Author Topic: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess  (Read 45139 times)

richcatpoorcat

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Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« on: September 26, 2014, 04:21:07 PM »
A lot of the podcasts and authors I listen to discuss the habits and routines done in the morning that set the day up for success.
Everybody is different and has the routines that allow them to perform at their best but what are some of your morning rituals and activities?

 My day almost always starts around 5 am in which I wake up to my coffee freshly brewed via auto start.
I usually drink coffee and browse the web/journal and goal set from my standing desk till about 5:45 and after that its straight to the treadmill.
I walk/run while listing to a mix of business podcasts with a few high energy songs laced in to get my mind fully energized.
I end this with a freezing cold shower, breakfast,and Im off to work by 7:45.
This almost always jump starts my day and gives me the sense of momentum since I have already accomplished several goals before evening arriving at work.

What about you?

surfhb

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2014, 04:24:38 PM »
Coffee and my iPad for about an hour or so....surf or gym....errand if needed....nap....off to work (3-1130pm)

Beric01

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2014, 04:37:31 PM »
I have a poor morning routine. I recognize it really needs to change.

I wake up around 8:30, and lay in bed for 10 minutes asking myself why I haven't gotten out of bed yet. I finally get up and brush my teeth. I get dressed in my biking clothes (shorts and a t-shirt - I despise spandex) and put my work clothes in my panniers. I then make my lunch (a sandwich, fruit, etc.) and pack that in my bike bag, as well as put in my breakfast (usually some cereal bars or other cheap carbs). Then it's down to the parking garage, unlock my bike, and off to work. Work is about a 10-15 minute bike ride away. When I arrive, it's off to the showers, then put on my business casual and back to my desk to get to work, while eating food of some sort. I generally get into work before 10AM and leave after 6PM (I work a lot with folks in Asia, so evenings are more important than mornings).

My idea morning would be to get up an hour earlier and go for a run/push-ups, making myself a pot of oatmeal before going off to work. Now how to motivate myself to get up earlier... (I'm probably more of an evening person).
« Last Edit: September 26, 2014, 04:39:10 PM by Beric01 »

Kriegsspiel

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2014, 07:03:36 PM »
0530 wake up
-brush teeth and put on clothes-
0545 leave for work

Zikoris

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2014, 07:18:12 PM »
I used to do 15 minutes of cardio (exercise videos) first thing, and found it really woke me up. That's since fallen by the wayside.

Now my routine is:

6:45 - get out of bed and into shower
6:55 - get dressed and pack lunch (clothes laid out the night before)
7:00 - breakfast and brief online time - Mint, MMM forums, Facebook, email (boyfriend makes my breakfast while I get dressed, then goes back to bed)
7:10 - walk to work, for a 7:30 start time

lifejoy

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2014, 07:29:23 PM »

A lot of the podcasts and authors I listen to discuss the habits and routines done in the morning that set the day up for success.
Everybody is different and has the routines that allow them to perform at their best but what are some of your morning rituals and activities?

 My day almost always starts around 5 am in which I wake up to my coffee freshly brewed via auto start.
I usually drink coffee and browse the web/journal and goal set from my standing desk till about 5:45 and after that its straight to the treadmill.
I walk/run while listing to a mix of business podcasts with a few high energy songs laced in to get my mind fully energized.
I end this with a freezing cold shower, breakfast,and Im off to work by 7:45.
This almost always jump starts my day and gives me the sense of momentum since I have already accomplished several goals before evening arriving at work.

What about you?

Uhm... That sounds super great. I might borrow some of those ideas!

domustachesgrowinhouston

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #6 on: September 26, 2014, 07:34:18 PM »
During the school season:

Wife gets up at 5:30, gives me my preparatory wake up.  Comes back at 5:55, gives me my 5 minute warning.  Draaaaag my ass out of bed at 6 (or 6:05, 6:10, or 6:15).  Drink coffee, stare stupidly.  Drink more coffee, say good morning to everybody.  Drink more coffee, start getting ready for work.  7 - walk the kid to school.  7:20, finish getting ready whatever I didn't have time to do before.  Ride to work whenever I'm done with that.  Drink coffee.  Drink more coffee and start reading emails.

During the summer season:

Wake up when the sun wakes me up.  Get up and go to work.

La Bibliotecaria Feroz

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2014, 08:06:31 PM »
5:00: Husband's alarm goes off. Lie in bed half-awake.
5:30: Fall back to sleep.
5:45: Wish husband would get dressed downstairs.
6:00 Hear at least one toddler demanding the potty. Take offspring to potty and put back to bed.
6:25: Fall back to sleep.
6:35: Final wake-up call from toddler(s). Place all three of us in older son's double bed out of desperation and let them crawl on me until I am ready to face the day.

My morning routine may also need improvement...

sheepstache

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2014, 09:02:59 PM »
My idea morning would be to get up an hour earlier and go for a run/push-ups, making myself a pot of oatmeal before going off to work. Now how to motivate myself to get up earlier... (I'm probably more of an evening person).

You can make oatmeal in a slowcooker starting the night before if that helps?

marblejane

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2014, 09:17:48 PM »
My current routine-

5:30am NPR comes on
5:50am Get out of bed
6:00am walk dogs
6:20am feed dogs, pack lunch & breakfast
6:30am Pack bag
6:45am Bike to work
7:15am Arrive at work, shower
8:00am Grab coffee, arrive at desk, eat breakfast

Generally, I've found that getting up early, getting some kind of exercise in, and then getting to work early enough to get a jump on email sets me up for a good day.

mudgestache

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #10 on: September 26, 2014, 09:48:16 PM »
4:40am Hubs alarm starts its never ending cycle. Buzz slap repeat.
5:30am Hubs gets out of bed and out the door
7am      Alarm goes off for me. Buzz slap repeat
7:15am Drag out of bed, make sure kids are up and moving
7:30am Drive kids to 3 different school
8:15am Go back to bed

Emilyngh

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #11 on: September 26, 2014, 10:12:29 PM »
-Around 7:30-8:30 am, whenever I happen to naturally wakeup- get up.

-About 3 days a week: wash face, brush teeth, get dressed, go downstairs, drink coffee, visit with DH/DD and then around 9-9:30 leave for work (where I eat oatmeal at my desk as I take care of email, and well, do my work).

-Other 4 days a week: stay in pj's, go downstairs and drink coffee, visit with DH and DD, around 10am possibly eat (often cooking a nice breakfast) and then get dressed to leave the house to go for a walk, or run some errands, or do some yard work, or possibly stay in pj's all day.

Ahhh, the routines that enable me to perform at my best for my super successful life!

lifejoy

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #12 on: September 26, 2014, 11:14:36 PM »
So... You guys wake up waaaaay earlier than I do. When are y'all going to bed?!

Beric01

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #13 on: September 26, 2014, 11:35:20 PM »
So... You guys wake up waaaaay earlier than I do. When are y'all going to bed?!

I go to bed as early as 1AM or as late as 3AM. I generally try to ensure 7-8 hours of sleep, but sometimes I get addicted to researching things on the Internet - like new ways to save money as of late.

Zikoris

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2014, 11:56:31 PM »
So... You guys wake up waaaaay earlier than I do. When are y'all going to bed?!

Usually around 11 for a 6:45 wake up time. I find if I go to bed earlier, I'm exhausted when I get up. Definitely look forward to retiring the alarm clock the same day I retire :)

Spartana

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #15 on: September 27, 2014, 01:39:00 AM »
Get up at sunrise
wash face, brush teeth, put hair in a pony tail (DO NOT put on make up)
throw on some shorts, tee shirt and running shoes
make a cup of instant coffee to take with me
walk to park close to my house
run in park
walk home and have breakfast
ride bike to beach and along bike path
play beach volleyball
ride home and eat secondsy breakfast (brunch)
go online, read MMM
don't go to work...ever :-)!

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #16 on: September 27, 2014, 01:54:11 AM »
6 or 6:15am: Alarm. Hop in shower.
6:30: Catch up on social media
7ish: Wheel electric bike out of apartment entryway to elevator. Ride to work, dodging pedestrians, tuk-tuks, DIY jerryrigged vehicles the whole way, not unlike this film of San Francisco traffic chaos from 1906: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10150117648442761&set=vb.716992760&type=2&theater It jolts you awake faster than a cup of coffee
7:30: Smile and say 'nimen hao' to guards at work gate
7:45: Make Vietnamese coffee & DIY oatmeal (winter)/muesli (summer) in staff room. Catch up on emails and get ready for the day

Canadian Nicole

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #17 on: September 27, 2014, 06:53:29 AM »
Yoga or meditation every morning without fail after shower and before anything else.   The single biggest life-changing habit I could have ever imagined.

Zoe

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #18 on: September 27, 2014, 07:04:48 AM »
I am unemployed right now, but it's like this:

Husband gets up at 5 something in the morning. I haven't been hearing his alarm as of late.

I set my alarm for 8, since the toddler is awake somewhere around that time. He's almost 3 and I still have him in his crib, heh. It was mostly because when we lived in a 2 story house, all bedrooms were upstairs, plus the cat litter. I didn't want him either falling down the stairs (we had a gate, but still) or eating dirty litter.

We're in a one story now, so I will be converting his bed shortly. We need to get all of our crap somewhat organized and look out for potential toddler hazards first.

I keep hitting snooze until about 8:30 and finally drag myself out of bed. Pee! Brush teeth. Get toddler. Change his diaper. Shuffle into kitchen and get coffee going (french press). Get toddler his bowl of yogurt. We eat & drink in the living room. He usually watches a movie or something while I surf the internet and "wake up" with my coffee.

After an hour or 2, I finally start doing stuff around the house and play with toddler. Now that the weather is cooler, I want to take him on walks (we did the other day! It was nice!) and go outside and play (we now have 4 acres...about 1 or so is yard, the rest is trees).

My routine sucks.

Dan_at_Home

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #19 on: September 27, 2014, 07:11:11 AM »
I would say that there is no universal "best" morning routine.  Instead, customizing your morning routine to meet your most important goals is what is key.   

If your main number one goal in life is to make a living running a blog, then spending your morning find ways to make your blog better is probably the best morning routine.  On the other hand, if your main number one goal in life is to reach FI, then spending your mornings finding ways to reduce your cost of living is the best use of your time.  Thus, remain flexible, don't constrain yourself to some routine doing things that don't help you personally just because people say that is what is best to do in the morning.

 


   

Mrs. Frugalwoods

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #20 on: September 27, 2014, 07:19:19 AM »
We've found that our day has a much better tenor when we spend our mornings together. And so, every single day (usually on the weekends too--sometimes we'll sleep an hour later on Saturdays) we do the following:

6:00am: alarm, husband and I get up and make the bed together
6:01am: we give our frugal hound ear rubs and scratches before she gets out of her bed because she's ridiculously cute in the AM
6:10am: I take frugal hound out for her walk while husband makes our coffee and oatmeal (NPR is turned on)
6:20am: we eat breakfast together and talk
6:30-8:00am: we work collaboratively on our blog and other side projects we do together outside of work
8:00-8:30am: Shower, get dressed, husband takes dog out again, depart for work (he on bike; me in 18-yr-old car)

Having the same routine every morning is relaxing and productive for us.

Rural

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #21 on: September 27, 2014, 08:55:45 AM »
4:40 alarm goes off, we start hitting snooze.
4:50 or 5:00 I get up to make coffee and feed cats
5:00 or 5:10 start trying to rouse him
5:20 him to shower, I get our clothes together, start toast for breakfast, start making lunch
5:35 my shower and get dressed
5:45ish  we eat and drink coffee while reading the news together
6:30 or 7:00 Feed dogs, finish making lunches, he leaves for work
I run errands, set up crockpot or laundry, whatever needs doing, and leave for work between half an hour to three hours after him, unless I'm working from home that day, in which case I get started because early mornings are my most productive time.


Next semester my whole routine will change again when the schedule does, but up through 6:30 will be about the same.


I go to bed by 9:00 pm, but he needs much less sleep (or says he does; note who has to try to roust whom from bed). I think he's usually up until 11:00 or so.

DarinC

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #22 on: September 27, 2014, 10:38:12 AM »
I generally like to go for a ~10 minute run after I stumble out of bed, take a cold shower, get dressed, make breakfast/pack lunch, and roll out the door. Fortunately my job is fairly flexible in terms of time so I usually come in between ~9:30-10:30 unless I have a meeting or something.

marblejane

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #23 on: September 27, 2014, 03:59:58 PM »
So... You guys wake up waaaaay earlier than I do. When are y'all going to bed?!

I find that I need to be in bed with the lights out sometime between 9-10pm in order to feel good waking up around 6am. Sometimes I want to get in bed at 8:30pm!

Prepube

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #24 on: September 27, 2014, 05:32:26 PM »
I go to bed between 11pm and 1:00 am. 
5:30 am Dog 1 wakes me up, I let him out, go back to bed.
5:45 Dog 2 wakes me up.  I let her out, let the other one in, and go back to bed.
6:05 Dog 3 wakes me up,  I let her out, let the other one in, and go back to bed.
6:07 Dog 3 starts barking, I get up, let her in, go back to bed.
6:15 Alarm goes off, cat 1 jumps on my chest, I throw him off and go back to bed.
6:20 Snooze alarm goes off, cat 2 jumps on my chest, I throw her off and go back to bed.
6:25 Snooze alarm goes off, Dog 1 starts to bark, I throw the alarm at the dog and go back to bed.
6:30 Cat 2 jumps on dog 3, I give up and make Peet's Major Dickason coffee.
6:34 Read the day's news delivered by Google.
6:50 Shower, shave, shit, not necessarily in that order.
7:00 hop in the prius and drive to the office.
7:40 Make Peet's Major Dickason coffee
7:45 e-mail
8:00 first meeting of the day...
5:00 pm Hop in the prius and drive home.

On days I work at home, add a run or walk between the bed and the Keurig.



ZMonet

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #25 on: September 27, 2014, 05:40:40 PM »
3:45 am -- wake up
3:45 - 3:50 am -- clean up dog's pea pads
3:50 - 4:15 am -- check/respond to emails; surf
4:15 am to 5:35 am -- elliptical (1000 calories -- yeah, not really a 1000 calorie burn but it gives me a challenge to shoot against)
5:35 am to 5:45 am -- abs, pushups, pull-ups
5:45 am to 6:00 am -- shower, get dressed
6:05 am - grab breakfast bar and out the door to catch commuter bus

two days a week I telework and add in T25 workout as well.

I find the exercise during the morning primes my productivity and gets me motivated/de-stressed for the day.




CabinetGuy

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #26 on: September 27, 2014, 05:59:54 PM »
5:30, dog wakes us up.  I let him out, feed him.  Get coffee going for me, boil water for SO's tea.

Watch news (I hate this, SO won't budge.)

6:15 on the button, dog starts harassing me to take him on his walk around the neighborhood.

6:25, make three eggs and toast with an avocado.

6:45 make lunch, stuff it in cooler and give dog an ice cube (he runs over every time I take the ice bin out and empty into cooler.)

6;55 out the door to beat traffic and get the best spot to set up my saws on the jobsite (sorry, riding a bike with all of my tools is a no-go.

Home by 5.

Groundhog Day everyday...

tracylayton

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #27 on: September 27, 2014, 06:09:29 PM »
Two cups of coffee from the coffeemaker that was set up the night before, check bank statements, emails, cnbc, and wave goodbye to 13 year old as he catches the school bus. Then, it is time to walk 3 to 4 miles, shower, and eat breakfast.

Mrs. PoP

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #28 on: September 27, 2014, 06:32:44 PM »
5:00 alarm - get up, power AC off, have cold drink, read the interwebs for 15 while Kitty PoP kills me with kindness in the hopes of food. 
5:15 - feed Kitty PoP and pet some more, change for run / workout (wake Mr PoP if he is coming with), prepare water bottle with caffeinated crystal light (my only caffeine is during morning runs, it's become a very pavlovian thing)
5:35 - depart for run listening to audiobooks or podcasts, say hello to the guy walking his golden retrievers and the kids waiting at the school bus stop outside our neighborhood, then wave to the old guys that meet at the 7-11 to go for 2 hour walks every morning...
6:30 - return from run, prepare smoothie and decompress with smoothie on patio while Mr PoP showers
6:45 - shower, dress in biking clothes, pack work clothes in biking bag
7:00 - make sure we've both got our lunches and are synced on schedules for the day
7:20 - depart on bike for work
8:00 - arrive at work, organize my day for 10-20 minutes
8:20 - change into work clothes and start on "to dos"
9:00 - everyone else starts showing up at the office...


alsoknownasDean

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #29 on: September 27, 2014, 07:08:43 PM »
Mine's probably not ideal :)

7:00 - alarm (radio) goes off, listen to it whilst waking up
7:35 - get out of bed, go to shower, brush teeth/hair, shave, get dressed, etc
8:10 - grab everything I need and leave for work
9:00-9:10am - arrive at work

I definitely think I can optimise it somewhat. I tend to get out of bed after the 7:30am news on the radio (not awake enough when the 7am one comes on). I reckon if I changed my alarm to 6:45, I could probably be awake enough to be out of bed once the 7am news is done.

I find the radio works a lot better at waking me up than the buzzer (or my phone) does.

I'm looking at moving pretty soon. Looking to change a 55min commute via the train to a 30min commute by the bike. Unfortunately the rent's going up a fair whack too. Oh well, it's worth it.
« Last Edit: September 27, 2014, 07:11:41 PM by alsoknownasDean »

Exhale

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #30 on: September 27, 2014, 07:38:15 PM »
Shower the night before
Pack lunch night before

6:55AM (I usually wake before alarm goes off)
- Wash face, brush teeth
- Make coffee in thermos and a slice of toast w/PB
- Make bed
- Get dressed
- Check that backpack has essentials
- Place thermos and toast and lunch in backpack
7:18AM Catch bus
7:30AM At work
- Eat breakfast at work while reading work e-mails
- Love to get there before co-workers, best work of the day gets done 7:30-9AM



HappierAtHome

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #31 on: September 27, 2014, 07:44:02 PM »
So... You guys wake up waaaaay earlier than I do. When are y'all going to bed?!

Go to bed 9.30ish, get up 5.30 on a good way, little later if I'm struggling.

Get up, drink coffee and eat breakfast, shower, dress, minimum makeup/hair I can get away with. Then 45 minute commute by PT and foot, to arrive at workplace usually between 7.30 and 8.

For me, the bits that create 'success' are eating a good breakfast, ensuring my personal appearance is appropriate for the workplace, and being one of the first people to arrive at work. Earlier I get in, earlier I can leave, and that time means a lot to me in the late afternoon.

NinaNina

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #32 on: September 27, 2014, 08:31:03 PM »
Often, my favorite moment of the day is my husband bringing me a cup of coffee in bed.

About 20 minutes later, I walk my son to school, 25 minutes up the side of a mountain.


MsRichLife

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #33 on: September 27, 2014, 11:18:40 PM »
- Wake up to sweet toddler kisses and snuggle in bed for 20 minutes or a screaming toddler demanding I get up immediately (sometime between 5:30am-7:00am)
- Feed toddler breakfast
- Draw with toddler while I eat breakfast
- Help toddler get dressed
- Toddler 'helps' me get dressed
- More drawing or block building or cuddles
- Clean teeth whilst trying to convince toddler to clean teeth
- Pack my bag for work
- Out the door with kisses and cuddles from toddler

It usually takes me 2-3 hours to get out the door from the time I get up, but I'm very thankful for my leisurely mornings with the boy.
Mornings are no longer 'productive' time, but they are quality time.

richcatpoorcat

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #34 on: September 28, 2014, 06:44:11 AM »
Loving all of the great responses.
From what I can deduce, coffee is a constant variable in just about all of these : )

lifejoy

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #35 on: September 28, 2014, 08:08:31 AM »
Wake up at 8 or 9 if my husband is away, 6-7:30 if he is here (he works earlier than I do).
Read in bed. Eat breakfast.
Try to convince self to walk or bike to work. Sometimes walk or bike, sometimes drive.

frompa

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #36 on: September 29, 2014, 05:43:39 AM »
"0530 wake up
-brush teeth and put on clothes-
0545 leave for work"


HA HA - Kreigssp -- the simplicity of this is a thing of beauty.  And I'm so glad you put on clothes. 

fallstoclimb

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #37 on: September 29, 2014, 06:24:12 AM »
We've found that our day has a much better tenor when we spend our mornings together. And so, every single day (usually on the weekends too--sometimes we'll sleep an hour later on Saturdays) we do the following:

6:00am: alarm, husband and I get up and make the bed together
6:01am: we give our frugal hound ear rubs and scratches before she gets out of her bed because she's ridiculously cute in the AM
6:10am: I take frugal hound out for her walk while husband makes our coffee and oatmeal (NPR is turned on)
6:20am: we eat breakfast together and talk
6:30-8:00am: we work collaboratively on our blog and other side projects we do together outside of work
8:00-8:30am: Shower, get dressed, husband takes dog out again, depart for work (he on bike; me in 18-yr-old car)

Having the same routine every morning is relaxing and productive for us.

Wow, good for you.  If my husband and I had that much interaction in the morning I think our marriage would be on the rocks!  This is mostly my fault.

Our routine on days I go into the office:

5:27: My alarm goes off. I turn it off and lay in bed.
5:30: DH alarm goes off.  I turn on the light, my dog comes over and lays his head on the mattress for his morning petting.
5:35-6:00: Get dressed, take dog for morning walk while listening to a podcast (DH showers)
6:00-6:40: Make & eat breakfast, read blogs on my feedly app (DH leaves for work around 6:30)
6:40-7:00: Pack clothes, lunch, purse in panniers
7:00: Bike to work

Honestly there's a lot of "lost time" in my morning routine.  I think it's just because I'm so tired.  I'll get out of bed at 5:35 to get dressed in the bike clothes laid out the night before but suddenly it's 5:43 - how did that take 8 minutes??  Same with packing the pannier, that should take approximately a second but always takes longer. 

kimmarg

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #38 on: September 29, 2014, 07:08:21 AM »
Ok you guys have some long morning routines.

Summer:
4:45am alarm
Turn on coffee pot
Shower
5am drink coffee
Pack lunch
Get dressed
Eat breakfast
Spend 10min frantically searching for jacket/car keys/socks
Leave 5:30am

Winter:
4:15 alarm (- 15min if you hear plows overnight, -45min if the plows have chains)
Turn on coffee
Asses driveway, depending on snow either
     A) put snowpants on over pjs to start shoveling while coffee drips
     B) take a shower
Eat breakfast
Get dressed
Turn on car defroster
Pack lunch
Spend 10min looking for boots/gloves/keys(which, yes are in the ignition per previous step)
Leave at 5am (4:45, 4:15 for bad snow)

Mrs. Frugalwoods

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #39 on: September 29, 2014, 07:58:09 AM »
We've found that our day has a much better tenor when we spend our mornings together. And so, every single day (usually on the weekends too--sometimes we'll sleep an hour later on Saturdays) we do the following:

6:00am: alarm, husband and I get up and make the bed together
6:01am: we give our frugal hound ear rubs and scratches before she gets out of her bed because she's ridiculously cute in the AM
6:10am: I take frugal hound out for her walk while husband makes our coffee and oatmeal (NPR is turned on)
6:20am: we eat breakfast together and talk
6:30-8:00am: we work collaboratively on our blog and other side projects we do together outside of work
8:00-8:30am: Shower, get dressed, husband takes dog out again, depart for work (he on bike; me in 18-yr-old car)

Having the same routine every morning is relaxing and productive for us.

Wow, good for you.  If my husband and I had that much interaction in the morning I think our marriage would be on the rocks!  This is mostly my fault.

Our routine on days I go into the office:

5:27: My alarm goes off. I turn it off and lay in bed.
5:30: DH alarm goes off.  I turn on the light, my dog comes over and lays his head on the mattress for his morning petting.
5:35-6:00: Get dressed, take dog for morning walk while listening to a podcast (DH showers)
6:00-6:40: Make & eat breakfast, read blogs on my feedly app (DH leaves for work around 6:30)
6:40-7:00: Pack clothes, lunch, purse in panniers
7:00: Bike to work

Honestly there's a lot of "lost time" in my morning routine.  I think it's just because I'm so tired.  I'll get out of bed at 5:35 to get dressed in the bike clothes laid out the night before but suddenly it's 5:43 - how did that take 8 minutes??  Same with packing the pannier, that should take approximately a second but always takes longer.
Hahah, thanks! There is coffee involved, which makes us civil. Without coffee, things would not go so well. Interesting that you mention the 8mins to get dressed, I was actually just thinking this morning that it takes me too long to shower. I got out and looked at the clock and thought: What did I just DO in there? I need strategies for faster showering (I only wash my hair twice a week; I prefer to wash all other parts daily).

Malaysia41

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #40 on: September 29, 2014, 08:48:09 AM »
lemon water.  allergy pills. yoga. coffee.

ender

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #41 on: September 29, 2014, 08:51:51 AM »
Generally my routine is about 1.25 hours:

  • Shower/get ready, 15-20 min
  • Make coffee/toast and pack lunch, 10-20 min
  • Read Bible and journal, 20 min
  • Play piano 10-15 min

This generally happens starting around 6:00, sometimes it's compressed some as I have 6:00am morning obligations twice a week.

Sometimes "mess around on computer" replaces things in there...

AllChoptUp

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #42 on: September 29, 2014, 09:21:40 AM »
Night before:  Pack my lunch, in bed about 9pm <--I need 8 hrs :(

Morning:
0430  Hubby gets up, unloads dishwasher, preps coffee & watches sportscenter
0530  Hubs wakes me up.  We drink coffee while discussing day/week & read news on ipad.
0630  or so... 3 year old comes downstairs, snuggles with Hubs. I make kid's breakfast, pack kid's lunch, make & drink keffir for my breakfast.
0720  Get dressed, get kid dressed, load bike with lunches & work bag
0745  Depart, drop off kid at daycare, change clothes at work
0830  or so...begin work day

This sked changes every few years as the military moves us...different jobs have diff working hours, commutes, kid care issues, etc. 



minimustache1985

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #43 on: September 29, 2014, 10:15:04 AM »
0530 wake up
-brush teeth and put on clothes-
0545 leave for work

Glad I'm not the only one with a short routine!
5:15 alarm goes off
5:25 get up, brush teeth/hair, wash face, get dressed
5:45 put together lunch, make tea and fill to-go cup
5:55 leave for work

I like the idea of exercising in the morning, but I dislike the idea of getting up before 5 more.

coffeehound

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #44 on: September 29, 2014, 12:34:18 PM »
Here's my strategy for successful mornings (I like a lot of structure).

Let me preface this by stating that I'm NOT a morning person at all, and would happily spend a ton on lunch to sleep for a few more minutes.

Sunday afternoon/evening - prepare big pot of lentils.
wrap naan individually in (reusable) aluminum foil; pop into freezer

Sunday evening -
pack five lunches' worth of lentils into containers
pack five breakfasts (cereal + dried fruit) into containers
Deposit containers in fridge

Each morning:
pull one lunch container, a breakfast container (add milk), and a frozen naan from freezer.  Cut up a couple of apples. Grab fully-packed lunch, coffee, and race out the door.

Spartana

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #45 on: September 29, 2014, 01:00:02 PM »

From what I can deduce, coffee is a constant variable in just about all of these : )
So true. Back when I first FIRE'd I found I was spending too much time lounging about in the morning with a cup of coffee when I really wanted to be out doing stuff. So I decided to not have coffee in the house at all (badass or crazy?). This forced me up and outta there asap (and to walk to the local 7-11 to get my morning caffeine fix and then to the park to run). Eventually it became a good habit to get up and wait to drink coffee until I was out of the house on my way to workout. I now have the discipline to not need it right away so went back to making my own and taking it with me instead of drinking at home.

stlbrah

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #46 on: September 29, 2014, 11:09:56 PM »
mines pretty sad,

Get up at 9:45, shower, pack lunch, work @ 10:30
Coffee and breakfast at work

If I am telecomuting, then I get up at 10:20, and log in at 10:30


I get everything done late at night when its quiet. I love it.
Dinner
Gym at 8:30pm
eat
study whatever I am studying at the time for 2-3 hours. Recently single, when I wasn't single the studying wasn't every day, but more like 2-3 days a week.
eat
bed.


I know studies  ive read say that its better to get up early, make your bed etc. IMO this is all in your head.

wtjbatman

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #47 on: September 30, 2014, 06:04:53 AM »

Pooperman

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Re: Morning Rituals and Routines for Sucess
« Reply #48 on: September 30, 2014, 07:04:22 AM »
I'm one of the quick routine people:

6:00 Alarm goes off, turn it off, grab iPad to check finances/MMM forums
6:05 Turn light on and walk downstairs with iPad if hungry (yes in summer, no in winter)
6:25 Take shower
6:35 Take shower if not very awake (2nd train)
6:40 Leave for 1st train
6:50 Leave for 2nd train if showered late
7:50 Arrive at work (1st train)
8:00 Arrive at work (2nd train)

alsoknownasDean

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