Since starting college, every once in a while I feel myself starting to get off track. I’ll forget things I needed to do, reschedule plans I’ve made and postpone the creative ideas I have. It’s like being in a day-long fog I can’t shake! Over time, I realized that it’s often because my morning routine has been off or interrupted. To really feel my best, I like sticking to something consistent when I start off my day. It’s taken me a few tries to find my groove and it might vary a bit depending on the semester but right now, my morning routine consists of five steps.
- Wake up and go through my plan for the day.
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I’ll double-check my planner and my to-do list for the day, adjusting it if anything has changed since the day before. My schedule has been varying each day since the start of the summer so it’s important I make sure my car is packed up with everything I need. I’ll grab my camera, internship name tag, umbrella, sketchbook, dance shoes, lesson plans, external hard drive, laptop and set them by the door.
- Shower and get ready.
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Depending on the day, I shower at 7 a.m. or 9 a.m. I like taking my time as often as I can. If I know I’ll need to get out the door quickly in the morning I’ll lay out my clothes the night before. If I have a class later in the morning, I like to pick my outfit after getting ready to really express how I feel that day. It’s my favorite way to style myself!
- Make breakfast downstairs and start my cup of coffee.
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Some of my go-to breakfasts are tofu scramble, oatmeal or avocado toast. While I make breakfast, I’ll have coffee brewing in my French press.
- Start my podcast or music and work on my step a day.
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I have several podcasts in rotation. The Track about the world of Lindy Hop and other jazz dances, No Make-Up Needed, hosted by Lively founder Michelle Cordiero Grant and I Brew My Own Coffee about creating your personal coffee experience. If I don’t feel like listening to a podcast while I get things in order, I’ll put on some music and try to work on my step of the day—a challenge to come up or experiment with a new jazz step each day. I’ve noticed that for some of the people close to me with morning routines, they’ll do something like read, watch a funny YouTube video or a crossword puzzle, but I find this works for me.
- Take a deep breath.
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I hate rushing out the door and I usually feel more excited to take on the day once I’ve taken a breath and one last look in the mirror to make sure I look alright and have a positive outlook. With how chaotic my daily schedules are, it’s nice to have something stable in the mornings. It’s sometimes a struggle to stick to it, but I always know I feel so much better when I do.
All images provided by the author.