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in some areas, routine is back in full gear. lunches prepped. grocery list managed. homework... my kids are killllling it {total parental bragging, but it's the honest truth}... appointments attended, teeth well-cared for, bedtimes [somewhat] adhered to (for the first time ever)... so yes, some areas run like a well-oiled machine.
and others... not so much.
specifically~ 'the morning ritual' (or lack thereof).
let's just say- i am not one of the "put-together" moms in the carpool line. and really, it has nothing to do with looking hot at 7am*... but the total lack of getting-myself-together as of late- the lack of the morning ritual (be it working out, reading a book... reading a blog... putting lipstick on...) leaves me running for the rest of the day........... and not in a cutesie "jogging-through-the-city" kinda way.......... running to catch UP.
without intention. without design. without a plan. and not surprisingly~ time always seems to run out before i get to the good stuff... the stuff that never seems to pass through the gate of intention- and onto the bliss of reality.
combine the above with major over-analysis/procrastination tendencies... not a good mix for living the live that i want [intend] to live.
so, as of late, i'm constantly drawn to images of doing... creating... going...
as much as i love a lot bit of reflection... i need to carve out some time at the start of my day- and whichever way i decide to spend it- toss the covers and anxieties aside, to get up, and GO.
{*but i'm sure it couldn't hurt}
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The first thing that springs to mind is, "What would you like your morning to be like?"
ReplyDeleteWe moved a few months ago and I am going on 4 months now of (forcing) getting wetting up 2 hours before the kids. It IS a game changer for the whole day. Yes it is.
i love that you ask this. one that i clearly need to STOP and think about... to figure out how i'd like to begin each day.
Deletei love the idea of getting up earlier... i always wake up earlier, but i'd like to start waking up even sooner. i can see how that would be a total game changer.
nice to meet you! thank you for commenting!
I apologize, how ridiculous my late night spelling (I wake up too early ;))
ReplyDeleteI hate the feeling of being behind. If I don't start my morning right I feel like I'm behind the 8 ball all day long. For forgot me, routine helps. Coffee & bfast, then carpool,then work out. Then I'm ready for work,errands, whatever. But when I stray from that I feel out of control. Holy type A.
ReplyDeleteexaaaaaactly. this is exactly what the issue has been. routines put back in place for everyone else... except myself. wish i could say i'm still in summer mode, but i'm not in ANY mode!! love hearing about your (and others') routine. inspires me to get back into mine. (type A living in B mode)
Deletei put my workout clothes on every morning. (i bought a couple CUTE new running skirts that cost a pretty penny and a few new target tanks (that cost $8 bucks) in some fun colors.) mwf-i put my running clothes on and after i drop G off at preschool, i run. no excuses. Tu/Th i started a swim workout with a coach. i have never swum in my life for exercise (to ride a wave in, yes, not to purposely get my heart rate up.) so those days i throw on a swimsuit and a cover up over it and go. same routine, drop G off at preschool, straight to pool. it is HARD and HUMBLING b/c i suck. i mean i really really really suck at swimming. and i have not tried anything NEW in a long time and to SUCK at something at almost 40 is actually pretty amazing. not the sucking part (that's easy,) but the part where i keep showing up. i keep trying. i keep showing my kids that even though this is hard for their mom, i keep going. the part where i demonstrate that it is okay not to be good at everything one does. that sometimes, yes it is enough simply to participate.
ReplyDeleteanyway, sort of digression... my point is that M-F i show up. for myself. it's built into my day. i avoid commitments from 9:15 until 10:15. I say no to volunteering during this time. I do not run errands for the other people in my life. For one hour a day, I put myself before ALL others. And those cute running skirts and my self tanner help me remember to do that.
p.s. waking up earlier has never worked for me even though i wanted it to. i had to give up on that idea to find one that worked for me. just in case the waking up earlier doesn't turn out to be your game changer. xxoo
i was really, really hoping you’d chime in here (would’ve asked you directly if I didn’t hear from you!), because although I didn’t mention it in the post, you- and your running images as of late, are part of what I was referring to in the post (pinterest images, but yours too!!)… tremendously inspired and I might be off base, but it seems like it’s making a huge difference in your SPIRIT as of late. that is what I am missing and I want (NEED).
Deletepre-summer, i was on track- spinning/training (the training part- totally out of my comfort zone) daily, but ended up not being the right track for me- regarding people/surroundings (spin studio/trainer/etc)… then summer happened, I cancelled my membership (which was a huge relief), but fast-forward to now, and have yet (per the post) to resume a daily routine.
your comment (just as so many of your other ones have in the past) inspires to no end… everything from the CUTE running skirts to the example that you are setting for your girlies… and especially the “avoid commitments” part. …hoping that waking up earlier will give me a little computer/getting ready/reading (whatever) time, so that once the kids are dropped off, i can GO. (but i know- since i’ve done it before- it is only a tiny part of the equation… the actually ‘doing’ part is what i’m missing… plus- i can’t wake up too early… neeeed my beauty rest!! ;))
seriously~ thank you.
Stephanie has it down pat - think putting on work-out clothes has been my first step to exercising every day - as I did for 9 years and then just stopped one day. I hate wearing what I call the tight nasties - I find them so itchy- so it makes me go to class. I once read from Gabriella Reece you do have to start with an exact plan of what time and what class every day. there is no way out, no way you are not going, it just is. having said that, I have a big cold fish of a hangover this morning and missed my Hip Hop class. BTW, have seen those photos of Ashley waking up, what a stunna!
ReplyDeleteGoing to get some ‘tight nasties’ this weekend!!
Deletebut what about when you can't even find workout clothes to throw on bc you are behind on laundry, putting clothes away, and simply your bedroom is a mess. anyone? ok, i've been feeling so behind lately that after i finally get the kids into the standing by the front door with their coats, backpacks and SHOES on position, I'll look down and realize i'm still in my pjs. shoot, another tardy.
ReplyDeletebut, in all seriousness, once i do find my workout clothes - i throw them on and go immediately to the gym after dropping kids off. if i don't go then, i won't go. this is my weekday routine. and then i don't put pressure on myself to go over the weekend. i've been getting the 5 days in and feel good about that.
now, i do have an ulterior motive/motivator and that is the potential of an upcoming event that i know i will want to be feeling my best for. so, i have a goal and reason to do more squats. yes, the reason should just be for good health, but doubling my wardrobe by fitting into half of it that maybe i have outgrown, may be a better reason.
so, for me, getting the workout in EARLY is best. knowing that i can skip weekend workouts - also best. and having a goal or something to look forward to also works. kinda like when i worked by arse off the months prior to getting married.
thanks for your candidness. i can relate, as always. and hope we get to meet one day. xo
SO helpful… SO motivating… SO appreciated.
DeleteGetting a few workout clothes this weekend, and next week, I’m dropping them off and working my arse off (literally).
And the ‘clothes-fitting-as-a-motivator’ part? A huuuuge motivator for me. Need ALL the reasons I can get to do those extra squats.
Thank you so much for taking the time to give your input/experience in terms of what has worked for you.
We will definitely meet one day :).
Have a good weekend!! …a break from the gym… yaaay!! xoxo
I think the "goal" mentality is spot on. i've told you this torrie. but for me the goal had to be unrelated to the size of my jeans or the number on the scale bc sometimes those things just don't change as quickly as we'd like. sometimes a number is just a number is just a number and nothing more. that's why i train for races. the only thing i'm measuring is the length of my run that day. not the size of my ass. that has been my game changer.
Deletehope you had a great weekend,boy do I ever need some motivation. I find myself coming up with more and more excuses for things:) Need you to balance me out:)
ReplyDeleteI'm always thinking about waking up a little earlier so I can get a better, more relaxed routine going for the rest of the day. In concept, I love the idea of waking up an hour early to work out so I don't have to think about it for the rest of the day, but it can be tough to actually accomplish. I think if you have a plan, things will get better.
ReplyDeleteyes... a PLAN is clearly in order. thank you for your comment and thank you for visiting!
Deletetorrie, i enjoyed this post and understand it fully. all the comments have been quite informative {and amusing} as well. good late night reading!
ReplyDeleteas for my morning routines, i do find my days are best when i rise early, read a few chapters in a current favorite book, shower, prepare breakfast and tea for all and then start the day. yoga and all other workouts must come soon after or it doesn't happen (unless i'm teaching). if i sleep past 6:30, i find my day is out of whack. however, on sundays, i sleep later, linger in bed longer, and find contentment with a no agenda day. sundays are my reward days for keeping myself in check the other 6 days of the week.
i love the comments here too :)... & i am so glad you get. it. love hearing about your morning ritual (and reward day too). getting back on the 'workout wagon' is crucial and i cannot even express how good it has felt this past week (every time i go through this, i wonder, WHY did i stop??)... but as you know (per your lovely comment)- it is only part of the 'story'. it's the getting up early... reading, showering, brewing... that is where i need to begin~ in order for the workout- and the DAY- to flow... to be intentional, productive, not out of whack ;). (which is why everything has felt so out of place. but happy to report, since this post- and everyone's input- it's getting back on track. slowly but surely) xoxo
DeleteAh, the doing. So important to schedule that positive routine for yourself. Whether I'm at work (in the office) or at home I start my day with a cup of warm lemon water. Then it's one cup of coffee with toast and peanut butter. This is all happening as I'm getting Emerson ready for school and showering etc. Then by mid morning I get my snack and cup of Mighty Leaf green tea. It literally brings a huge smile on my face and feels like the biggest treat. My workouts are usually in the afternoon (just before pick up) or late evening (after bedtime) not ideal but it's been working for the past couple of months.
ReplyDeleteit was so nice to leave in the early evening the other day (when ryan got home) and go for a hike! something i'd never do... usually if i haven't gone by mid-morning, then forget about it. (which of course- our HOT or HEAT wave the past several months has made an afternoon hike unthinkable!) without sounding totally cheesy, it was such an eye-opener! made me realize that as long as a routine is in place (as opposed to chaos) to start my day on the right track... the workout can take place whenever [as you said]- IT WORKS. that being said, i'm off to go on that same [excruciating] hike right now... before pick-up! (sans the lovely sunset that i got to see the other day~ another reason to workout 'after hours':))
DeleteAhhhh....I love this discussion. I get the routine down fine. I just find that the routine seems to take me over and I need a break after awhile. And I find myself cramming other stuff into my Sunday. I have to be at my office by 7:50, which means my workouts take place at 5 a.m. Music keeps me moving. It's constantly playing in my house, in my car at my computer, etc. It's hard for me to get my work clothes out and ironed the night before because by the time I bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan and then have a quality family moment? I am fried. So, on Sunday I meal plan, make grocery and store lists, run errands, food prep, pay bills, manage the household budget, put 16 loads of laundry away, update the family calendar...you know the drill. And every Sunday I kick myself....I keep telling myself that I could spread these tasks in little 20 minute increments over the week, it wouldn't be such a big deal. But I never do it. Hope you find your morning groove soon!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Tina
I completely get this side of it as well. Without totally boring you and turning this into a therapy session (in which I am the patient :)), I will just say that I have this love/hate issue with routine. And with anything pertaining to routine (In fact, I wrote a post a while back on this as it pertains to meal planning~ http://torriesessions.blogspot.com/2010/11/eternal-question.html ).
DeleteI didn’t really elaborate in that post, but I crave routine while fearing [fighting] it. Every time I get totally off track, I get back to a good, smooth rhythm- and then wonder why I ever ‘let go.’
…until as you said- the routine takes over and I need a “break.”
Thank you for weighing in… Love hearing about your routine :).