If you’ve been reading my newsletter since 2020 when I started you know I used to have a lengthy morning routine. I was working from home for the first time ever. It was the time of my “spiritual awakening” or whatever you want to call it. I was finding peace for the first time as an adult. At least, in the morning.
Despite spending 45 minutes doing yoga, 20 minutes doing meditation, and giving every chakra my all, I found myself still in a sticky place by the end of the day. I was still triggered reactive, overwhelmed, resistant, and moody throughout the work day. Sometimes it would be for just a moment and sometimes it would be all day.
It was so easy to live this way because my boyfriend would be in the office by 6 am so I had a silent house and nowhere to go. Remember the past of quarantine when everyone was making banana bread? As we’re in 2023 now, my boyfriend works at home and gets up way before I do. I’ve tried to bring back that spiritual, long ass morning routine but it isn’t hitting like it used to.
But here’s the thing, as a human, at work and IRL, I am way less reactive, overwhelmed, resistant, and moody throughout the workday.
I realized that I have been pulling tools and rituals from my morning routine and sprinkling them into my days. A meditation at 2pm is more needed than 7am, because I already wake up in a calm, present mood. Yes, I can totally do both times, but the truth is that I don’t. Oil pulling while I type away helps me focus more. Yoga at the end of the work day? Perfection, because I always get anxious at night.
I also observed that the longer my morning routine is, the less I’m in the mood to accomplish my tasks/start my work day. I’ll find myself finding another tea or special drink instead of facing my inbox. I have crazy inbox/task anxiety even though I love my job and business. I find that lighting an incense and sipping a tea is actually better when I’ve just accomplished something I didn’t want to do, and fuels me to tackle the rest of the day.
Question your routines and rituals. Are they actually serving you? One day I plan on returning to my three-hour morning routine. But right now I like how I live. So don’t compare yourself to anyone, even old versions of yourself!
Xx Chloe
P.S, if you’re interested, here are the habits/rituals I sprinkle in throughout my day: