Firstly, a mere word on routines. Routines are founded on habits, and part of habit creation requires that one just bites the bullet and trains the self to have muscle memory. I was not born with great habits, nor am I always good about them. Habits continually shift, depending on your needs of the season. In my case, it’s due to an ever-changing philosophy. My list undergoes a remodeling quite frequently. I find that I work best when my habits have triggers – events that remind me to do something. Additionally, I have found that the reward system does not work well on me. I don’t care for rewards too much, so they are not good motivators. The best motivator for me lies in the doing. An afternoon in idleness makes me glum, so routines help me stray from that negative territory. Pursuit of happiness, et al. Of course, your routine formation and motivations may be different. This difference will change the way your routines are made, or even which ones you end up adopting. When I list my routines here, it is not the end-all by any means. Consider it just a sharing of what I do.
For me, my morning routine looks like this:
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
- 6am – Trigger: Theo the cat meowing –> Habit: Get up to feed the cat.
- 6:01am – Trigger: Turn on the kettle on the stove –> Habit: Don’t go back to bed, lest you forget the kettle.
- 6:05 am – Trigger: Kettle has hot water –> Habit: Make a pour over to take back to bed.
- 6:10 am – 6:20 am – Trigger: Coffee in hand –> Habit: Sip on coffee and stare out the bedside window as the world wakes. Daydream, plan the day, reminisce on the past, what have ye.
- 6:20am – Trigger: Coffee is awakening the senses –> Habit: Read a book or write.
- 7 am – Trigger: Mike starts his shower –> Habit: Get up and start putting last night’s dishes away and preparing breakfast
- 7:20 am – Trigger: Mike gets out of the shower –> Habit: Eat breakfast together, pack lunches
- 8:00 am – Trigger: Mike leaves for work –> Habit: Yoga session
- 8:45 am – Trigger: Yoga is over –> Habit: Wash the morning dishes, sweep the floors, clean the house
- 9:00am – Trigger: Dirty from cleaning and yoga –> Habit: Get ready for work.
Leave for the dental office at 9:00am.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
- 6am – Trigger: Theo the cat meowing –> Habit: Get up to feed the cat.
- 6:01 am – Trigger: Pull out the mixer –> Habit: Mix bread
- 6:15am – Trigger: Bread mixed –> Habit: Make Coffee
- 6:30am – Trigger: Need to add salt to dough –> Habit: Read afterwards or write
- 7am – Trigger: Need to turn dough –> Habit: Start making breakfast
- 7:30am – Trigger: Need to turn dough –> Habit: Eat breakfast and prep lunches
- 8am – Trigger: Need to turn dough –> Habit: Yoga session
- 8:30 am – Trigger: Need to turn dough –> Habit: write, write, write
- 9am – Trigger: Need to turn dough –> Habit: More blog work
- 9:30am – Trigger: Need to turn dough –> Finish computer work.
- 10am – Trigger: Shape dough –> Habit: Start the rest of the day
The reward is singular and the same: A productive morning by the time the day actually starts.
If you are having difficulty with changing habits, sometimes it is best to rely on others to make us accountable. Why not try creating a habit with a group? Lastly, in order to create a habit, one must have belief – in the cause, as well as the ability to change.
Care to share your morning routines?
Need help making one? May I suggest the following resources: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg and The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp.
