500 Words a Week - Morning Routines

With the popularity of morning routines being recently discussed again, I thought I’d share mine. It’s not flashy or groundbreaking, but it works for me. And maybe that’s the point, our routines should fit our own lives, not someone else’s ideal.

The alarm clock goes off. Tearing apart eyelids that feel glued together as you reach towards your phone to turn off the alarm. You know you shouldn’t use your phone as an alarm, but here we are. Once the alarm is knocked off, your head thumps back onto the pillow. Eyes close temporarily, arm flailing in the dark to try to find your wife in her cocoon of covers, you say a soft good morning to her.

Now a decision to make. To give in to the comfort and warmth of your surroundings. Or to get up, and start the cycle all over again, of trying to put one foot in front of the other. You think how easy it would be to simply remain here, to succumb just for a little longer to the world of dreams. To delay the realities of the world for a moment or two. Yet the tasks of today won’t tackle themselves, and even though you don’t know if they will bring you anything, the easiest thing within your control is to show up. And so, reluctantly, you get up.

Stumbling towards the kitchen, the gurgling of the coffee marker set up from last night can be heard. You mumble a note of thanks to your previous self, and think maybe the key to life is to do the small things in the present our future self will thank us for. The smell of the coffee begins to pull you out of the fog. While it’s still percolating away, you reach for a bowl and grab some cereal. The same breakfast you’ve had for 10 years. If only all things were as dependable as the humble weetabix.

Next the only structured part of your morning, a 10 minute guided meditation. A moment of stillness to check in with yourself, to notice the texture of your mind. After a year of 10 minute morning meditations, you took a break for a while, tempted by new routines promoted online. But recently you’ve found yourself more distractible throughout the day, more swayed by the emotions of the mind rather than being able to step back and notice them. Therefore, you’ve returned to your simple 10 minute meditation. Maybe morning routines aren’t about doing what’s popular on the internet, but doing what leaves a lasting effect on us. Meditation complete, you grab an empty mug, the pot of coffee and head to your desk.

While your laptop turns on, the first cup of coffee is poured. The sound is as satisfying as the aroma is comforting. With the first sip, the true day begins. A document is opened as you settle in to attempt a block of work. It’s still dark out, the world is quiet and peaceful, except for the clicking of your keyboard as you attempt to move yourself another inch forward. You don’t know if today’s efforts will pay off or if this work will ever lead to anything, but there’s a quiet belief that if you just keep showing up.

You never know what may happen.