Crazy. I also don’t set an alarm and can just tell myself when I want to wake up, and I always wake up 15 mins before that time. And if you know me I’m always 10-15 mins early for anything so makes sense my brain even wakes me up 15 mins before I need to be. 🤣🙄
Hahaha I don't know how I do it, but since I've started going to the gym in the mornings, I can just wake up whenever I decide I want to (but I don't decide on a specific time every morning).
I loved this post 🙌🏻 it never gets old to me to hear about other people’s daily routines - thanks for taking the time to share this with us.
Two questions for you:
1) What are all the things you say “no” to to maintain simplicity and reduce mental fatigue in the personal side of your daily life? There’s so much content, entertainment, shopping, hobbies, text messages, emails, etc. coming at us from every direction that I often don’t know where to begin to say “these things are ‘in’ and everything else is ‘out’”. It often seems like you’ve created a really healthy, focused scope for your daily life, which rewards you with a sense of calm and simplicity.
2) When do you sort through personal emails, take care of the ongoing life admin stuff, and read digital content, newsletters, blogs, etc.? I love the no screens after 7pm idea, but don’t know how to implement it when I often leave these tasks to the evening hours (like reading and commenting on this post right now 🙃)
During the week, generally speaking TV is out. (Unless we're watching a show with our son before he goes to bed.) I use the time after my kid goes to bed for my evening routine and reading. Socializing during the week is basically out, if we have my son. It's just too much to try to go out or have people over, unless it's my parents (who are easy). Phone scrolling at night is out too, because that can become a huge time suck.
I don't subscribe to many newsletters because I just don't want to take the time. I listen to audiobooks while I drive, walk, and clean/tidy/fold laundry. I often don't scroll social media or look at other people's stuff, I just reply to comments on my own posts, and my own DMs.
But related to both 1 and 2, I work from home, so I can fit folding laundry into a short break in my workday. I can schedule an appliance repair (like I had to do today, for our oven) during my workday too. I can duck out for an hour for physical therapy or the dentist because we have a flexible work schedule. There is huge benefit to working from home WITH the flexibility that we have (not every employer is as flexible with their remote workers). That's probably where a lot of my "healthy balance" comes from.
I love the idea of a card or board game with your kiddo on school mornings. How much time do you allow for it in the routine and do you only pick games that can be completed during that single morning? Would love to hear some game suggestions that fit well into your mornings together.
We usually have about a half-hour during breakfast, but most games can be completed in this period, and many we can run through more than once! We like card games here, because board games can take a while to set up. We play a lot of Phase 10, Skyjo, Monopoly Deal, Cover Your Assets, Exploding Kittens, and Tacocat (a quick and easy board game). Oh, and Pass the Pigs! That one is fun too.
Love the perspective you gave on this! I also operate so much better when I have a routine. I've been beating myself up because I've struggled to find a solid morning routine with my current job. After some layoffs summer 2023, I took a less than ideal job (for me personally) that was meant to be temporary. I am required in office daily and my commute takes anywhere from 30-50 minutes each way.
I used to be at the gym, religiously, every morning at 7 AM when I had a WFH job. Trying to find the discipline to get back to that, but shifted about an hour earlier! With this, I set the intention to just try and move more - 30 minutes of exercise (whether that be the gym, spin, a walk, etc) daily. I find that a little less rigid as I try to rebuild the habit. I've also been loving the Atomic Habits app to try and work on my daily habits and build a solid routine again.
Adding that amount of time to your daily commute is brutal. I know how hard it is to work around that! (My NH commute used to be 40 minutes each way, but I didn't have a kid back then, so it was easier.) I love that 30 minutes a day goal, even more if it's broken up! Studies find short bouts of movement (like micro-workouts) are just as effective as an hour-long gym session. Nice work!
I also get the “not everyone has the same 24 hours”. I am also very privileged. I am single, no kids and have a dog who is very low maintenance. I work mostly from home. I have my own gym in my garage. I can workout later in the mornings, schedule appointments during the day and have full control over my calendar (except for 2 meetings each week that are at the same time).
I think it's SO important to note this, especially on social media or in emails like this. Otherwise people look at you and think, "What am I doing wrong, I can't do all that." (Worse is when influencers DON'T acknowledge their privilege, and then say something like, "You just need to be more disciplined." Don't get me started.)
Crazy. I also don’t set an alarm and can just tell myself when I want to wake up, and I always wake up 15 mins before that time. And if you know me I’m always 10-15 mins early for anything so makes sense my brain even wakes me up 15 mins before I need to be. 🤣🙄
Hahaha I don't know how I do it, but since I've started going to the gym in the mornings, I can just wake up whenever I decide I want to (but I don't decide on a specific time every morning).
Maybe you and Kai are related to Jack Reacher. Do you also hide cars you need to get rid of at airport long term parking?
I have not, but I for sure like thrift stores as much as he does :)
🤔
I loved this post 🙌🏻 it never gets old to me to hear about other people’s daily routines - thanks for taking the time to share this with us.
Two questions for you:
1) What are all the things you say “no” to to maintain simplicity and reduce mental fatigue in the personal side of your daily life? There’s so much content, entertainment, shopping, hobbies, text messages, emails, etc. coming at us from every direction that I often don’t know where to begin to say “these things are ‘in’ and everything else is ‘out’”. It often seems like you’ve created a really healthy, focused scope for your daily life, which rewards you with a sense of calm and simplicity.
2) When do you sort through personal emails, take care of the ongoing life admin stuff, and read digital content, newsletters, blogs, etc.? I love the no screens after 7pm idea, but don’t know how to implement it when I often leave these tasks to the evening hours (like reading and commenting on this post right now 🙃)
Hi Emily! Love these questions.
During the week, generally speaking TV is out. (Unless we're watching a show with our son before he goes to bed.) I use the time after my kid goes to bed for my evening routine and reading. Socializing during the week is basically out, if we have my son. It's just too much to try to go out or have people over, unless it's my parents (who are easy). Phone scrolling at night is out too, because that can become a huge time suck.
I don't subscribe to many newsletters because I just don't want to take the time. I listen to audiobooks while I drive, walk, and clean/tidy/fold laundry. I often don't scroll social media or look at other people's stuff, I just reply to comments on my own posts, and my own DMs.
But related to both 1 and 2, I work from home, so I can fit folding laundry into a short break in my workday. I can schedule an appliance repair (like I had to do today, for our oven) during my workday too. I can duck out for an hour for physical therapy or the dentist because we have a flexible work schedule. There is huge benefit to working from home WITH the flexibility that we have (not every employer is as flexible with their remote workers). That's probably where a lot of my "healthy balance" comes from.
I love the idea of a card or board game with your kiddo on school mornings. How much time do you allow for it in the routine and do you only pick games that can be completed during that single morning? Would love to hear some game suggestions that fit well into your mornings together.
We usually have about a half-hour during breakfast, but most games can be completed in this period, and many we can run through more than once! We like card games here, because board games can take a while to set up. We play a lot of Phase 10, Skyjo, Monopoly Deal, Cover Your Assets, Exploding Kittens, and Tacocat (a quick and easy board game). Oh, and Pass the Pigs! That one is fun too.
Love the perspective you gave on this! I also operate so much better when I have a routine. I've been beating myself up because I've struggled to find a solid morning routine with my current job. After some layoffs summer 2023, I took a less than ideal job (for me personally) that was meant to be temporary. I am required in office daily and my commute takes anywhere from 30-50 minutes each way.
I used to be at the gym, religiously, every morning at 7 AM when I had a WFH job. Trying to find the discipline to get back to that, but shifted about an hour earlier! With this, I set the intention to just try and move more - 30 minutes of exercise (whether that be the gym, spin, a walk, etc) daily. I find that a little less rigid as I try to rebuild the habit. I've also been loving the Atomic Habits app to try and work on my daily habits and build a solid routine again.
Adding that amount of time to your daily commute is brutal. I know how hard it is to work around that! (My NH commute used to be 40 minutes each way, but I didn't have a kid back then, so it was easier.) I love that 30 minutes a day goal, even more if it's broken up! Studies find short bouts of movement (like micro-workouts) are just as effective as an hour-long gym session. Nice work!
I also get the “not everyone has the same 24 hours”. I am also very privileged. I am single, no kids and have a dog who is very low maintenance. I work mostly from home. I have my own gym in my garage. I can workout later in the mornings, schedule appointments during the day and have full control over my calendar (except for 2 meetings each week that are at the same time).
I think it's SO important to note this, especially on social media or in emails like this. Otherwise people look at you and think, "What am I doing wrong, I can't do all that." (Worse is when influencers DON'T acknowledge their privilege, and then say something like, "You just need to be more disciplined." Don't get me started.)
💯