Dear NQT,
At the start of this third lockdown, I felt like I would never be able to get into a routine again like I was last year in March. The weather helped with moods and the ability to be outside at any time of the day! This time it’s been tough to figure things out!
I set my alarm for 6:45 and get up and dressed by 7:15. This for me is so important to make sure I’m not sleeping in. Of course we would all love to just roll out of bed after 9, but doing this does nothing for our mental health. I also now ensure to make my bed straight away after reading Charles Duhigg mention in ‘The Power of Habit’ how it is proven to improve productivity rates throughout the day.
The first thing I reach for is my journal, not my phone. If you reach for your phone and begin scrolling, before you know it, an hour has passed and you will feel all over the place. In reaching for my journal, I can review the to-do list I wrote the night before and make a plan for the day.
I go for a walk straight away and try to hit those 10,000 steps. If I don’t exercise first thing in the morning, I find that I don’t really tend to leave the house that day. I also feel much better after exercising early, as I don’t feel so bad for sitting on the laptop all day or not getting my steps in! It also motivates me to perhaps do a shorter walk after work to just clear my head, but this is more for me!
What happens in the morning for me, is a domino effect for the day. If my day starts off productively and with a consistent daily morning routine, I feel better about myself and feel proud of myself! Getting up early and having time for myself in the morning ensures that I feel like I have given my mind that space to breathe before I am on my laptop and phone working all day. If you feel like you need to make some changes, give some of these a go!
Take care,
Nadine
