Streamlining Your Morning Routine
Gym Clothes
Luckily, I can walk to my gym and usually begin my workout by 5:45 a.m. Depending on the day, I will work out for an hour to an hour and a half, and am usually home by 7:15 a.m.
Then it’s time to walk the pup! Sadie gets a 20 – 40 minute walk, depending on the day (She gets longer walks on cardio-only days since I’m home earlier).
Once our walk is over, I come home and shower, get dressed and make breakfast. I make my lunch and prep my breakfast in the fridge the night before, so everything comes together quickly.
After breakfast and snapping lots o’ photos for the blog, I’m off to work!
Here’s a summary of my routine:
- 5:30 a.m. Wake up
- 5:45 a.m. Arrive at the gym and workout
- 7:15 a.m. Take Sadie on a walk
- 7:35 a.m. Shower
- 7:45 a.m. Get ready
- 8:05 a.m. Make breakfast and take blog photos
- 8:25 a.m. Blog
- 8:45 a.m. Leave for work
- 8:55 a.m. Arrive at work
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I will often sleep in for an hour and take Sadie on a run, eliminating the need for her morning walk. I get an extra hour of sleep and Sadie gets extra exercise, so everybody wins!
Also, if I’m really hungry after my workout, I may bump breakfast up and eat before my shower.
I definitely have a jam-packed morning, but I don’t feel rushed at all.
I’ve managed to streamline my morning routine by using the following tips:
- Prep breakfast the night before
- Pack lunch the night before
Packed Lunch
- Brainstorm morning blog post while working out
- Brainstorm what to wear while showering
- Don’t wash your hair everyday (unless it’s greasy)
- Keep items you use daily in the same spot to avoid wasting time looking for them (Such as your make up, face wash, lunch bag, water bottle, etc.)
- Embrace the “natural look” and keep your makeup routine short
Breakfast
This morning my breakfast was yet another ode to Starbucks.
Frappuccino Wannabe
My Frappuccino wannabe smoothie contained:
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 scoop chocolate protein power
- 1 packet Starbucks VIA Ready Brew instant coffee
- 1 large pinch xanthan gum
- Cold water
- 5 ice cubes
Thick smoothies rock my socks! 😀
Smoothie in a Keg
Since my smoothie was poured into a Bubba Keg, which I find quite manly, I had to girly it up with a pink straw. 😉
Pink Straw for a Feminine Touch
Fit for a Lady
I think my body is super-sensitive to caffeine because I feel AWAKE after downing this coffee concoction!
Questions of the Day
What time do you wake up in the morning? What is your morning routine like?
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Do you not eat anything before you do strength training in the morning? How do you have the energy to lift weights or do cardio on an empty stomach?!
I have always wondered about eating before exercising in the morning. Do you eat anything before your morning exercise?
Ugh. Just spend about 20-25 minutes trying to figure out how I could do this…but it’s just not possible for me or I would have to get up at like 3:30 or 4 lol. I’m a teacher, have to be at work at 7:30 and I live an hour away from where I work. Just not happening. I would be in bed by 7pm!
I really wish I could motivate myself to work out in the mornings. However, I am just not a morning person and I also can’t bring myself to go to sleep early enough to get enough sleep to wake up that early not feeling sleep deprived (amazing sentence, I know. 😛 ).
Do you have other chocolate smoothies that doesn’t involve coffee? If I could treat myself to something chocolate post workouts, that would so make the incentive even stronger.
Awesome post! I love finding new coffee-related smoothies 🙂 how do you feel about xantham gum? I’ve been reading a lot about it recently and you’re the first blogger I follow who actually uses it! Just wanted to ask what you thought! thanks!
Do you eat before you workout in the mornings? I drive to the gym (35 minutes) and then straight to work. I eat oatmeal at work, but I plan to start preparing and freezing smoothies for breakfast the night before.