Since mid-February, I’ve had a starkly different morning routine to the one I usually had.
As you might already know, I took on a new client booking that requires me to be in London five days a week and so my previous slow mornings have taken a backseat. On top of that, I still have all my previous commitments to adhere to! But it isn’t all doom and gloom, and in fact I’ve found the change to be incredibly beneficial to me.
Here’s a quick look at how my mornings are set up before I tackle a lengthy commute, busy day and busier evening…
6am
My alarm goes off. I’ve set up my Google Home with a wake-up routine which has truly revolutionised how I get up.
My standard alarm tone has been replaced with a random song from one of my selected playlists, and then it’ll automatically switch on my smart lighting to emulate morning light. I don’t need this so much now, but it was truly a godsend in the winter mornings! Afterwards, Google Home lets me know what’s in my diary (so I can mentally prepare for bookings, meetings, social plans and gym sessions) and also what the train situation and weather is like. Ideal.
6:10am
I no longer use my phone in the mornings, so I give myself a moment to open my eyes and get in the bathroom. My morning skincare routine is short and simple: Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, followed by Dermalogica MicroExfoliant™, and then Glossier Moisturizing Crème Rich.
6:20am
Most mornings, I do my makeup in bed. Anything to spend more time under the duvet! I prop up my MacBook and put an episode of Friends on (as I can’t see without my glasses!) and then do a simple face of eyebrow filler, an eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara and beloved Glossier Haloscope.
6:40am
Downstairs to pop coffee on and make breakfast. At the moment I’m enjoying Alpro Blueberry Yoghurt with a handful of Dorset Cereals granola and a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds and cacao nibs, although sometimes I’ll make toast and pop some cherry tomatoes and half an avocado on top.
6:55am
Milo and I always have a cosy cuddle on the sofa or stairs. He’ll always, without fail, bring me his Kong in the hopes I’ll give him a pre-breakfast treat! I also let him out for a quick runaround and toilet break.
7:15am
In the car heading the station, ready to catch my train and See Other Humans.
7:32am
Hop on my train to London. I take a slower service train so I can read my book and then allow myself 5-10 minute of phone time right before I arrive in London.
I’ve got to say: limiting my phone usage in the mornings does me the world of good. I’m not distracted, so I have plenty of time to really wake up, spend time on my makeup (self-care in itself, to me), make and eat breakfast, hang with Milo and read a book.
For me, my slow mornings allow me tick off all of the ‘me time’ that I tend to miss out on in the evenings. Evenings are then often reserved for family time, dinner plans or working on the blog. All the good stuff.