events, and coordinating travel and partnerships on top of it all.

She admits that her mornings haven’t been exactly peaceful these past few months — but she cherishes them for the small window they provide to get her bearings before the day begins. As she puts it: “Luckily, no pets or kids to keep alive, so mornings are my chance to breathe and get it together before the day starts!”

8:00 am | No-scroll zone ⏰

My alarm wakes me up in the morning. Unfortunately, it’s that default triggering iPhone alarm sound. It’s not cute or calming, but it’s definitely effective! I usually snooze once, then roll out of bed. My bedroom stays really dark, so if I didn’t have my phone, I genuinely wouldn’t know what time of day it is. It makes getting out of bed a little harder, especially when things are extra busy. I try my best not to scroll or check anything until I’m out of the room to keep my bedroom as a calm, low-stress zone.

A corner of a room with light-colored walls, wooden floor, and dark curtains partially open to let in natural light.
A green iPhone with a transparent case lies on wrinkled white bedsheets.

8:15 am | Hypnotherapy app 📱

Before I get too far into the day, I do a quick mindfulness session on the Nerva app (I just started using it). It’s a gut-directed hypnotherapy app for IBS, and while it sounds a little niche, it really helps keep my nervous system (and stomach issues) in check during this stressful time. I just pop in my AirPods, sit on the couch, and follow along. It’s a low-effort, consistent habit that helps me start the day feeling a little more regulated, both mentally and digestion-wise.

A hand holds a smartphone displaying a screen with the text "Welcome to Nerva," a pause button, and a circular progress bar on a green background.
A pair of white wireless earbuds and their closed charging case are placed on a light wood surface.

8:30 am | Skincare routine 💦

After that, I wash my face with a gentle cleanser, use moisturizer, hydroquinone, and sunscreen. If I’m scheduled to be on camera that day, I’ll do my makeup.  

8:40 am | Savory oatmeal with soft-boiled eggs 🥣

I don’t usually feel like cooking in the morning. I just want something satisfying, quick, and, ideally, already prepped. My go-to’s are Korean marinated eggs, which I usually batch ahead of time and eat with warm brown rice and kimchi. It’s salty, comforting, and always hits. Other days, I’ll make Chinese Steamed Eggs or a savory oatmeal with soft-boiled eggs, sautéed greens, and chili crisp. All of these are in my cookbook because they’re genuinely my favorite things to eat in the morning. If I’m short on time or not super hungry, I’ll make a smoothie (my favorite one is also in the book). It’s the perfect balance of sweet without being too sweet, thanks to the nut butter, and it’s higher in protein, so it actually keeps me full.

A bowl of white rice topped with a marinated egg and kimchi is being served with chopsticks; a green plant is in the background.
Woman in a blue floral bikini top sits on outdoor wooden stairs surrounded by greenery, with a rocky mountain and blue sky in the background.

9:00 am | Option to walk 👣

If I have time (which is rare nowadays), I love going for a quick walk around the neighborhood. It always clears my head, calms me down, and makes me feel way more focused for the rest of the day. It’s one of those things I know helps…but most mornings, I’m already behind schedule, so it doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. One day, I’ll be a morning walk person, but today is not that day.