My morning ritual
I am very much a creature of habit. When I find something I like, I stick with it (maybe that’s why I have been with my husband for 11 years). But really, I had a PB&J sandwich and an orange Vitamin Water every third period during my junior year of high school. I love routine.
This schedule is my Holy Grail. I try not to stray from the path and I try to follow the same routine even when traveling.
I have found that this routine makes me the happiest, calmest, most creative, and healthiest.
Here are my non-negotiables:
I don’t wake up with an alarm clock.
Yep, it’s true. In the past year, I have set my alarm maybe one time. My husband naturally wakes up earlier than me so if I know for sure I need an early wake up call, he gently wakes me. I know it sounds a bit diva-ish but this plays a HUGE role in my emotions for the day.
The sound of my alarm going off in the morning scares me awake, actually startles me. I know I can’t be the only one. So, I immediately start my day feeling frazzled and timed (I’ll get more into how I don’t pay much attention to the clock).
I naturally wake up each morning. And no, that doesn’t mean I sleep until the late morning either (unlike when I was in college and would sleep easily until 10:30am). I typically fall asleep about 9:30-10:30pm giving me plenty of time to rest up.
I don’t check my phone first thing when I wake up.
Just like how I don’t like to wake up startled by my alarm, I also don’t like to have my emotions heightened by a bad email or text.
First you should know, I sleep with my phone on silent. I tell my friends and family what happens to them from the hours of 9pm-7am is between them and God. *I promise I’m actually a good person*
So, I do actually look at my phone when I first wake up, to make sure no emergencies have occurred, and I resist every urge to open my email, social media, and text notifications.
I don’t want to wake up and immediately see that I need to update a project for work or that a student has a question on their recent grade. That triggers me into a state of chaos, stress, and distraction for the rest of the day.
In fact, did you know the first several minutes after you wake up, a “gateway” to your subconscious mind is open, impacting your mood and thoughts for the rest of the day. I don’t know about you, but I prefer to have good days.
I have a cappuccino and a breakfast with protein.
I am very sensitive to caffeine and really don’t drink the cappuccino for energy but instead the warm drink just makes my soul happy. I look forward to waking up and sitting with my blanket and taking slow sips. You can purchase my favorite cappuccino maker here.
Earlier this year, I received PRP injections for hair growth (read more about that here). With this procedure, a high protein diet is key. So, I like to start the day with an egg and cheese bagel sandwich and an Outright sunflower seed butter protein bar.
I meditate.
I started journaling and meditating at the beginning of the year and have continued to do so. I play relaxing music, like this, and write down three things I’m grateful for and one manifestation. I take three deep breathes, say everything I wrote out loud, visualize each thing, and end with three more deep breathes.
I can’t even begin to tell you what a game changer this has been. This isn’t about wishing for things I want, it’s about living and visualizing exactly like it has happened so that I can take small steps each day to make that manifestation come to life.
Just this past year, I have used this practice to double my income, purchase land, purchase a new home, go on dream vacations to places like France, and help my husband leave his 9-5 and start his own business.
Get my simple tasks done first.
This is something newer I have been doing. I am a big fan of to-do lists. I like knowing exactly what to expect for the day. If a task will take me less than 10 mins to complete, like replying to an email or updating a social media post, I do that first.
Get the tasks I HATE done next.
After the quick things are out of the way, I do the things I least want to do next. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are difficult, I just don’t like doing them. Like making phone calls. I want to get it out of the way and be done with it for good!
Walk my dog.
One thing I know to be sure in life, my dog is spoiled. My husband Trent and I walk our standard poodle, Bart, about three times a day. Rain, shine, cold, hot, it doesn’t matter, Bart goes for a walk each day.
But honestly, it helps improve our day SO MUCH. Bart gets to scope out the neighborhood and enjoy the outdoors. We get a break from the straining blue light of our laptops and get some fresh air/exercise.
I don’t check the time.
Unless I know I have a meeting or appointment, I pay very little attention to the time of day. I have created such a routine that I pretty much do everything around the same time of day anyway. I enjoy doing things as I please. I eat lunch when I’m hungry. I take a break when my eyes hurt. So while I have a strict routine, I’m not determining it by time. I determine the day based off how I feel and what’s on my to-do list.