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It’s been a while since I shared my morning routine. I’m not quite where I want to be, but given all that is going on (being in the middle of a global pandemic, some major personal issues going on, recovering from a herniated disc), I’m relatively happy with my current morning routine.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - having a good morning routine can really set the tone of the day for me. My alarm is set to 5:15am. Most mornings, I get up right away, meditate, stretch and then journal, before walking the dog with my boyfriend at 6:30am. But sometimes, I stay in bed until 6:30am before rolling out to walk the dog - it all depends on how I slept the night before. Between a herniated disc and stress from a major family issue that’s going on, my sleep has definitely been impacted. I’m trying hard to give myself grace and permission to rest if I wake up feeling exhausted. I think we have to remember how much stress impacts our sleep, and remember that recovery comes from quality sleep.
Buckles can do our carpeted stairs down to our home gym, but he can’t handle the slippery hardwood, so the first thing we do when we get up is carry the little prince down the stairs like the royalty that he is!
Some days, I run with the dog, and other days I walk, depending on how my body feels from the herniation I’ve got. I love our little neighborhood, and getting outside first thing really starts my day off on the right foot. I always see this pair of deer during the walk, and sometimes an owl - I just feel so grateful to be living where I do. I’m so appreciative of where we live.
Breakfast - scramble with chicken and spinach
After our walk, I come in and make breakfast. Most days it is an egg scramble filled with veggies like tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, asparagus, or spinach, and cheese. Every once in a while, if I have leftover meat and I’m feeling extra hungry, I’ll add that in, too.
After I eat, I head upstairs to brush my teeth, shower and change for the day. Today I didn’t have time to wash my hair, so dry shampoo to the rescue. Then I head back downstairs to make a coffee. I’ve had this coffee maker for a few years and absolutely love it. The only complaint I have is that it kind of turns you into a coffee snob - haha - I promise you will never want Starbucks ever again!
Lately, I’ve been using Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee, which the company generously sent to me. The coffee is excellent, and I love the packaging. The company directly invests in the communities where they grow coffee, and they work to support the local ecology, so I’m excited to have found them. You can use code YOGA20 for 20% off. I make a shot of espresso, add 3/4c hot water, and then 1/4c steamed milk with a little foam, that I put in a travel mug and take to work.
I take my daily dose of CBD - I prefer BodyChek Wellness brand because it’s made in the USA, grown in organic soil, and third party tested for quality. You can use code YBC25 for 25% off. I’ve found that over the last year and a half or so I’ve been using it, it’s help with sleep and muscle recovery. They also have a new Pet Formula! I use it for Buckles because he gets anxiety when storms roll through!
Then, I get in the car. Sometimes I have errands to run, like today. I’ve got to drop off the Mantra Boxes® that were ordered the night before. The first thing I do is put on a podcast. I usually start with NPR’s Up First, a ten to fifteen minute podcast about the top news stories so I can feel like I’m somewhat abreast of what’s going on in the country without getting too bogged down by how depressing it all is. Then, if there’s time, I usually put on the Comments by Celebs podcast to keep it light, or some music.
My commute isn’t far, so I pull into work usually before the second podcast is over. Most mornings, I have a personal training client booked or a yoga pod of friends I instruct. I do that, and then head back home - where I prefer to work from so I can do little chores in between. That’s typically my morning routine - I’d love to hear yours if you’d like to share down in the comments section below!