With the exception of my teenage years, I have always been a morning person.

 

As a child, I would wake around 5:30, softly pad into my parents' room, and pinch my father's big toe until he woke up. We would then spend our weekend mornings together, getting breakfast at our favorite dinner, running errands, fishing, and bird watching. Even at a young age, I remember marveling at the serenity of the world when you are awake while most are still curled up in bed.

As an adult, mornings have become my serene sanctuary once again.

With the chaos of work schedules, social commitments, date nights, and the rest of life's hectic activities, mornings ensure I get that essential "me-time". By carving out time centered around taking care of myself, inside and out, I have found that I am more present throughout the day and am able to better tackle the day's challenges.

Here's a peek into my typical morning routine:

7:00 am: First alarm. (Currently: Destiny's Child "Say My Name", in case you were wondering.) I let the dingo hop up and enjoy my nine minute snooze while snuggling.
7:10 am: Boil a pot of tea, let the dog out, and roll out the yoga mat for at least 20-30 minutes of yoga.
7:40 am: Read a chapter from "Meditations from the Mat" by Rolf Gates & Katrina Kenison or take a moment to meditate.
8:00 am: Start cooking breakfast, like eggs over-easy with fresh vegetables and some paleo pancakes. 8:05 am: Feed the dingo (he does a bucking horse dance around his bowl when he's hungry).

8:20 am: Enjoy my healthy meal while pouring over a book or watching a rerun of Friends.

8:45 am: Get dressed, throw on some Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer & mascara.
9:15 am: Wake up Z with a cup of black coffee.
9:30 am: Go start the car so its nice and toasty (leather seats and -10 degree weather makes for a frozen tuchas). Run around my house a couple times throwing things in my work bag while attempting to be quiet because Z has inevitably fallen back asleep curled up with the dingo.
9:45 am: Run out the door and head to work!

That said, there is always variety from day to day. As the sun starts coming up earlier, I am working on pushing my alarm back a few minutes so that I will eventually be waking up at 6:00 am in hopes that I can squeeze in more exercise time (either at the climbing gym or outside once the temperatures start rising).

Although I have found myself to more naturally sway towards being a morning person versus a night owl, I planning on sharing a few tips and suggestions I have collected along the way that help make mornings all the more easier.

Have a beautiful day!