The Importance of Two Morning Routines

This concept is honestly newer to me. Surprise surprise, I found this idea on Tik Tok. As soon as I saw it I loved it. So basically, I have always been big on morning routines, I love having a plan. But obviously, there are some mornings when I wake up and I am just not feeling my best. Whether I didn’t sleep well the night before, or just had a rough day. It was always disappointing on those mornings when I got out of the routine because I was too tired or didn’t have time to go to the gym. This is where the second-morning routine comes in.

morning routine - breakfast
morning routine - bible
morning routine - sunrise

On the days that you wake up late or wake up tired and you aren’t feeling up to your productive morning routine, it is good to have a “chill” morning routine in place as well. This takes away a lot of guilt that I would feel when I couldn’t be so productive in the morning. It also adds a sense of accomplishment and a sense of checking off a to-do list. This feeling in the morning always leads me to a more productive day.

Now to be honest this is still a concept that I am integrating into my life, but I wanted to share it with you all ASAP. So I’m gonna share a rough estimate of what both of my morning routines look like.

My Productive Morning Routine

  1. So I always wake up naturally early. I usually don’t set an alarm and let my body wake up when it is ready. If I know I need to wake up extra early based on my plans that day I’ll set an alarm between 5 and 6 AM. Otherwise, I’ll probably wake up around 7.
  2. I like to read my bible in some shape or form first thing in the morning. Whether that is by flipping to a page and reading what’s there, doing a devotional, or my Delight Study, etc. Sometimes I even stay in bed for this (I put my lamp on to keep me awake).
  3. Then I like to make my conscious list of 3 things I am grateful for. I used to write these down (which is better) but lately, I just say them in my head.
  4. Then it’s time to go to the gym or to do pilates (depending on my schedule for the day), I get ready brush my teeth, wash my face, get dressed, etc.
  5. Have a good workout
  6. As soon as I get home I make breakfast- usually either some form of eggs or a smoothie/smoothie bowl
  7. After I eat breakfast I hop in the shower
  8. After my shower I like to get ready for my day; do my hair and make-up, and depending on the day pick out an outfit.
  9. With whatever time I have left in my morning I work on whatever assignment, or blog-related task I have to get done for that day/week.

My Less Productive Morning Routine

  1. Even on my less productive days, I can almost guarantee I won’t sleep in past 8:00 AM- that’s just how my body works
  2. However, as long as I am not in a serious rush, on these days I like to lay in bed for a while
  3. On these days I like to make my gratitude list the first thing when I wake up
  4. On my less productive mornings, I enforce less of a routine and more of a checklist and I allow myself to complete my tasks in whatever order feels right that morning. Often times the next thing I do is work on assignments and blog-related tasks, from my bed. This, is exactly how my morning is going as I write this post.
  5. Until I am ready to get out of bed I do my best to be productive from my bed. Sometimes I will do my devotional in my bed or I will leave it till after breakfast.
  6. Once I get up the next step is brushing my teeth and washing my face-usual first thing in the morning tasks.
  7. Then I usually have breakfast which is usually eggs or a smoothie/smoothie bowl, but on these days sometimes cereal.
  8. Then if I haven’t done my devotional, I will sit on my couch with my breakfast to do it
  9. After I clean up and wash dishes from breakfast, I start to get ready for the day (shower, hair, make-up, outfit)

In Comparison

My two routines aren’t too different, I am accomplishing basically all of the same things, minus a workout. I love working out in the morning, but there are some days that I wake up and my body is just not ready yet. The main difference is the order I accomplish my tasks and the urgency of accomplishing them.

A lot of factors play into how my morning goes as well. Depending on whether I have classes, work, or extra assignments that day. This is why I like my routine not to be strict at certain times. Since my morning schedule changes every day. For example, Mondays I don’t need to leave my apartment until 2:40 PM for class. Some days I have work at 8, 9, or 10 AM, and some days I have class at 11 AM. Some days I have an assignment due at 8 AM that I have to wake up at 5 AM to complete. Without having a set daytime schedule it’s hard to establish a timed-out routine.

The main reason why I like this concept is that I think it’s important to listen to your body and give yourself grace. Not every day is going to be the most productive day and I think it is helpful to plan ahead for those days.

-xoxo jenny <3