How are ya? Things over here are pretty good. What a gorgeous day it was yesterday here in NYC! Ahhh, I'm so ready for the warmer weather :)
So, today I want to talk about morning routines. Although I haven't always been able to call "the morning" my favorite time of the day, as I've gotten older, this quiet period before the onslaught of daily activities and happenings has become something that I cherish. I find that how my morning is structured sets the tone for the whole day. Now, that's not to say that there are time when I enjoy a nice morning, and then my day takes a sharp turn into unexpected territory. This is life, people. Shit happens. With that said, if I have taken the time to center myself in the morning, those hiccups in the road don't throw me off as much.
I spoke last week about experimenting with doing yoga in the morning as apposed to the evenings as I was finding that my after work time felt far to brief. Although it was nice to start my day with yoga, I realized that I much prefer writing and getting administrative work done in the mornings rather than when I come home in the evening. Sure, it's nice to come home and be able to just plop down and relax, but I find that closing the busy day with a bit of yoga allows me to reflect, practice some self care, and "shut down" if you will. For me, yoga is also super playful. I love hopping around, inverting, and trying fun balances after a day of work. I also learned that I am much more focused and thoughtful in the mornings which means that completing tasks requiring patience or are perhaps not my fave things to do get done quick and painlessly. I think it's so important to experiment with what works for you.
Determine when during the day you are typically at your "best" to answer emails, pay bills, make phone calls, etc. Don't get trapped into feeling like you "should" work out or move in the morning because you "get it over with". Maybe these are your best hours for getting sh*t done, and maybe not! Maybe you are a bit of a night owl and you get your second wind after dinner. Perhaps these are the hours where you are most productive. With that said, if you are a night owl, try to pick a time where you shut off because getting adequate sleep is SUPER important. The point is to experiment and find out what works for you. If you know your brain is firing on all cylinders in the morning, set your alarm a bit earlier and make use of the time! Sure, there are things we don't want to do, but finding the times when these activities feel less stressful or annoying is the key to getting them done well and in a reasonable amount of time. Know thyself.
My practice : I set my alarm for around 6:15. When the alarm goes off, I usually hide under the covers with my cell phone and check emails, facebook, instagram, and Mind Body Green until I feel more awake. This usually lasts about 7-10 minutes. I then sneak out of the bedroom, trying not to wake the sleeping beauties (aka PJ and Toby), and head into the kitchen. I grab a glass of lemon water, head over to the couch, and do a short guided meditation. Next, I pour myself a cup of coffee (which PJ makes the night before and sets a timer!) and either blog or read. Depending on the day, I pack myself a lovely lunch before or after blogging. As weird as it sounds, I kind of love spending time in the morning putting together a nourishing lunch to fuel me through the days adventures. I try to view my lunchbox creation as an act of self love. When I have finished attending to myself, I shower, get dressed, eat brekkie, and head off for the day. I NEVER skip breakfast unless the world is ending or I'm ill. Although I like a simple breakfast, it tends to be my fave meal of the day. I will usually have ezikiel toast with nut butter and a piece or fruit or oatmeal with nut butter and fruit. I'm and definitely a sweet breakfast girl, and rarely do I wake up craving eggs or veggies.
On a side note, I was excited this weekend when I was actually craving a savory brekkie! I made avocado toast topped with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. I kind of wish this craving hit me more often in the morning because avocado toast is such a yummy and filling light meal or snack.
If you aren't familiar with nutritional yeast, it's sold in yellow flakes or powder and is a complete source of protein and vitamins. Nutritional yeast has a strong flavor that is nutty and kind of cheesy tasting. I love it sprinkled on salads, avocado toast, and popcorn. It is also commonly used as an ingredient in cheese substitutes. Good stuff, awful name! I mean, who thought of the name "nutritional yeast"? How 'bout Nutty Cheesy Sprinkles? You like? So do I. Nutritional Yeast= Nutty Cheesy Sprinkles.
The point of this post is to make your own rules. Do what works for you, and listen when your body is telling you that something is working or it's not. If we go with our natural flow, we are limitless. It's when we swim upstream and try to force ourselves into a prescribed mold that things fall apart. As I always try to repeat on this blog, I am still learning to trust myself, my body, and my intuition. When I write, it's as much for me as it is for you. While the words may flow out, I still have to practice following my own instincts. We are all a work in progress.
Except this little angel. He is pure perfection.
Be good.
xo
Sarah
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