Life Edit: The Morning Routine

Something I've seen on Tik Tok recently is the trend where an person shares their "5 to 9" before their "9 to 5." This is their way of sharing what they do in the hours before a typical 9am-5pm job.

This trend is inspiring and it makes me want to work on my own morning routine. However, teaching is just...different. Most days, I'm out the door somewhere between 6:45-7:10am each day. How is it possible to have a morning routine? Should I start at 4?!

No, of course not. So what I've done instead is created an efficient, concise, and realistic routine that is my goal to implement this year. Here are the steps I'll be trying this week.

1. Immediately brush your teeth

...And I mean immediately. I will be getting out of bed and stumbling right to my bathroom. It's still dark out when I wake up. Turning on the bathroom light will wake me up and the minty taste will naturally perk my senses up. This is also a way to ensure I don't forget to brush before getting off to work.

2. Fill your Stanley & take medications and/or supplements

Whether it's a prescription medication, a supplement, or a vitamin, my New Year's Goal is to take my medications first thing in the morning. Knocking it out in the morning will ensure I don't forget. Plus, using a water bottle of choice will motivate me to get started on my daily water intake and ensure I'm drinking at least a full cup of water before my coffee.

3. Workout

My personal goal this year is to workout before school as often as I can. It's a goal I've been toying with for a while. I started doing it the week before winter break, and there was something so magical about coming home after work, hopping right into the warm shower, putting on a matching sweat-set, and having my full evening ahead of me. That feeling alone is worth the 5:30am alarm. I have no idea if I'll stick to this, but I'm hoping you will keep me accountable!

4. Make bed

You can do all sorts of research on this, but for me, it boils down to a well-made bed simply makes me feel better and feel more put-together. The reason I started this blog in the first place was to prove that simple changes and polishes will help me be a better teacher and person, so let's start with the bed, shall we?

5. Morning coffee (reward!)

I remember in psychology studying the habit loop, which basically states that a habit (good or bad) requires a cue, a routine, and then a reward. I go to bed excited to have my morning coffee (as sad as that sounds). I'm going to shift (or maybe manipulate) my mindset into "earning" this coffee as a reward for the positive habit loop I'm creating with my morning routine.

Does this mean I don't "earn" my coffee if I am decidedly too tired for a workout? No. No matter what, I'm striving to make my mornings center around peace and joy, and coffee provides both of those things. Not every morning will be a peaceful one, but the très chic lifestyle requires grace and compassion. But, there is something to be said about earning a reward...

Cheers! ~TCT