Good morning and Happy Friday! I’m very happy it’s Friday- badly in need of a weekend and after this long week, I am finding myself badly in need of a morning routine. Like quick.
In my health & fitness accountability group on Facebook, I use a lot of quotes about being a badass. In part because I really kinda want to be a badass. Not a mean badass, but like a strong, pull-up doing, fast running, tough chick badass.
In part because of the irony. I’m a very soft and snuggly mama, who really likes reading more than anything else. I’m also soft-spoken and “sweet.” I like to bake and I go to bed ridiculously early. You’d pin me for a yoga or pilates kind of girl before you imagined me doing bootcamp.
When I say I feel like a badass, I mean I did something hard. I feel strong and tough and focused and determined. Like I can do anything I set my mind to. I love when I feel like that.
But…I’m not feeling like much of a badass today. I’ve had bad allergies, possibly mixed in with a cold, all week. My neck is sore. I haven’t worked out since Monday. I’m feeling the opposite of badass. Not intentional, a little overwhelmed with life, and more than a little sidetracked and squirrely.
So what do I do to shake it off? Or what am I hoping will work at shaking it off? I made my bed, I just ate a nice healthy breakfast, my second cup of coffee is brewing, and I’m hoping to write through some stuff here. Then I plan to spring into action…make a to-do list and check some things off to make myself feel productive and purposeful.
While I’m ticking through my list, I’ll listen to some motivating podcasts. Then maybe listen to some music and go for a walk. My husband’s always reminding me (nagging me) how important it is to get enough fresh air and sunshine.
I’ve been in a bit of a rut for the last few weeks. I can pinpoint the whys of this rut- some life stuff going on right now. (“Life stuff” meaning stuff I don’t really want to get into here but that’s weighing on me. Nothing earth-shattering or big picture bad, just stuff that’s stressing me out and keeping me up at night.) Feeling sad about my dad. Allergies. (They really can make you feel crappy!) But most of this is not likely to change today. Or maybe even any time soon. Which means I need to address how I’m responding to it all and make a change. Because being in a rut sucks.
As I pondered all this earlier today (when instead of pondering I may have been better off exercising or reading some personal development) it dawned on me that my rut coincides with my slacking off with my morning routine! I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Not that a morning routine can change all the life stuff happening. It’s that sticking with that morning routine helps me deal with the life stuff. To stay positive through difficult days.
As crazy as waking up at 4:30 in the morning sounds, when I was doing that during 80 Day Obsession I fell into a really great morning routine. I had to eat before I worked out. So I got up at 4:30 and while I ate breakfast I read a personal development book. Then I would write for 5-10 minutes in a journal. Something I hadn’t done in ages. Next, I’d look at my planner. Something I’m not usually very consistent with either. And on a good day, I’d end with some meditation and/or visualization. Followed of course by my workout.
This pretty great morning routine came about partly from stuff I had been trying to do previously (the reading something positive and inspiring part) and partly as a result of reading The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod (the writing and meditation parts). That’s a great book to start with if you’re looking to make some changes in your life.
When I finished the 80 Day Obsession program I started getting up later again. I also gave up eating before my workout. Now I can just roll over and go press play in the living room again. Without having to sit and eat in the morning, and then digest a little before exercising, I have lost that time to just read and write and do other stuff. Now, I’m pushing it more and more with when I wake up and rushing to get my workout done before I have to get the kids up. I’m losing that extra time.
I’m not saying I want to go back to waking up at 4:30 every morning. Or eating that early. I sure do miss that time though, and where else am I going to find it?
So…over this weekend I want to hatch a plan to get back on track next week. I’ll let you know how I do! I have really believed in the importance of a morning routine, and this rut is showing me proof that I was right.
Do you have a morning routine? I’d love to hear how you start your day!
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