We are creatures of habit. Our bodies love the rhythm of doing the same thing everyday- whether you have healthy habits or not, your body knows exactly how to perform each day. Over the past few months I have cultivated a morning routine that works for me personally, but it didn't happen overnight! As a night owl, I love to stay up late when everyone else is in bed- it's my chance to catch up and work on projects completely uninterrupted. Whether that's laundry or writing a blog post, I loved feeling accomplished right before bed. Saying goodbye to my night owl tendencies and becoming a morning person wasn't easy! All of the articles you've ever read about "how to become a morning person" are true.. going to bed early is the key. That means saying no to a lot of fun things so you can wake up the next morning! #adulting
To all of the people who have ever said to me "Wow! I wish I could get up early and workout!"....YOU. CAN. <insert annoyed emoji face>. You just have to want to and make it a priority. I still love to sleep in, when possible, but working out and getting a good start to my day have become more important.
To all of the people who have ever said "I don't have time to workout!"...I'll ask you what my dad lovingly asked me when I gave him that excuse in college: "Do you have time to eat?" Ok. Thought so.
If you read my recent post about my new normal, you can understand that my routine has been disrupted and I'm working hard to maintain a sense of normality in my day to day life. I love to hear about other people's daily lives, so I thought I would share a small glimpse into mine and how I'm coping with this life stage that is full of transition.
6:00am - Workout. I have always enjoyed working out and going to the gym, but I switched to morning workouts about two months ago and am thrilled with the results and what this new routine has done for my level of productivity throughout the entire day. I vary my workout routine by mixing spin class, pilates reformer classes, circuit training classes, and yoga (for beginners!). I easily get bored and lazy during workouts, so a group workout class format has been instrumental in keeping me motivated each day.
7:30am - Breakfast. I used to live on protein bars and energy-boosting snacks, but I have started cooking eggs for breakfast every morning. It takes a little more time but it also keeps me full until lunch!
8:00am - Quiet Time. My favorite room in my house is the piano room in the front of my house. I sit by the window in the morning and read, pray, and journal before starting my day at work. I really enjoy sitting in the quiet of the morning and being still before the Lord to get my day started right.
8:30am - Shower. Yep, I can get ready super fast now that I have short hair! I wear it curly almost everyday to cut down on styling time and heat damage to my curly locks. I try to think about my outfit the night before so I don't waste time trying things on in the morning. If I get into a bind, I usually go for a black dress; knowing my go-to pieces helps when I need to get ready quickly.
9:00am - Leave for work. I put my makeup on in the car every morning- I know, not good, but this is my real morning routine...not a fake one for my blog! We will work on that later, promise.
9:30am - Coffee selfie. I drink the same "grande caramel cold brew" everyday from the Nordstrom eBar and I love being able to order "the usual." My Snapchat followers know that I post the same selfie with my morning coffee every single day- I like to think that they enjoy seeing my daily routine.
The best part about my morning routine is that it includes my workout which means my evenings are now more flexible and allow me to attend activities right after work or meet friends for dinner rather than having to hurriedly squeeze in a workout and shower before meeting someone.
My life has been marked by growth during times of transition, so while I know that this will be a season of change, I look forward to maintaining these healthy habits through the transition and continuing to grow!