Oct 7, 2019
Implementing A Morning And Night Routine
Over the past couple of weeks, I have tried my best to implement a morning and night routine which I try and complete each day. These are based on 12 simple principles which I have managed to implement. In this story, I will go over each of the tasks in my routines.
Night Routine
I am starting with the night routine as this allows me to do my morning routine. It helps with starting my day ensuring I am prepared to wake up and complete my morning routine. This routine consists of:
- Ironing my clothes
- Brushing my teeth
- Night skincare routine
- Preparing my gym clothes
- Praying
- Journalling
1. Ironing my clothes
This isn’t really something massive nor does it take much time. I do weirdly enjoy ironing and seeing creases disappear but it’s probably the saddest thing about me.
2. Brushing my teeth
I’ve always had trouble brushing my teeth at night. I would find myself too sleepy and end up going to bed without brushing my teeth. Now that I have managed to do it daily I do feel like it has become a habit though I do find myself missing a day or do due to being so tired and going straight into bed.
3. Night skincare routine
Again, I have never really been into skincare and I frankly didn’t care till I got into it. However, simply using a cleanser and putting a night cream on it does feel like it gets my psychologically ready to go to sleep. It also doesn’t take any more than 5 minutes and it can be completed straight after brushing my teeth.
4. Preparing my gym clothes
This is the one that has the biggest impact on my morning routine. Preparing my gym clothes and having them ready makes going to the gym 10x easier when waking up. Having my clothes and trainers there and prepared in one place allows me to get ready quickly and set off to the gym as soon as I wake up. Without this, I don’t think I would be going to the gym.
5. Praying
This is one of my duties as a Muslim but having trouble reading my prayers on time this allows me to ensure that I have finished reading all of my 5 daily prayers and ensuring I do not miss any so they do not pile up.
6. Journalling
Journalling is a great way to be able to reflect back on the day and write down my thoughts and feelings. My bullet journal allows me to check off my to-do list for the day reflecting back on my goals for each day and prepare for the upcoming day. The journal allows me to reflect on my day and I am able to write down at what happened during the day so I have a log of it to look back on in the future.
Morning Routine
My morning routines allow me to get a start on the day and try to be as productive as possible. Also, by doing this routine I am trying to do something productive with the hours in the day when I would most likely be asleep.
- Wake up at 5:25AM
- Make my bed
- Go to the gym
- Cold shower
- Mediate 10 minutes
- Morning skincare routine
1. Waking up at 5:25 AM
This is probably the hardest part of the whole routine. I am not a morning person. I struggled to get up at 8 AM for university nevermind waking up anything before 7 AM. I realised waking up at 5:25 am I needed a reason to actually wake up so early and I quickly realised I could use the time to get to the gym. I am still unsure at how I managed to quickly get used to waking up so early but I know actually going to bed before 12 AM helps a lot.
2. Making my bed
This is something new I am trying to implement which I have read online. I see this as being organised and tidy which I am very bad at but, seeing my bed nicely made does sort of sadly fill me with a bit of happiness seeing how nice it looks before I head off to the gym. I’m hoping this forces me to constantly keep my room tidy and organised as well.
3. Go to the gym
This is probably the main part of my morning routine. There were days where I would not be consistent as I found myself going gym then missing gym as the times which I used to go were inconsistent. Having a set time where I go to the gym has ensured I am consistent and ensuring I turn up each day. It allows me to feel good about myself having done something productive so early on in the day and boosts my morale.
4. Cold shower
This doesn’t really seem too important other than the fact it allows me to practice discipline and do something I do not enjoy. It also does wake up as the cold water definitely sends shock waves through your body. Whether or not the supposed benefits of cold showers are true are yet to be seen from my perspective.
5. Meditate for 10 mins
This is something totally new for me and I decided to try it on the basis that everywhere I look everyone recommends meditating. I have still yet to see any quick benefits though it is too soon to tell. Also, this is one thing I have been missing due to being in a rush to leave the house to get to work.
6. Morning skincare routine
Similar to my night skincare routine this is just a simple 3 step skincare routine which consists of a cleanser which is usually done in the shower anyway, moisturiser and applying SPF. Also, as I have been badly attempting to grow a beard I have started using a beard balm which doesn’t really make my beard any less shitter than it already is but, hey ho.
To conclude, that is my simple morning and night routine which I have successfully managed to do on a daily basis for the past 3 weeks and I am quite proud of myself for being able to see it through. One thing which has helped me is the use of sticky notes which I have posted on my wardrove so I can see each of the tasks on my routine. It’s something little but has helped me ensure I am completing all of the tasks and in my head ticking them off.
Wow, my 10th story for the year. I am so close to finishing my goal having written a story each month and with the just 2 more stories left I am quite proud of myself for actually seeing this goal through. I know these stories are shit and no-one reads them but the main thing for me right now is just writing. Making the habits as easy as possible and hopefully, in the long term my writing will get better and maybe even one person will read these. 10/12
