Having a morning routine definitely helps me to get motivated and tackle the upcoming day better. A morning routine may not work for some, but it can work well for many others. My morning routine does differ on a daily basis, but only slightly. It depends on if I am at work on that day or not, otherwise, it pretty much remains the same.
Back in my college days, my morning routine was very specific and sort of immaculate. I had to carry out my morning routine so precisely that I’m surprised I ever got ready on time at all! I’m not joking guys, I even had to get dressed in a certain order. If I went wrong or got ready differently from what I usually would, I would automatically think my day would go horribly wrong. I think it was a bad superstition to have, but I promise guys, I’m over that now!
Nowadays, getting my morning routine right means making sure I meet my specific needs, whether that be physical or mental wellbeing. Planning your own morning routine doesn’t need to be that difficult, it’s just creating a routine that works best for you, your time and your needs.
My morning routine may look completely different to that of yours. After all, I have Cystic Fibrosis, I have personal and physical needs which are a lot more different to yours. My morning routine which I’m going to describe to you now is one based on if I am not at work that day and is also on a weekday. My weekend morning routine runs a couple of hours behind cause I have a long lie-in!
So here you are, my personal and productive morning routine:
7:30am – Time To Wake Up
This is the time I tend to wake up in the morning. I wake up like a sloth, I sloth my way to the window to open my bedroom curtains and sloth my way to the bathroom to put my lenses in. I also take a puff of my inhaler and spritz my nasal spray up my nose. I try not to grab my phone first thing as otherwise, I’d end up staying in bed a hell of a lot longer than I should! Social media can wait until my eyes have woken up and I don’t feel so sleepy!
7:45am – Let’s Do Some Skincare
I absolutely love my skincare routine. I will ALWAYS make time for this in the morning, this part of my morning routine that is non-negotiable. I find it very satisfying knowing I am in charge of waking up my skin and preparing it for the day ahead. My skincare routine is quite simple – cleanse, moisturise, serumise (is that a word?) and spritz. I also apply my hand and foot cream and use a glow spray to give my skin a nice glow for the day ahead. I like to take my time with it so my skin feels nourished for the next 12 hours or so.
8:00am – Did Someone Say Morning Medications?
You read that right, don’t worry. As I said a couple of paragraphs back, I have CF, which means my morning comprises of taking some medications to start the day. After my inhaler and nasal spray, I inject some insulin and start my first nebuliser of the day. This tends to take about 10-15 minutes. After this, I take my Mam to work and drive back and eat my most important meal of the day…
8:30am – How Do You Like Your Eggs In The Morning?
Breakfast is ultimately and scientifically proven to be the most important meal of the day. I tend to have something quick and easy for breakfast – cereal. A bowl of Shreddies will do me. I’m one of those odd people who can’t eat their cereal cold…sorry guys, I warm the milk prior to pouring the cereal into the bowl. I can feel the weird looks piercing through my laptop screen. But anyway, as I’m a diabetic, it’s vital for me to eat in the morning to make sure my blood glucose levels don’t drop below a dangerous level.
8:45am – More Medication?!
Yep, more meds. Unfortunately. It doesn’t stop there for me. I now inhale another nebuliser and do my physiotherapy to help my lungs clear the gunk that may have been sitting there from when I’ve been asleep. It’s then time for one of my favourite aspects of my morning routine…
9:00am – Let’s Squeeze In Some Exercise
I love exercising. My current exercise routine really works for me and I love it. Some days I don’t feel like working out, but I never regret it when I do. Exercising helps to wake my body up. It gives my legs a good stretch and gets my heart rate up. Exercising doesn’t just mean running a marathon before breakfast, it can be something as simple as pilates/yoga or even meditating. Exercise boosts serotonin levels, so it’s definitely worth it. I try and exercise for at least 45-60 minutes a day. Exercise is a vital part of my morning routine. It’s not only good for my physical wellbeing but my emotional wellbeing too!
10:00am – Tackling My To-Do List
Now, this is where I really get stuck into my day. I usually write my to-do list the night before so I’m not faffing around trying to figure out what I need to do that morning. My to-do list consists of trying to balance the four aspects of my life – my CF life, my working life, my blogging life and my general life admin. The first hour is crucial to me. It means technology is put on silent, TV is switched off, Alexa plays my favourite songs and I crack on with things!
