Morning to Night

Morning to Night: The Simple Routine That Keeps My Body and Mind in Flow

By Sakina Di Pace,

Acupuncturist and founder of Sérénité

**Disclaimer: some of the products I mention in this post are affiliate links, but I 100% use them every day and can truly vouch for their quality

Over the last few years, hundreds of people have asked me about my daily routines. I’ve always been slightly resistant to answer as daily habits and rituals are, and should be, personal to one's temperament and circumstances.

Nevertheless, I’ve created this article to share my daily routine as an acupuncturist and mum of two boys trying to live a healthy life.

For me, my routine is about feeling good in my body, having the energy to keep up with my children, and supporting my long term health. My habits and rituals shift over time as I find new rhythms and products that suit me. Some of you probably live even healthier lifestyles, but if you’re looking for a bit of inspiration or aren’t sure where to start, I’ve included links to the products I use to make things easier for me.

Please bear in mind this is my ideal routine I strive for and, whilst I do carry it out most of the time, I don’t carry it out all the time. Life events get it in the way and derail me sometimes, but knowing what I’m aiming for is both grounding and helpful to me. So here goes…

7:00 am Hydration

Immediately after waking up I remove my mouth tape. I’ve been taping my mouth at night to encourage nasal breathing and it’s changed my sleep completely! I wake up with more energy, less dryness, and I feel completely rested.

Then I drink a glass of room-temperature filtered water. At the moment I use the LARQ filtered pitcher. Into the glass I add ionic minerals from BodyBio. Filtering can remove impurities but it also strips minerals, so adding them back helps hydration work at a cellular level.

My husband and I even started setting hydration goals, which made a noticeable difference. You can read my hydration article for more information.

7:15 am Oral care

Oral hygiene feels like a little reset ritual.

I alternate between the Forever Aloe Vera Toothgel, which is fluoride free and helps keep gums healthy while soothing the mouth, and the Gutology Mineral Toothpaste. This toothpaste combines hydroxyapatite with postbiotics to support enamel strength and nurture the mouth’s microbiome, helping to naturally remineralise teeth.
I also use a copper tongue scraper to sweep away toxins that build up overnight. Copper is naturally antibacterial so it’s ideal for this.
On top of that, I use a water flosser which is very effective at removing plaque and supporting gum health. I’ve tried oil pulling but I can’t quite stick to it so I give that a pass now..

7:30 am Breakfast for the kids

For the kids I keep it varied.

Some mornings it’s avocado mixed with yogurt, tomato, and lemon on sourdough. Other mornings I bake ahead and they get my buckwheat and almond butter banana cake which they love!

When I have the time I make a smoothie with yogurt, banana, cucumber, carrots, almond butter, chia seeds, and whatever vegetables are left in the fridge. They usually enjoy it, even with the vegetables hidden inside. And of course, there are the simple days of bread, butter, and jam.

8:00 am Breaking the fast

My own breakfast begins with a juice I make in my Hurom juicer with beetroot, celery, ginger, and apple. Because it’s a slow cold press juicer, it gently squeezes instead of shredding, so the juice keeps more nutrients and still tastes fresh, even if I don’t drink it straight away.

After, I have a small glass of fermented pomegranate mixed with filtered water, a powerful antioxidant. I also take zinc and one drop of liquid Vitamin D. Zinc is great for supporting the immune system and skin health, while Vitamin D helps regulate mood, energy, and bone strength.
When it comes to supplements, I almost always go for Happy Mammoth. I trust them because their formulas are designed with women’s hormonal health in mind, they use natural and research-backed ingredients, and I’ve personally noticed a real difference when I stay consistent with them.

8:15 am Body and face ritual

While the kids are getting dressed, I dry brush my body with my Balancing Body Brush, and my face with my Facial Dry Brushes.

It only takes a couple of minutes but it stimulates circulation and leaves my skin glowing.

I slip into my gym clothes and keep my shower for after exercise.

9:30 am Movement

Exercise is an important part of my day. Some mornings it’s Pilates or Body Pump, other days it’s just a simple walk nearby.

I feel lucky to live in such a beautiful area with so much nature. I do miss my reformer Pilates classes in the UK, but here in Brittany I’ve discovered longe côte — sea walking in waist-high water with water shoes. The mix of movement, fresh air, and the sea always leaves me feeling renewed. I try to go once a week, usually at the weekend while the kids play on the beach with my husband.

10:30 am Shower and nourishment

I usually wash with any organic handmade solid soap from French markets. Before leaving the bathroom I refresh my face with a mist and gently clean my eyes with a cotton pad.
Then I apply my mineral SPF 50 from Beauty of Joseon. It’s lightweight, leaves no white cast, and feels more like a nourishing skincare cream than a sunscreen. Honestly, it’s the best I’ve ever tried. In summer I mix in a few drops of the Caudalie Self Tanning Drops for a natural glow, and in winter I dust a little Inika Organic powder and Inika Organic mascara.

After my shower I prepare what feels like my second breakfast. Often it’s eggs sprinkled with spirulina from a small farm in the south of France which you can find here. I visited the farm in 2024 and their passion for cultivation shows in the clean taste and quality.
Other times I pan fry sardines with spring onion and parsley, and pair it with avocado on sourdough.
I sprinkle my breakfast with flaxseeds (I crush them first because the body can’t break them down whole — once blended they keep in the fridge for about a week). They’re full of omega-3, fibre, and lignans, which support digestion and help balance hormones. I also add broccoli sprouts, which are rich in sulforaphane, a powerful compound that supports detoxification and healthy estrogen metabolism.

11:00 am Work I love

By 11 I’m ready to work! One of the best parts of running my own online business is the freedom to work from anywhere, whether it’s the kitchen table, the sofa, or a café. It’s a rhythm that suits me well.

1:00 pm Lunch with my husband

At 1 my husband breaks his fast (you can learn about fasting here) and we sit down to eat together. Usually protein like fish or chicken, with seasonal vegetables and some sourdough. In summer it’s salads with artichokes and nuts, and in winter hearty soups.

We switched to non toxic pans like these ones, and filter all our water. It seems small, but really makes a difference over time.

2:00 pm Deep focus work

I prefer working from home.

I’ve tried libraries, shared offices, and coffee shops, but home is where I’m most productive.

A book that influenced the way I look at work is Deep Work by Cal Newport. It’s about cutting distractions and training the mind to focus for long stretches of time.

3:50 pm Little pre fast snack

Just before I start my daily fast at 4 I’ll have a piece of fruit or a square of chocolate. Not always, juston the days when lunch was lighter.

4:30 pm Family time

School pick up means the phone goes away and it’s family mode. Sports, activities, dinner, play, books, bed. It’s busy but it’s fun.

9:00 pm Sauna sanctuary

When the kids are asleep I retreat to my infrared sauna. It feels like pressing a reset button for both body and mind. I usually sit for fifty minutes to an hour and often use the Breetwrk app for a short breathwork session.

Sometimes it’s the first real quiet moment of the day. I also wrote more about how this sauna changed my life in my menopause article. It’s wonderful for keeping the skin moist, softening the joints, and so much more.

10:00 pm Evening skincare

After the sauna I rinse in the shower and keep skincare simple. I use the Beauty of Joseon Oil Cleanser or the Turmeric Cleanser from Kora Organics.

Three evenings a week I do facial cupping with my Facial Cups and pure prickly pear seed oil. On other nights it’s the Retinol Oil Serum from Payot followed by prickly pear seed oil.

I also take one or two minutes for needle tapping with the 7 star plum blossom hammer.

Afterwards I apply the Whipped Body Balm in Vanilla from Fierce Nature. It’s nourishing and feels like a treat for the skin.

10:30 pm Evening wind down

Phones go into the multi station charger. My husband and I either chat for a bit or I read before falling asleep.

Before bed I like to support my body with Magnesium, which helps me relax at the end of the day. I usually pair it with a glass of Rejuvenance Active Cell Cleanse Super Greens, a mineral-rich blend that supports detoxification and cellular health. The two together work beautifully: one helps the body unwind while the other nourishes from within. If you’d like to know more about all the supplements I recommend, have a look here.

11:00 pm Sleep. Upgraded.

We invested in an 8Sleep bed. It was a tough decision as it’s definitely not cheap (!), but I can hand-on-heart say it’s been one of my best decisions

I can set my side of the bed to a cooler temperature and raise my legs slightly, which is great for circulation, whilst my husband prefers to lie flat and warm. We also sleep on grounding bedsheets which connect us to the earth’s natural electric charge during the night. It helps the body reset its circadian rhythm, reduces stress, and supports deeper rest. To get even better sleep, I tape my mouth before bed. It keeps me breathing through my nose all night, which makes a huge difference. I wake up with more oxygen, deeper rest, and a clearer head in the morning.

I also wrote a whole article about how to optimise your sleep.

My Takeaway Everyday life isn’t perfect and my routine shifts with the seasons and with family life, but having a rhythm helps me feel grounded. I hope sharing mine gives you a little inspiration to create moments that feel good in your own day.