Keeping healthy routines up and running is tough during regular times, but now, hello pandemic and the complete upheaval of everything. Are you trying to add new good habits in place of the ones that have been taken away? Or having a hard time making self care a priority when there are so many big issues in the world that need your time and attention?

I will never judge you if you spend all day in your pajamas because, really, why aren’t we wearing pajamas more often in real life? They’re awesome! But also it’s just hard: it’s hard to establish a good habit in the first place and when the good habit gets disrupted, it’s even harder to put another habit in its place. I get it.

I have a few ways to keep at least some keystone habits in place without having to work too hard at it or make decisions during stressful times.

One of those keystone habits is my morning routine. My morning routine keeps me centered for the rest of the day so for me this is where my focus goes. When I first get up in the morning, I throw on shorts and a t-shirt and go into the living room where I do a movement session and gratitude practice. I drink some water and then I’m ready for whatever needs to come next. Here are the things that keep my morning routine in place:

  • I make it easy. My shorts and shirt are laid out the night before, the right side out so I don’t have to find clothes. My yoga mat is either already out on the floor or rolled up in a basket in the living room right next to my work out space.
  • I make it a no-brainer. I do the exact same routine every morning. I don’t have to wonder if I should focus on hips or shoulders. I don’t think, well, maybe I should throw in some interval training. Nope. My morning routine is exactly the same every day, 7 days a week. Note: this is not my workout. However if I miss my workout, this at least gets me moving.
  • I make it short. My whole morning routine from start to finish takes me about 5 minutes.
  • I connect it to an action, not a time of day. I get up, I do my morning routine. It doesn’t matter if I’m up at 5 AM or lounge until 10 AM.
  • I don’t stress it if I miss it. Yep, you heard me. I do every now and then lose my mind and forget all about my routine. Maybe my partner and I have planned a special breakfast and I’m so excited about that I forget my routine. Or maybe I throw on different clothes for some reason and they don’t trigger me to follow my sequence. I don’t sweat it. I absolutely don’t kick myself for it. If I remember later I just do it then, but no worries if I don’t. I know I’ll get it tomorrow.

This isn’t about exercise for me. It’s about starting my day by keeping a promise to myself.

What about you? What are your non-negotiables? How do you make sure they happen?

copyright 2020 Autumn Needles Pilates and Fitness LLC