The unexpected sip this Well+Good editor swears by for an energy boost

Welcome to My Morning Routine, where good-life gurus share their personal (frequently surprising, often healthy) morning rituals—to help you make your a.m.’s more awesome. We teamed up with Tropicana, America’s first and favorite orange juice, to find out how a Well+Good editor starts the day with mega positivity.

Eva MedoffSenior Editor, Well+Good

I usually wake up a bit before my alarm around 7 or 7:30 a.m., which is awesome to have those ten extra minutes (sans blaring iPhone) to ease into the day. The first thing I do is down at least eight ounces of water—which, as someone practically surgically attached to her water bottle, is like blinking.

A must-have for me is The Skimm, the morning email newsletter that gives you a breakdown of domestic and global news in digestible tidbits. It’s not going to make you an expert, but I consider staying informed and aware of what’s going on in the world a form of self maintenance. Plus, it’s nice way to start engaging my brain (while I’m still in bed, by the way) before I have to dash onto the subway.

“I consider staying informed and aware of what’s going on in the world a form of self maintenance.”

Before I head out, I usually have a bowl of overnight oats or oatmeal. I’m all about the toppings: Blueberries (I keep a bag of frozen ones on hand so I always have them), drizzly peanut butter (the natural kind you need a spoon for), and flax or chia seeds are on constant rotation. My husband in particular always wakes up immediately hangry, so it’s essential to have a filling breakfast with healthy fats on hand.

Then it’s on to the L train, where I always read on my Kindle or listen to a podcast (I recommend Strangers, which is about the intriguing connections we make with others and is basically a master class in empathy). Reading in particular is my own personal form of meditation—it helps me tune out and focus inward, so I feel centered and refreshed once I get to the office.  

“I’m known around the office for having orange juice every. single. morning.”

Once I hop off the subway, I always stop at my favorite bodega for an individual carton of orange juice. And I’m serious: I’m known around the office for having one every. single. morning. I go for the full-pulp Tropicana Pure Premium, which I love because it feels like drinking an entire orange (and it is, in fact, made with fresh-squeezed oranges).

For me, it’s that filling sip that holds me over until lunchtime. I drink my Tropicana first thing while I’m scrolling through emails at my desk, and it gives me a zing to start my day on a super productive note. That way, I know I can handle whatever comes my way (even if that means back-to-back brainstorms).

In partnership with Tropicana

Photo: Abby Maker for Well+Good