Not really. I’m being sarcastic.
There’s undeniably a performance aspect, though its value is questionable. But people love it. They watch it. They want to see more of similar content. Otherwise, how do we explain the existence of over two million videos and 28 billion views under the hashtag #MorningRoutine? No joke, it’s insane.
I always thought I was too old for TikTok and that it was a platform full of junk videos. Recently, I decided to spend some time on it and see the latest trends and gigs. I figured I should stop being prejudiced about anything and everything Gen Z does. It’s not like all the other platforms I spent my precious hours on were full of educational and enlightening content anyway. (sigh!)
Why Are We So Obsessed with These Routine Videos?
These videos have always been a hit. Just like “Get ready with me” or “What I eat in a day” or “What’s in my bag” videos, ‘routine’ videos have been a regular part of internet lifestyle content since the beginning of social media. But these videos have only become more popular since the arrival of TikTok and the rise of short-form content, allowing lengthy, more ‘mundane’ videos to be condensed into 30-second-long clips.
Morning routine videos started on YouTube, according to Professor Crystal Abidin, who is a digital anthropologist and founder of the TikTok Research Network (TCRN). When TikTok use exploded during the pandemic, creators who used to share their fun lives had to switch to showing their everyday routines at home. This move brought the “morning routine” trend to TikTok, giving influencers new chances to grow their followers.
I suppose morning routines sort of became a tool for influencers to casually promote products. They’d say something like, “Here are my favourite products,” and then they’d give a review. Presenting it as part of their routine makes it seem like they genuinely use and believe in these brands, making their product reviews more credible.
“Morning routine” posts are a popular way for lifestyle influencers to connect with their current followers and gain new ones. They’re easily made and accessible. Because every person in the world wakes up in the morning and follows a set of actions to prepare for the day. So, by sharing their morning routines, influencers tap into something universally relatable, making it easier to engage with their audience and attract new followers.
I’ve got to confess, some of them are a laugh to watch. But blimey, loads of them are like clones of each other. It’s like everyone’s got the same headband, glass jar, and metal straw in their videos.
The pattern is partly because of TikTok’s algorithm, which usually shows content similar to what users have liked before. This means users end up seeing more of the same kind of content from accounts that are similar to theirs. And we all know influencers need to earn commissions through Amazon; otherwise, what’s the point of waking up at 5 am to prepare a frothy matcha? One needs good motivation to do that.
My First #MorningRoutine Video
I wanted to give it a go, so I took out my good old tripod (yes, I own one from my past influencer life, ha!)
But here are some facts:
There is no serum, face cream, or morning affirmation that could ease the struggle going on inside my head in the mornings. I do not own a puffy headband that I push on my forehead while taking sips from a water bottle, which can hold enough water to bathe a baby. I do not have long, shiny acrylic fingernails that I can tap on little bottles of cosmetic products just before I take the lid off them in a hypnotic fashion. I don’t journal about my goals or plan out my day by the hour. Instead, I wake up (really early, body says up!), check-in for a moment if I am still feeling miserable, confirm that I am, then get up, put the kettle on, watch the kettle come to a boil (that I could say is the most meditative moment of the day), make coffee, and get on with the day. I do whatever I have to do. That’s it.
So, with zero motivation to make this routine video, I set up the tripod in the kitchen and pressed the record button. By the end of my documentation of my early morning coffee-making ritual (which the whole world was apparently holding their breath to see), I realized something. The morning routine is a wonderful way of procrastinating. Unbelievable. It took me 25 minutes to make that coffee when normally it would have only taken 10 (including brew time). I also noticed it brought a sense of control. I have no control over the mess in my life, but I felt totally, utterly, and completely in control of that coffee-making session. Maybe this is another aspect that makes these videos popular for both makers and viewers. There’s so much happening in our world, and it’s mentally exhausting to keep up, follow, and understand. These videos might provide an escape from all that chaos, almost therapeutic. Ah, because nothing says ‘productive’ like spending 25 minutes filming a cup of coffee, right?
Right, I can hear you all asking, ‘Where is your video?’ Well, behold! Get ready to be dazzled! Drum roll, please… Here is the most authentic morning routine video on the internet. Enjoy!