I’m a stickler for routine.
I’m the first to admit, spontaneity is not my forte. In fact, I can be downright stubborn about making sure my morning goes according to plan. It helps set the tone for my whole day, and it’s a system I’ve used for years.
Step 1: Coffee
I prefer caramel flavored coffee. I use 1 pump of sugar-free syrup and 1 splash of protein shake for my creamer.
Step 2: Read four chapters of the Bible.
Not one or two, but four. Why four, you ask? Even though I’ve read the entire Bible multiple times throughout my life, I googled it once and discovered that there are 1,189 chapters. Divide that by 365, and you can read through the entire Bible in one year by reading a little over 3 chapters a day. So, I round up for those rare occasions when I’m out of town or overslept, or have an especially long chapter to read that day and might choose to read only one or two chapters. Is that a bit over the top? Maybe. Somewhat OCD? Probably. Do I care? Nope, not at all.
Step 3: Write in my journal.
My journal is my sanctuary. It’s a place where I’m free to ramble about whatever is on my mind. It never gets bored when I go on and on and on about something, it never tries to change the subject, and it never judges me for worrying too much or for the sometimes selfish or silly thoughts that may tumble out. It’s a playground for exploring my emotions, organizing my ideas and plans for the day, and reflecting, learning, and growing from my experiences. It’s also a safe place for me to dream, plan, and set goals. For example, I probably wouldn’t have started blogging again or picked back up with my novel in progress without writing in my journal. I found myself reflecting in journal entries about how much I missed writing, which turned into a “why not?” journal entry, which led to a planning/organizing my thoughts journal entry, and then here we are.
Step 4: Check my phone, but only for a limited time.
I know all too well how easy it is to waste literally hours of time doom scrolling. To avoid this trap, I start by checking my work email (only to clear out any junk and make sure there’s nothing urgent or changes to my scheduled meetings for the day). I read the daily New York Times news digest email to get caught up on world events (and because I know social media is definitely not the best source of news). I switch over to glance through my personal email (again, mainly to clear out junk. I can’t stand a cluttered inbox!). Finally, I get on social media to check notifications, look back on my memories feed, and do a quick scroll. I usually set a timer for this so I won’t get sucked in, and sometimes I just skip it all together.
Side note: A great book I read that helped me with this is How to Break Up with Your Phone: The 30 Day Plan to Take Back Your Life by Catherine Price.
Step 5: Move!
Most days, I try to fit in some exercise after these steps, usually in the form of a walk in my neighborhood or a workout in the garage if the weather isn’t cooperating.
Setting up a morning routine with habits like this took some time. Several years ago, my morning routine consisted of scrolling through my phone while hurriedly sucking down coffee, rushing to squeeze a workout in if I had time, but more often just scrambling to get ready and out the door.
Once I began to incorporate daily habits into a morning routine little by little, I realized they became second nature. Just like brushing my teeth, they became something I just did without hesitation. They became routine.
Now, I’ve found that if I miss a step in my morning routine, my whole day feels off. Yes, it requires me to get up a little earlier to fit everything in, but it really sets the tone for my day. I enjoy that quiet time and the structure and routine involved.
Now, if only I could be that disciplined about developing a routine for my writing projects. Working full-time and writing a novel on the side is no joke!
Do you have a morning routine? What do you do to help set the tone for the rest of your day?
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Amy Bellamy, Author 