- \n
- Bedroom<\/span><\/strong>\n
- \n
- Open curtains & windows. Let the sunlight and fresh air in!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Make the bed. It only takes 2 minutes! Why? This simple act helps you accomplish your first task of the day, gives you a sense of pride and encourages you to get going on your next task, and another, and another.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Bathroom<\/span><\/strong>\n
- \n
- Toilet \u2026 yeah, we all gotta go.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Weigh in & update the weight tracker app. I use Libra Weight Manager<\/a> on Android. Read: The Hackers Diet<\/a> (free & open source)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drink two big glasses of water<\/a> to get the metabolism awake. After a whole night of sleep, our bodies are dehydrated and need water ASAP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Exercise for 30-45 mins.<\/strong> Why? Physical activity increases endorphins and elevates your mood. It helps improve your overall mental focus. I am fortunate that I can work from home. I don\u2019t have a gym, so I alternate between JEFF<\/a> and Freeletics<\/a> on Android, which is excellent for at-home exercise.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Kitchen<\/span><\/strong>\n
- \n
- Feed the dogs, and put out fresh water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Have breakfast.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Take medication.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n
This next part of my routine is the most precious, most valued, and special 15 minutes of my day. Seriously!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- After breakfast, I spend a few minutes practising gratitude by writing in my 5 Minute Journal<\/a> and a separate \u201cjotter\u201d journal for random thoughts, ideas, and observations (a simple freeform OneNote<\/a> notebook). Why? This helps me calm the mind and be present now (which breaks me out of the habit of living in the past or future), and this simple practice of self-awareness almost immediately stops the cycle of anxious thoughts. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Next, while still sitting in the kitchen, I review my day \u2013 appointments and hard commitments (from Getting Things Done<\/a>), and I pick my three frogs for the day and add them to My Day on Microsoft To Do<\/a>. (Read: Eat that Frog<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Clean and tidy kitchen & living areas.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Bathroom<\/span><\/strong>\n
- \n
- Shower, shave & get presentable for work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bedroom<\/span><\/strong>\n
- \n
- Clean and tidy bathroom and bedroom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Other ideas to incorporate into a morning routine are meditation, breathwork, stretching, calming music, a gentle walk, playing with your pets, getting sunshine, and your favourite breakfast (mine is oats & blueberries!) \u2014 all these help with lowering that morning cortisol, and in turn, reducing your anxiety levels.<\/p>\n\n\n
There’s an App for that!<\/h3>\n\n\n
- Clean and tidy bathroom and bedroom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Next, while still sitting in the kitchen, I review my day \u2013 appointments and hard commitments (from Getting Things Done<\/a>), and I pick my three frogs for the day and add them to My Day on Microsoft To Do<\/a>. (Read: Eat that Frog<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- After breakfast, I spend a few minutes practising gratitude by writing in my 5 Minute Journal<\/a> and a separate \u201cjotter\u201d journal for random thoughts, ideas, and observations (a simple freeform OneNote<\/a> notebook). Why? This helps me calm the mind and be present now (which breaks me out of the habit of living in the past or future), and this simple practice of self-awareness almost immediately stops the cycle of anxious thoughts. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drink two big glasses of water<\/a> to get the metabolism awake. After a whole night of sleep, our bodies are dehydrated and need water ASAP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bathroom<\/span><\/strong>\n
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