On Morning Routines
Why are we all so interested in other people’s morning routines? It's fascinating just how fascinated we are. We watch videos of them, read about them, gather all sorts of information, as if we might glean the secret to happiness from them. If a person is “successful” (whatever that means), we want to copy what they do, certain that their morning routine will give us the answer, the means, the key.
I think it has something to do with morning itself. It is such a time of vulnerability, before we are dressed, before we have our game face on. Our morning self is usually only shared with those we love. Half asleep, we shuffle cozily in our slippers, making tea or coffee, writing, meditating, eating (or what? what else? what?! we want to know). It feels somehow, as if knowing what someone does in their morning, private hours, will help us to know them.
And also, mornings can be difficult. They can be rushed and harried and grumpy and awful, so to hear about someone who enjoys their morning, who has a routine, it can be hopeful, make us believe we might live differently, better. I know that I feel as if I am living "better" when I make time for a morning routine, when I make time for myself.
Although for most of my life I have not been an early to bed, early to rise person, I now really treasure the mornings when I get up early enough to putter about at home before facing the world. I have had periods of very definite - dare I say, strict - morning routines, and they served me well for a time. I have had periods of no real morning routine (unless racing around to get ready and get to work on time is a routine?), and those did not serve me well, for any time. These days I find I am not strict about anything, but I simply love it when I get up early enough to have some quiet time to myself, to centre myself before the day. And because I love it, most days I do it.
So, what is it? What is the ideal routine? I think it changes, obviously, depending on your circumstances, depending on what is floating your boat, depending on who you are sharing your life with, depending on the demands being made of you.
If you would like to know, for me, right now, my mornings look something like the following:
Wake up, (at what seems a terribly early time - usually around 5:30), put the kettle on to make coffee. I use a Bialetti moka and I love it. I also make a little collagen drink that I down, along with a glass of water first thing.
Meditation. I don’t do it every morning, but the mornings that I do, are better. I use the Headspace app, or sometimes the Insight Timer app…lately I’m doing 20 minutes, but less if time is tight.
Writing. Something, anything! I might write a rampage of appreciation (see Abraham Hicks on youTube, if you're interested), I might write a blog post, I might write a journal entry. Some time connecting with myself helps me to know myself.
I usually shower at night, after yoga, but of course in the mornings I get dressed, get ready for the day ahead, eat oatmeal or drink a green smoothie. Depending on the day, either Shane or I will take Seymour out for his first morning walk. I rarely want to do the early morning walk, but always love it when I do.
Essentially, I find that as long as I do something that feels good in the morning, my day is better. I treasure this time to myself, covet it. Though I would never have predicted it, had you asked me in my twenties, I find that, these days, early morning is my favourite time of the day. This is, of course, entirely dependent upon getting to bed early enough the night before...something I am still working on. Honestly, almost nothing else has as immediate an impact on my mood, and yet I still often resist going to bed. It's a work in progress.
If you find mornings difficult, might I suggest making some small shift in your habits so that you can start to befriend the early hours? Find simple ways to make the morning more pleasant. Perhaps it is a gentle morning play list, a coffee maker that starts automatically, a clean and clear kitchen counter to wake up to. Lately I have been turning on my essential oil diffuser first thing, and, though seemingly trivial, diffusing a wonderful scent first thing has a huge impact on my day and mood.
If you can set your alarm just 15 minutes earlier than usual, and begin your day with something that feels good, something you enjoy, you may find life in general feels better. The trick is to really look for what brings you joy, not something you think you should do: if the thought of starting your day with 15 minutes of yoga, or meditation is enough to make you stay in bed for half an hour longer, then skip it! Make those 15 minutes something you look forward to, something you’d love to do, whatever that might be. Maybe you get up, eat good chocolate and watch YouTube videos! Maybe you get up and read your book, all cozy on the couch. Just choose something that works for you. If you have any other suggestions, I'd love to hear!
