How to Wake Up Without Crying.

This week’s Soft Stack explores, tools and rituals for making your mornings as bearable as possible. Because waking up is already hard enough. Might as well soften the blow.

📱 iPhone's Sleep Focus Feature:

My old alarm used to launch me into fight-or-flight every morning. Now I use the iPhone’s Sleep Focus feature; it wakes me gently with a soft, pretty tune that eases in gradually. Bonus points for the 9:30pm nudge to wind down with a book, a tea, or just a bit less screen-induced stimulation.

🍋 Lemon Water and Salt:

Meant to kickstart your electrolytes or something. I’ve done the lemon part since I was a teen because it’s good for your liver, which is apparently good for your skin (and vanity was and is a motivator). I’ll admit I’m inconsistent, but if you have better willpower than me, this is a solid way to start the day before the five inevitable coffees.

📻 Morning Playlist:

A lo-fi/jazz mix that makes me feel like somewhat alive while waiting for my coffee to brew. Occasionally I switch to morning radio just to hear other voices mumble about nothing. Weirdly comforting.

🍼 Yakult:

It’s just yum, okay? But also practical; a small, easy win when I’m not hungry but know I should put something in my body before mainlining caffeine. Pair it with a banana and you’ve got a light, non-threatening breakfast that holds you over 'til lunch.

🩻 Foundation Training by Eric Goodman:

I’ve had a herniated disc (L5-S1. Shoutout to the lower spine community) for nearly a decade. One thing that actually helps is this free 12-minute YouTube routine my brother put me onto. It shakes the stiffness out of my morning body and makes me feel a little more ready to exist.