morning person | Leslie Stephens | Substack

Issue #244: How to Increase Your Surface Area for Luck

The new mantra I live by.

Apr 28

Sunday Edition: A Foolproof Formula for an All-Day Outfit That Doesn't 'Expire'

Plus a recipe, show, and podcast I loved this week.

Apr 26

Issue #243: Would You Pick a Nicer Home or Better Neighborhood? (Advice, Please!)

I may be moving...

Apr 21

Sunday Edition: Everything on My Spring 'To Read and Watch' List

18+ recs to add to your list!

Apr 19

Issue #242: Why ‘Fallow Periods’ Are Necessary for Creativity and Life

And an all-time favorite poem.

Apr 14

Popular Issues

Issue #244: How to Increase Your Surface Area for Luck

The new mantra I live by.

Apr 28

Issue #238: What Is My Body Trying to Tell Me?

On injury, hormones, and learning to (finally) listen.

Mar 17

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

Simple, small space cooking.

Feb 17

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

Issue #240: What I Learned About Fighting from Two Relationships

And a little update.

Mar 31

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

Routines and Rituals

Issue #244: How to Increase Your Surface Area for Luck

The new mantra I live by.

Apr 28

Issue #242: Why ‘Fallow Periods’ Are Necessary for Creativity and Life

And an all-time favorite poem.

Apr 14

Issue #241: How I Use 'Schedule Blocking' to Map Out My Work Days

A day in the life!

Apr 7

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

Jasmine incense, daffodils, and other desperate measures.

Mar 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 #242: Why ‘Fallow Periods’ Are Necessary for Creativity and Life

And an all-time favorite poem.

Apr 14

Issue #239: The ‘Invisible’ Work That Only Happens Offline

Yay for growth!

Mar 24

Issue #238: What Is My Body Trying to Tell Me?

On injury, hormones, and learning to (finally) listen.

Mar 17

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

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 #242: Why ‘Fallow Periods’ Are Necessary for Creativity and Life

And an all-time favorite poem.

Apr 14

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

Recent posts

Sunday Edition: 13+ Things That Sparked Creativity and Joy This Week

Sources of inspiration.

Apr 12

Issue #241: How I Use 'Schedule Blocking' to Map Out My Work Days

A day in the life!

Apr 7

Sunday Edition: The 'Microdose Method' for Establishing a Daily Journaling Practice

And other daily, nourishing practices.

Apr 6

Issue #240: What I Learned About Fighting from Two Relationships

And a little update.

Mar 31

Sunday Edition: A Flawless Gym Bag and Sweet Ritual to Kick-Off the Season

Plus, the reason I'm running late...

Mar 29

Issue #239: The ‘Invisible’ Work That Only Happens Offline

Yay for growth!

Mar 24

Sunday Edition: The Soup I Can't Stop Making and 3 Recent Obsessions

We're officially in 'open window' season!

Mar 22

Recipe: I Make This Healing Nettle Soup Every Week in Spring

Allergy relief in a bowl. 🌸

Mar 22

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts