Why I don’t use a morning routine and what I do instead!
Jamie Staley, NASM-CPT, Pn1
It’s the first Monday of a brand new year!
Oh, the possibilities. Did you get up earlier? Start the day with a workout, a fully meal-prepped breakfast, and 20-minutes of gratitude and meditation?
If you did, I’m happy for you. Truly.
I am not a morning person, nor have I ever been. But in years past, I always think that the next calendar year, my mornings will suddenly change and look completely different.
They never do, which is weird.
But here’s the main reason I don’t have a morning routine: my mornings look drastically different each day.
Some mornings, my first client is at 5:30 AM. Which has my alarm going off at 4:30 and just enough time for coffee, dry shampoo, and a quick change.
Other mornings, I don’t train until 9:00 AM or even 10:00 AM. Sometimes, I have three or four clients booked straight through. Other days, just one or two.
I love my flexible schedule, but it makes it really hard to stick to any type of predictable morning flow.
So instead of fighting against this, I am going to embrace it this year and turn my attention to the superior alternative: an evening routine.
What are the benefits to an evening routine?
This is my own list, but I’m sure you can identify with a few of these things.
First: mornings are hectic for just about everyone. Regardless of kids, no kids, commute, no commute, etc. Most of us don’t have a ton of extra time in the morning.
Or we sacrifice precious hours of sleep to get up early to workout or meal prep, without realizing the damage that lack of sleep can have on wellness goals.
Second: most people waste a ton of time in the evening. Myself included.
Watching TV, scrolling through social media, playing games on my phone, etc.
Think about this: what do you do between dinner and bed time?
For me, that time could be spent more intentionally.
Third: preparing for the next day each evening might help you relax, improve your sleep, and make your mornings even better.
Going to bed with the next day all planned out is like a breath of fresh air.
What’s my evening routine?
Here’s what I hope to do most evenings of 2021:
- fill out my planner for that day (gratitude, update to-do list, etc.)
- fill out my planner for the next day (schedule, to-do list, notes, etc.)
- set out my clothes for the next day (especially before early mornings)
- plan out my food for the next day
- spend a few minutes picking up the living room and kitchen (aka not leaving a pile of dishes for the next day)
- spending the last hour before bed away from screens
Give it a try!
So if your mornings don’t look picture perfect, there is hope. Take a few moments and jot down some things you could do each evening that would make the next day more organized, productive, and less chaotic!
How Can I Help?
If tackling your nutrition or fitness on your own feels too intimidating and confusing, I can help! I am a Certified Personal Trainer and a Certified Nutrition Coach and I work with clients who have a wide array of goals.
I will coach you through individualized action steps to meet your goals and help you formulate a plan for change that fits your life, instead of trying to make your life fit a plan. I’ll give you the accountability, real information, and guidance to make lasting change.
Send me an email at jsfncoaching@gmail.com and let’s chat about your goals!
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