Making the Most of it: The morning Routine

=Making the Most of It: Where we take the little things in life and make it all worthwhile=

It's finally happened. The moment you've been dreading has at long last rounded the corner. Just a moment ago, you were snugly burrowed in your bed, maybe having an awesome dream, when right through the ether you're jolted awake by the sound of your alarm.

It's time to get up...

The morning routine can, if you allow it, be as bad a drudge as going to work itself can be. But it doesn't have to be, if we just make the most of it.

Like a lot of things in my life, I find that I appreciate the little things more, when I have time to appreciate them. I am not like my brother, who has the uncanny ability to simply roll out of bed and right into his work clothes and tie and be out the door in thirty minutes. For my current job as a baker, I have to be in to start cooking at 4:00 in the sodding morning. I am sure I could get away with waking up at 2:45, giving myself just enough time for a small cup of coffee and some toast in my belly and one or two ten minutes youtube clips while I'm packing my lunch for the day before having to be out the door for the five minutes drive (small blessing) to my place of employ.

However, I don't like to be rushed in the morning. I like having a little big of wiggle room, time to enjoy the toast and coffee, and time to relax just a little before having to bounce out the door.

I wake up instead at 1:50am. In that time, I go to the bathroom (I am convinced it's a universal law that you have to pee when you first get up), and put on the clothes I've laid out the night prior. There is simply something refreshing about a change of clothes, even if I don't have the mental faculties yet to master the art of putting on socks. Loin's girded, I venture forth into the kitchen and beseech my Keurig to make my morning coffee. While it brews, I packed a simple lunch and make a little something for myself to eat...Usually yogurt, toast, or a humble bowl of cereal. By now, it's 2:05am. I have a little more than an hour to myself before I need to even provide thought to finalizing my pre-work arrangement. That hour is mine. And it comes with coffee. What I do with that hour varies, and for you, your situation is more than likely different...And, my condolences if you are a kindred early rise employee. We're all in this together, mate.

Getting up that little bit earlier before work. You effectively create some 'you' time before your time becomes your boss's time. It is YOUR time. You can do with this window as you please. Some people exercise. Some people meditate. Some people try and squeeze a little gaming in, if you're the gaming type. And some people just kick back in front of the TV with their coffee. It's all cool.

-Prepare for Tomorrow before it's Tomorrow

I tend to suffer regularly from the need of a cup of coffee before I can make a cup of coffee. That's why I make sure to prepare the coffee maker to be good to go for when I'm ready for it.

I also make it a note to have my clothes for the day ready for when I lurch forth from my bed.

These two acts help me effectively get started into my morning routine so I don't have to waste time fussing over them when I'd rather just kick back with my coffee and breakfast. Get those pesky little bits out of the way early, and you'll feel a lot lighter when you wake up.

-Do something that makes you happy

It is YOUR time. Not your boss's time (yet). Don't start your day on a glum note. Kick it off with something that brings a smile to your face. Listen to some good music, watch something funny on Youtube, catch up on the news or some podcasts. Read some blogs. Heck, catch up on a few chapters of that book you've been taking a break from for awhile. Leave the house early and visit the 24 hour coffee shop. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that you enjoy yourself during your time.

-Hate your job? Don't think about your job until you have to

Finally, don't stress during your 'you' time. Work hasn't taken control of you yet. If it helps, set a time when you allow yourself to focus on getting ready for work. Until that time comes, don't even give a single thought towards your job, and any anxieties or worries that might entail. You can deal with those when the time for them comes. Just sit back, and enjoy your breakfast. Work doesn't even exist yet.

Remember, the time you have before work is your time. Make the most of it.