morning person | Leslie Stephens | Substack

Issue #237: What I Do When the Grey Gets to Me

Jasmine incense, daffodils, and other desperate measures.

2 hrs ago

Sunday Edition: My New 'Schedule Blocking' Strategy is a Bit Unhinged (But It Works!)

Open for recs. 💌

Mar 8

Issue #236: A Year Ago, I Completely Changed the Way I Eat and Cook

A TCM-informed diet.

Mar 3

Sunday Edition: Basically Fresh Jasmine and Pixie Tangerines in a Post

Off-the-cuff updates and recs I’d bring up over a coffee catch-up with a friend.

Mar 1

This Immunity-Boosting Smoothie Tastes Like a Fancy Orange Julius

Packed with ginger, turmeric, and vitamin C. 💫

Feb 26

Popular Issues

Issue #234: My 3-Day Food Diary and How I Approach Groceries and Cooking in the Van

Simple, small space cooking.

Feb 17

Issue #232: My Actual Monthly Expenses and 5 Changes I'm Making to My Finances in 2026

Plus the spreadsheet I use for tracking everything.

Feb 3

Issue #230: That One Time I Fled a Meditation Retreat

Add “enlightenment” to cart.

Jan 20

morning person

morning person

Obsessively-curated recommendations and reflections, best served with coffee.

Podcasts

Morning Person Podcast

A Vlog of My First Week Solo (!) in the Van

Relationships

My Friend's 'Two List' Method for Getting Over Any Breakup

Nov 14, 2025

Issue #219: My Recent Breakup and the Magic of Not Knowing Where Your Life is Headed

It's been a wild few weeks.

Nov 4, 2025

Issue #215: How to Keep Having ‘Good Sex’ in a Long-Term Relationship

From someone who lost and found it.

Oct 7, 2025

Issue #210: How to Keep Love Alive in a Relationship (And When to Leave It)

Staying in love after the fall.

Sep 2, 2025

Issue #205: Getting Divorced Made Me Realize I Had Approached Dating All Wrong

Let's talk about love.

Jul 29, 2025

Routines and Rituals

Issue #237: What I Do When the Grey Gets to Me

Jasmine incense, daffodils, and other desperate measures.

2 hrs ago

Issue #236: A Year Ago, I Completely Changed the Way I Eat and Cook

A TCM-informed diet.

Mar 3

Sunday Edition: 15 Hyper-Curated Playlists for Running, Chilling, and Cooking

What music have you been loving lately?

Feb 22

Issue #233: The Allure of Simplicity (and Why It Feels Impossible to Achieve)

Less busywork, more living.

Feb 10

Food and Recipes

Issue #236: A Year Ago, I Completely Changed the Way I Eat and Cook

A TCM-informed diet.

Mar 3

Issue #234: My 3-Day Food Diary and How I Approach Groceries and Cooking in the Van

Simple, small space cooking.

Feb 17

This Cookbook Author Just Turned My Favorite Soup into a Salad and I'm Obsessed

Vegan tom kha noodle salad (!) with seared mushrooms.

Jan 9

Issue #222: 12+ Wellness Products I'm Coveting After Staying with My Nutritionist Friend

An insanely effective wind-down gummy.

Nov 25, 2025

Let's Get Personal

Issue #235: Am I Allowed to Admit I'm Having a Hard Time with Turning 34?

Here come the mid-thirties.

Feb 24

Issue #232: My Actual Monthly Expenses and 5 Changes I'm Making to My Finances in 2026

Plus the spreadsheet I use for tracking everything.

Feb 3

Issue #230: That One Time I Fled a Meditation Retreat

Add “enlightenment” to cart.

Jan 20

Issue #228: One (Emotional) Battle (with Myself) After Another

Not the start to 2026 I expected…

Jan 6

Issue #226: 19+ Things I'm Obsessed with from 2025

Leaned so hard into how I *feel*

Dec 23, 2025

Travel

Obsessively Curated Travel Guides (and Exclusive Maps!) to 15+ Must-Visit Destinations

With downloadable Google Maps.

Nov 7, 2025

Sunday Edition: I've Traveled Most Weekends This Summer—Here's Everything I Keep in My Toiletries Bag

Plus highlights from the week!

Aug 17, 2025

How Missoula, Montana Stole My Heart and a Curated Travel Guide

I'd move here in an instant.

Jul 5, 2025 • Leslie Stephens

Issue #199: A Recap of My 10-Day Trip to Guatemala and a Local's Guide to Antigua

Plus, 3 brilliant things I packed.

Jun 17, 2025

Fashion and Design

Sunday Edition: My Favorite "Easy" Tops as a Blue Jeans Enthusiast

My go-to blouses, tees, and tanks.

Feb 15

Issue #209: The 10 Most-Worn Everyday Pieces in My Closet

And how to create an outfit that doesn’t ‘expire.’

Aug 26, 2025

Issue #203: Every Product, Tip, and Recommendation from a Girls' Weekend

No gate-keeping here.

Jul 15, 2025

Issue #181: My "No Buy" Year is Already the Best Decision I've Made in 2025

Plus a conversation with Jess Kirby all about hers.

Feb 11, 2025

Books

Issue #231: Every Book and Movie I Can't Wait to Come Out in 2026 (Plus a Downloadable Calendar)

And my plans for the year ahead. 👀

Jan 27

Issue #213: How to Fall Back in Love with Reading and 13+ Bingeable Books

Get out of your reading slump.

Sep 23, 2025

Issue #170: 17 Books That Completely Changed Me

And how I find time to read so much.

Nov 19, 2024 • Leslie Stephens

Issue #149: My Book is Out Today (!) and an Exclusive Expert

Plus 72 hours in NYC.

Jun 25, 2024 • Leslie Stephens

Sunday Edition: Let's Talk About Addiction and 'Demon Copperhead'

A flash bookclub meeting.

Nov 5, 2023 • Leslie Stephens

Recent posts

Issue #235: Am I Allowed to Admit I'm Having a Hard Time with Turning 34?

Here come the mid-thirties.

Feb 24

Sunday Edition: 15 Hyper-Curated Playlists for Running, Chilling, and Cooking

What music have you been loving lately?

Feb 22

Issue #234: My 3-Day Food Diary and How I Approach Groceries and Cooking in the Van

Simple, small space cooking.

Feb 17

Sunday Edition: My Favorite "Easy" Tops as a Blue Jeans Enthusiast

My go-to blouses, tees, and tanks.

Feb 15

Issue #233: The Allure of Simplicity (and Why It Feels Impossible to Achieve)

Less busywork, more living.

Feb 10

Sunday Edition: 5 Recs I Need You to You Know About (!)

Everything I cooked, read, and wore this week.

Feb 8

Issue #232: My Actual Monthly Expenses and 5 Changes I'm Making to My Finances in 2026

Plus the spreadsheet I use for tracking everything.

Feb 3

Sunday Edition: Take Care of Your Physical Body

Plus the best protein hot chocolate.

Feb 1

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