How To Establish A Fabulous Daily Routine
[ 20 January 2009 ]
Ahhh, two-thousand-&-divine! There was so much hype towards the end of 2008, with plenty of us swearing up & down that 2009 was going to be different, by gum! Well, we’re now a third of the way through the first month of 2009, so it’s time to check in & see how you’re feeling. How are things going for you? Odds are good that if you haven’t switched up any of your routines or habits, January 2009 seems eerily similar to December 2008… & November 2008… & October 2008!
The real way to implement change in your life is to alter your habits. One of the major things that has changed my life in the past is setting up a daily routine that I enjoy & which I know works. It sounds boring, I know, but it doesn’t have to be. That’s the beauty of it — it’s your routine, so if you want to start the day with naked sun salutations, a massive salad or pyjama dance-off, you can! Be imaginative! It doesn’t have to be epic zombie time, complete with bleary-eyes, stubbed toes & bland breakfast!
So, what’s your daily routine?
Be honest! Do you really wake up at 6am & do yoga every morning, or are you more inclined to rush out the door at 8.49 without so much as brushing your hair? My routine has been a bit of a mess lately too, which is what prompted me to write this article! I’ve been eating all kinds of rubbish, my exercising has been sporadic, I’ve been sleeping in until 10 or 11 every morning, & things just feel really off. I am convinced (convinced!) that Mercury retrograde is partially to blame for this, which just adds to my feeling that now is the time to look back at what hasn’t been working in my routine, & come up with yummy new ways to move forward.
We often fool ourselves into thinking that changing our old habits is an impossibility, an exercise in futility, a waste of time. It’ll never work, we think, completely oblivious to the fact that our current lifestyle isn’t working for us either! How bad could a little change be?
The reason most people repeatedly fail to make something new into a habit is because of their fear of change. Why is this? When we decide we want to do something new, part of us is gung-ho, excited, chomping at the bit to get going. But another part of us is terrified at the idea of shaking things up. We often jump to a far-fetched conclusion which seems rational at the time, but really isn’t, like, “Oh my god, if I start down this path, I’m going to have to do an hour of jumping jacks every morning UNTIL I DIE.” So we never even begin, or perhaps we do it twice before giving up.
It usually takes 30 to 40 repetitions of something before it becomes a habit or routine, & it is perhaps because of this reason that Steve Pavlina is a great advocate of the 30-day trial concept. It manages to skirt ye olde freak out because you’ve set a time-limit. If you’re absolutely hating your routine on day 23, you know you only have 7 more days to go, which makes it all seem much more tolerable.
30 days is also an excellent length because it gives you time to gather real data about what you’re doing. If you change the way you eat or the amount you exercise, it’s common that the first week will be rough. You’ll be exhausted, detoxing, emotionally haggard — all sorts of things will come up — so if you stick at for 30 days, you’ll get past that first difficult stage & into the really juicy bit.
Enough talking, time for action. Let’s make some lists. I’ll go first, then it’s your turn!
What isn’t working for you in your routine?
For me, sleeping in until 10 or 11 is totally not doing it for me. I always feel like I’ve wasted the day when I do that, especially since I know that I get my best work done first thing.
The food I’m eating isn’t doing it for me either. I’m probably about 80% vegan right now — which is good — but I’m eating pretty much all vegan junk food, which is not where I want to be! Raw power please!
It’s totally time to get back into regular exercise. I meant to do this when I got back from Auckland but somehow it didn’t happen. I had a really rough 3 days, & last night after eating about six pieces of toast & a whole lot of rocky road, I decided it was time for a work-out. My short 30 minute cardio blast had me feeling better than I have all week.
How would you like your routine to look?
Wake up at 7.30 (or earlier) Do some gentle stretching & then half an hour of exercise Shower & get pretty Make a big smoothie, drink that & down vitamins as I check my email Set intentions for the day in my Moleskine Start working!
What steps do you need to take to make this a reality?
Thankfully I have most of these things sorted out already. I have a huge stack of exercise DVDs which I really enjoy doing (I know, what a nerd!), as well as my two brand spanking new HOOPS which I can use if I’m not in the mood for a prescribed routine (& which I use during the day anyway). I went to the health shop yesterday — that place is like pure porn for a hardcore Virgo! — & bought some supplements & vitamins I’d run out of, including maca which I am going to put into my smoothies! I also went to the supermarket & bought some stuff for making smoothies. Yay!
So… what about you?
Where are you at & where do you want to be? What kind of steps do you need to take to switch up your routine for good (um, I mean, 30 days!)? Do you need more information or encouragement? Take some time & think about it. What small changes do you think you could make which would really improve your quality of life?
Some of you will remember the iCiNG Transformation Challenge which ran for a month last April. Anyone keen for a repeat performance?!
Extra For Experts:
How To Establish New Habits The No-Sweat Way using Kaizen, from Zen Habits.
RADICAL self-love & stardust,
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gala,
i know exactly how you’re feeling! it has GOT to be mercury’s retrograde, because i’ve been a total couch potato, sleeping all hours of the day, and numbing my mind with america’s next top model marathons. it’s comforting to hear that i’m not the only one!
i just feel like this january has been kind of a continuation of 2008. i haven’t felt any motivation to try and make changes, you know?
i’d like to start getting up earlier as well, as i feel like i get most of my important stuff done early, while i’m still focused. i went grocery shopping today and got some fresh goods. i’ve been lacto-ovo vegetarian for almost a year, and i think making the step into veganism would make my body feel LOADS better.
also, i started actually DOING my physical therapy exercises instead of LYING to my physical therapist every week! i’m really trying! :)
thank you for this post, gala! it was just the kick in the pants that i needed. :)
emmaline
My routine is totally different at the moment with it being summer holidays. When things get back to reality very soon (back at work on the 29th!), I know I will need to focus on the evening sequence. Cooking dinner and having a quick small tidy-up to end the day are going to be much more of a struggle when those afternoon hours are jammed full of commitments . . .
i was actually thinking about the icing challenge just recently after doing my review of ’08. yes! that is exactly what i need. a little push & lots of support really helped a lot & i felt i really gained a lot out of the challenge. please bring it back! xo
Definitely some food for thought here…I’m already vaguely thinking about ways to make 2009 the Best Year Ever, now I’m inspired to actually take some action!
And I for one would be super keen for another Icing Transformation Challenge – it was the kick in the pants I needed at the time, and would love to do it again!
I’m actually all for the iCing Challenge again. I have been feeling the need for a change recently and I just need a little push.
I was actually just remembering the Transformation challenge and thinking I’d give it another go by myself – I’d love it if everyone got involved again!
So far, surprisingly, I’ve been feeling so good about this year! I’m totally excited about it and doing all the things I have planned for it! I just have this instinctive feeling that 2009 is going to be awesome :D
The only thing I’m really not looking forward to (and that’s putting it lightly) is my 30th birthday. It’s stressing me out so much and I feel so stupid that I’m reacting this way! But apart from that, I can’t stop smiling at the thought of the rest of the year!
The last couple of weeks I’ve really been trying to get into a good routine as well – compulsively making my daily/weekly lists – and I’ve started doing Monthly Resolutions; kind of a take on your Weekly Resolutions :) I figure that my New Years Resolutions might actually get done if I break it all down into do-able sections.
Sorry that was long! I’m in a letter writing mood :) xx
Hey, another Valerie! points up Super sweet…we’re a rarity, I’ve noticed.
My routine, right now, consists of taking care of my post-surgery ferret all day, every day! Now that he’s getting better though I’ve planned this routine:
+Medicate and Feed Post-Surgery Ferret
+Make a Fruit Smoothie for Breakfast
+Get ready for work. (the dread!)
+Work
+Lunch time ferret check
+More work
+Hula Hoop
+Write
+Attend to all the other ferrets
+SLEEP!!!
I’ve decided that a large portion of my day is dedicated to slaving in a coal mine for the benefit of someone elses pocket book. My long term solution to that: be financially independent by the end of the year.
Then, at the very least, work will be for my own benefit (whatever it may be…)
This is so great Gala. I’ve been in such a funk. I moved away from all I know 4 months ago and it’s been so tough. I made a vow to make 2009 my year and it hasn’t been going well. I’m blaming that Mercury thingy too. I’ve been awful with my classes and I stay in bed all day. I want to make a change emotionally and physically, but I’ve been so bitter about being on my own the negatvity has started to rule my life. Sometimes you feel like the only one going through hard times. Once again, you brought me back to reality. Thank you so much!
My routine is in desperate need of a shake up.
Monday to Friday:
6am – wake up, usually straight away
6.05am – shower, hair, making pretty
6:30am – out the door, commute for 20 minutes, including the quick walk to work from a bus stop two blocks away (did this for some incidental exercise).
~ 7am – 7:30am – breakfast (cereal or toast) and tea/coffee (usually at my desk)
Weekends are bliss and involve sleeping in and staying up till dawn.
All the same, I am exhausted (frequently).
I am a lapsed Virgo. I definitely need to make this a year of health and general well being. Just hearing you mention the health food store makes me smile :)
Way to be psychic Ms. Darling. I had a freak-out journalling moment today about this very idea. Why let myself be unhappy and lazy when what I want is to be happy and active? After a page of “why why why” mopeyness, I ended up writing something like: It’s easier to continue than to start something new, because when I start something new I have to first admit how negatively I was acting in the first place. It’s much easier to continue a behavior than to step beyond it and have to realize the full scope of how negatively it was affecting my life. Change is like that best friend that tells you everything you need to know but don’t want to hear — you’ll be better off in the long run but at first you’re just like… man, change is a bitch. This article (and an iCiNG challenge?!) is just the inspiration I need.
Somehow I need to make a routine that is as wacky as my travel habits… It will definitely take some thought to figure out what I can do while I’m on the road to stay on track…
Good food for thought tho.
Thanks for this inspiring post!
I know you aren’t really talking about resolutions, but one of my resolutions is to break the bad habit of being late for everything. The reason I am late is because I do not plan things very well. I try to cram to many activities in an unreasonable amount of time.
My schedule now includes going to be at 10pm. It’s very hard to do this because with a fulltime job, I only have after work to blog and do creative things. But I am hoping that getting plenty of rest will help me be creative as soon as I get home from work – not a minute to lose.
I am reading a very good book right now for procrastinators like me: How to Never Be Late Again.
It has really inspired me to create a schedule that works for me and my needs.
Thanks again!
(Third Valerie, woot! :D)
I REALLY need to work on a morning routine, and I’ll definitely be taking this to heart. We’ll beat Mercury retrograde together!
Stay up too late reading.
Get up at 11.
Wash face and get madeup.
Lie on the floor reading and eating junk.
Occasionally leave to stock up on books or more junk.
REPEAT
Horrid! Thank you for making me look at myself!
I want my days to be more like the new routine you created, smoothie included n_n
I want to be up at dawn like the birds!
Love this! Thanks Gizmo! (I don’t know why but I started calling you that in my head)
I didn’t find this lovely site until a while after your Transformation challenge – but it sounded like a lot of fun, I’d definitely take part if you were to bring it back!
I’ve been pretty proud of myself as I have FINALLY begun and (so far) stuck with an exercise routine since the start of the year. What I do need is a daily wake up time, a bed time, and a laundry routine (sometimes I worry that I’ll run out of ALL my clean clothes and be forced to wear my old prom dress while I do laundry – imagine all the looks I’d get!) I also need to make my routine more eco-friendly as in SHORTER Showers, and home-made meals (instead of driving around town for food).
Great article Gala!
I’m keen! I’m keen!
I’m going to start getting up earlier, go back to dance classes, start boxing classes, stop watching TV and work on making a new circle of friends.
A big YES to another transformation challenge :D
I’m a Gemini, I can’t stick to one routine every morning. I wake up at around 9 each morning, shower, and do what the day calls for, whether that’s going to horribly cheesy movies or biking around the city with my boyfriend. It’s awesome.
Oh, Gala. This article couldn’t have come at a better time. My classes this quarter have switched up from the morning to the afternoon, and that’s thrown my whole life upside down.
Time to make a schedule!
Gads, this article is an excellent reminder that I need a kick in the butt towards self-improvement. I think a good routine reboot could change the new year greatly. Thanks! ::runs off to write down new goals::
Yes, yes, yes. I am so inspired at the moment, there is SO much I want to do, but it can be so hard trying to juggle a few creative pursuits, a full time job which just got changed up to two part time jobs, friends and socialising, keeping myself presentable, travelling to see family, reading, keeping up with tv and movies and music, project 365, a relationship, sleep, exercise, cooking and eating, reading too many blogs…
And I don’t want to give any of them up.
The current routine is. *6.20am alarm goes off *Every 5 minutes until anywhere between 7 and 7.30 the snooze button is hit *Up, struggle around the house looking for clothes, shower *7.50 the boy tells me I have 10 minutes left so I hurriedly chuck on my clothes, tone, moisturise, bronze, put something in my fringe to hold it down, find some socks, run out the door *8.30 breakfast at work. Do the small amount of work I have for the morning, read blogs and personal email *12pm lunch, more reading of blogs *1pm Start other job on the other side of the office *5pm finish work and walk home *6pm turn on the computer, read some more, write a blog post, watch tv, eat and cook, all at the same time until *10.30 bed
How frickin boring!!
A new routine definitely sounds like something I need to organise.
Thankyou! For the past few weeks “START A ROUTINE” has been screaming from the back of my head at random moments. You writing this is definitely the universe poking my nose and saying “I told you so!”
I will SO get on this soon. Maybe even tomorrow!
Which workout dvds are you loving? I just started using a pilates one which was fun.
How much was the shipping to NZ for your hoops? I couldn’t find the info without joining up! You inspired me to try my hand at hooping and I’m really liking it.
I think this article was exactly what I needed to read right now!
I REALLY need the 30-day challenge at the moment, and I think that the beginning of a year is a much better time psychologically to do it. Of course, I could do it myself, but because of personal reasons, I really need “the wisdom of crowds”.
Please. Please. Please.
Oh I’m in!! I wasnt around for the first time. I want to change my whole routine, have structure and stuff. Otherwise I sleep in for hours and just sit around all day and moan because nothing is done. Yup I need change.
Yes, I would love to do this, funnily enough I think some of my goals would be to do less things because atm I am crazy busy and not very happy but I pretend i am because i am busy, i want to do yoga again and not dismiss it because it won’t cause hard core weightloss like spin, Bring on another challenge!
Ooh, transformation challenge round two please!!
I’m in desperate need of a new routine. I’ve become lazy as my work has slowed a bit but knowing it will be picking up tomorrow (how fitting that I’m attempting to get back to my best self as my country welcomes a man who inspires me to do just that) and I need to learn how to not only re-implement a routine but a better one than I’ve had before.
I didn’t do the ITC last year because of things going on in my life I knew I wouldn’t be able to commit fully and didn’t want to disappoint myself and all of you who were in this together. Let’s do it again, Gala!!!
I need a better routine so I’m definately up for a transformation round!
I think I really need this, get some good habits in place before uni starts back! I’ve always found that 31 days is a good target for me, when I finished school I decided I wanted to give up junk food and stayed clear of it for 31 days. I still eat some now, but far less then I was doing. I’m wanting to get back to eating vegan, exercising 4 times a week and studying!
My routine will change when uni goes back, but when this happens I’ll be aiming for: Waking up at 7, check emails, shower and get glamafied, breakfast, work/uni, a intense gym workout, dinner then study. I really want to make sure I do an hour of study a day!
I’ve also planned on making Saturdays ‘Zilla Day’ in which I go to ballet, spend the day wondering around the city taking pictures, have some Japanese food and then go out with friends at night.
Could you please post some recommendations for exercise DVDs when you have time?
Thank you!
Julia – I asked how much hoop shipping to NZ was before and Gala said “There are 3 shipping options, I think they were $34, $39 & $75. All expensive, plus that’s in US dollars.”
Yes to a transformation challenge!!
yes, please! bring back the transformation challenge! i’ve been longing for another one for months now and i think now is definitely the right time to do it again.
i would also be interested in smoothie recipes, i’m getting bored of my own and would love any recommendations!
yes please to the icing transformation challenge!!!!
how funny that you wrote about this today, because i have really been enjoying my new routine recently and giving a lot of thought to optimizing it. the thing is that is started my first real job at the beginning of january along with moving to a completely new city. having a daily schedule through my job has made having a routine so much easier when compared to uni. and i am so motivated to become the person i want to be and quit being lazy right now.
my beloved routine looks like this: i get up at 7:30, take my allergy pill (taking medicine is so much easier to remember with a routine i think), take a shower, make a cup of chai tea with milk, make a smoothie, pack some of it to take for work and drink the rest, do my hair, get dressed (after doing hair so hair doesn’t get all over my clothes) in an outfit i have picked out of my stylebook on the previous evening, do my make-up, take a picture of my outfit and leave the house at around 8:55, then ride my bike to work.
then: work work work (which i love by the way)
when i get home really depends on how much there is to do at the moment. usually it’s around 7:30 but sometimes i have to work late or buy groceries. anyway, when i do get home i step on my cross trainer for 30 minutes and watch a new episode of some tv-show. after that i write emails, blog, make phonecalls, knit or sew or make stuff in other ways, watch movies or go out and meet friends.
to be honest i am so thrilled by all this right now that i don’t even feel like i need to change anything.
thanks for bringing up this topic =)
Yay! IcING challenge!! I was o/s last time & so I 1/2 did it but then later in the year I did it again & it rocked … but to do the challenge when everyone else is would be superbly motivating!
I have been fairly happy with my routine so far this year – I’m not doing the struggle out of bed 2 mins b/f having to be at work (like I’ve done for the past 5 years!!). But I want to get up at 6 not 7…sooo much more time = yum!
And I have some gorgeous plans for 09 that have started to kick off & I want them to really fly!
Lets do it!
Thank you so much, Gala! That post gave me a lot to think about and i came to a conclusion that even though my basic daily routine is not perfect, it’s really the weekend days’ routine that bothers me. I definetely feel like i am wasting time for nothing. So i am gonna change that right from this next weekend, so excited! However i still need time to think what should be redone in particular.
I was not familiar with your blog when the first IcING challenge took place so i’d definetely like to participate in the next one!
I’d like to add a vote for a new iTC. I ended up giving up on the last one because it was the end of my first year at uni and I had so much on I already felt like I was about to drop down dead without adding any new stuff :D
I’d like to be able to go to bed earlier and consequently, get up earlier. I’d like to eat more healthily and exercise more. And find some exercise I actually want to do.
i’m so glad you wrote this! coincidentally, i’ve been going through a serious life-style change myself, transforming the sloth that i was into the self-disciplined busy bee that i need to be. i just endured my first week of school, and was proud that i managed to stay on top of my game for the first three days! the next few days were completely different. i slacked off a little bit, but i kept freaking out that i was behind and became majorly stressed out. it’s like i was split in half: one part wanted to do absolutely well and the other just wanted to explode from pressure and stress.
i talked to my therapist today and concluded that my extreme discomfort was due to me trying to get rid of my sloth-like behavior. although we are all creatures of habit, human beings are certainly very adaptable! so, like you wrote above, with practice and repetition, we can pretty make a habit out of everything.
of course, none of this comes easy. it’ll be a rough beginning (i envision tons of breakdowns and i’ve accepted that), but it will be well worth it!
oh, and you’ve made me a believer of the mercury retrograde madness! my boyfriend had the weirdest, most frustrating week last week. (he got yelled at by two of his friends for no reason! plus a lot of other things.) and i ran into some problems myself today too.
Well so far, my two-thousand-&-divine has been a year of big changes. I finally handed in my thesis which I’ve been working on for the last 4 years, I’ve attended my very first spiritual workshop and I’ve started a major decluttering of the bedroom. However, I have yet to institute a new routine, and I sorely need to. I need to get active, eat healthier and I need to start focusing on what I want to manifest this year. So, in other words, I would most certainly be up for the Transformation Challenge!
Count me in :-)
i read the 30 days link and i have to say im feeling inspiiiired (LOVE THAT FEELING)
i realised today that (when i’m not around my boyfriend) i have sooo many things i want to do.
make my parents happy eg. regular cleaning
get a job (long term unemployed)
make reading a habit (like it was back in my primary school days)
write more
save to go to europe
cook more
majorly fix up my bedroom
and the thing is, THIS IS IT. i’ve just finished school, got into my dream uni course and am having this year off. i can literally spend this year in any way i see fit!
My morning routine is pretty well established since I got my job 5 months ago. It’s quite cozy. I’m not too much of a slouch in the mornings, more or a lark than a nightingale!
6.50 Alarm goes off.
7.00 Shower etc.
7.20/25 Sit in bed in my towel with a cup of tea and do my makeup whilst watching tv and in my head deciding what to wear.
8.00 Get dressed.
8.05 Do hair.
8.15 Check contents of my bag.
8.20 Go and grab a glass of juice & eat toast (if I have time, if not I just grab a cereal bar to eat on the bus)
8.25 Leave the house to go to work.
ta da!
I guess the areas that need improvement would be making time to allow for ‘wardrobe changes’ in case things don’t go to plan. Also, I really should make time for eating a proper breakfast. Although, I also could have some when I get to work, I usually have fruit there (it’s provided free, which is cool)
I have actually been good since going back to work on the 5th of Jan- achieving what I want & sticking to the resolutions/goals I made- but I would hate to see it wane as we head into Feb so I am totally up for a transformation challenge!
I would love another transformation challenge! I need routine and someone (or lots of someones) pushing me along! And just before another semester of Uni commences seems like the perfect time to start the transformation!
I have never in m life had a routine. My life’s messy. And I mean messy in a way that is bad for the body and probably bad for most people’s minds. example?
take a tuesday like today:
6:30 alarm
7:15 get up, brush teeth, wash face, get kinda pretty
7:20 coffee, cigarette, check e-mails
7:30 get dressed
7:45 out the door 15-minute walk to university
8:00 to 10:00 uni
walk back, do grocery shopping on the way
11:00 homework and freelance work (right now I’m writing and article and editing fotos and speaking to my editor on the phone, I’ve got an old english homework to do til 4, and russian translations til tommorrow)
when I’m finished: nap
3:00 eat. finally.
3:30 out the door. old english seminar at 4:00 til 6:00
go home
back to bed, nap.
8:00 get up, shower, get pretty, dress up, eat.
9:00 out the door 10 minute walk to work
9:15 get club ready
10:00 doors open.
4:00 am club shuts. clean up. pay staff. check on everything, speak to owner on phone, pay cleaninglady, ot the door, dn’t forget to lock everything.
sleep.
here’s a thursday:
11:00 get up
12:00 in uni, old german seminar.
14:30 arrive at boyfriend’s, lunch together, watch sitcom, sex.
17:00 probably either doing homework, study, procrastinate by watching sitcoms, or at the office writing
19:00 nap
20:00 get up, get ready for work, eat
work from 21:15 til 4 or up to 6 am. clean up. get drunk. go out for breakfast with colleagues. end up at stranger’s house way to drunk. maybe go to another party.
10:00 am get home, sleep all friday.
friday night: probably some function or party or reading or wahtever I have to attend for the newspaper.
yeah. you try and have a routine with a life like that. not included: other jobs as model, dogsitter, youthhostel recpetionist and my boyfriend’s free secretary. friends and leisure time.
I actually happen to like it. I get bored easily.
Your ideal morning schedule is exactly the same as mine Gala, except mine needs to start an hour earlier so I can get the kids to school in time!
Even when I do all that prep though, the morning I’m supposed to start I just cave straight away, press the snooze button and end up having smokes and coffee and toast as a comfort thing. I hate that it’s dark in the morning here in England, it’s not helping!
I’d love to take part in the ITC!
my sleeping and appetite have been really bad for the past year so this year one of my focuses was on sleeping and energy levels.
i’ve set myself a goal of half an hour of stretching and strength training and 25 minutes of cardio for at least 3 times a week. this is my 3rd week :)
my sleeping habits have gotten really out of hand so i try and head to bed by 11 and hopefully fall asleep by 1.. because i’m a horrible sleeper.
every morning i also write a to do list.
not sure if this keeps up once uni starts.. but fingers crossed :)
A another transformation challenge is just what i need right now i think! I go back to uni in a few weeks, and everything has just totally backslid over the break, so i need to try and get myself back on track pronto!
I like this 30-day trial idea. I have to change my routine right now as the buses seem to have stopped running to time, which means I’m going to have to give myself an extra half hour to get to work just in case. I’ve also eaten total junk at my desk for breakfast quite regularly recently, so I need to get out of that habit and eat a proper breakfast before I leave.
Great post
I would love to get involved with the iCiNG transformation challenge! I missed it last time since I was travelling (and will actually still be travelling at the start of Feb, any chance it would be happening after then?!?)
Gala, another iCiNG Transformation Challenge sounds like a fabulicious idea! I was only just thinking about the last one. You can definately count me in!
I have been on a rather long holiday from work and am returning to work next week. I have gotten myself into a right muck up of my 08 routine – though I never really enjoyed my mornings then anyway. It was always SNOOZE button X 7, stumble very quickly out of bed to the shower with only 15 minutes to get ready and out the door to catch my bus… as well as not having brekkie (well… I purchase it on my way to work and its usual junk).
Next week I most definitely would like to start my working year off with a routine in an orderly fashion (without it seeming like a chore). So this week, what’s left of it, I will begin the change of a new routine :) Change is as good as a holiday :D
Galarina, you have pinpointed precisely why all my attempts to have a proper routine fail after two-four days! I make them too boring. I need to schedule in dancing around my room and star jumps and singing in the shower and things like that so that I do not feel like a robot in a factory (a factory of awesome, but still, a factory of awesome should not feel like a factory it should just feel awesome, right?). I’m going to try that for thirty days, make a serious effort.
I would love to do the icing transformation challenge as I didn’t start reading until after it started last year!
For the past two weeks I have had a fairly good routine, mind you the afternoon routine did get thrown out the window last week due to feeling slothy and not being hard enough on myself. My morning routine has been down pat probably since the start of the year seeing as my shifts at work have been consistent so I find myself normally waking before my alarm and I have got getting ready for work sorted! However, I really need to get back into my afternoon routine of coming home from work, chilling for half an hour or so and then getting outside to enjoy the sun and exercise as the last week I have been terribly lazy and have consequently felt crap about it!
At the end of this week I am going on holidays so hopefully I will still be able to maintain some kind of routine then…and I really hope that once I return home I will be able to adapt a routine to suit uni when it goes back and work too.
At the moment my one big issue of my routine is eating because the only regular meals I get are breakfast and dinner and by not having a scheduled lunch break (or even getting a fifteen minute break to sit down and have a little bite) I feel my afternoons are really tiring and I worry that if I eat too much after work then my dinner is ruined and that whole routine, so once uni is back I think that will be better!
OH, thanks for this article, Gala :* It’s what i really needed. i haven’t any excuse to not change my daily routine now ^^
How do u think, it is a good idea to start not just 1, but 2 or 3 challenges at the same time? I’d like to change so many things!
greetings from Poland :*
I’m suffering from the Mercury Retrograde, too…
I’m sleeping at night, but tossing and turning, and then sleeping all during the day. I’m so tired! And it doesn’t help I’m getting up at 8 or 9am; that’s equivalent of someone elses 11am or 12pm! Eeeek!
And yes, I am one of those morning-zombie people. Let’s aim to change that! :D
Thankyou Gala! I, like almost everyone who has commented, have been feeling a bit “blah” lately. I think I’d love to try out the transformation challenge!
My biggest problem at the moment is getting distracted to easily, especially with blogs & blogging (which I love dearly and is a form of work, but I fear if I don’t limit myself somewhat, I’ll end up failing my exams. And I really don’t want to do that!). Also not getting up on time (my alarm goes off at 7, but somehow on autopilot I manage to hit snooze and don’t actually realise until 7.30!) and not doing enough (or any…) exercise because I keep feeling like I don’t have any time, when in reality I have plenty, it’s just not being managed well!
Anyway, I shall go off and ponder the rest of your article now so I can come up with what I’d actually like to be doing! xx
I’m (hopefully) graduating in June and I have absolutely nothing sorted for life post-uni! I’m usually ridiculously laid back about everything, but being thrown into the real world is scaring me a little! So a proper routine right about now will help me focus on getting a decent degree, and give me time in the day to research career options & start writing to people about work experience (although, ironically, I’m on here instead of revising!).
Worst parts of current routine – not visiting the gym since well before november..
Best parts of current routine – drinking lots of water and green tea, and swapping packaged sandwiches for homemade ones and a cereal bar
Up for the transormation challenge, 100%! xxx
Keen as mustard for another challenge :D
yay!!! well done on nearly vegan!!! just that extra 20% :)
Thank you so much for that post, it came at the right time in my life. I’ve been thinking a lot about my routine and ways I can make it more productive for me.
I work from 6am-6pm, so much of my day is tied up at a desk, but I want to tweak it bit to get more from my day. Mornings, I plan to eat breakfast (at my desk) and listen to Oprah’s Soul Series on XM radio for spiritual uplift and mental recharging. Throughout the day, blogging of course (oh and work-related activity…lol)
My weekends are more free and I’m committing them to freelancing and finding writing jobs. This is truly has me thinking about how I can get into a great routine for 2009!
Oh! After the locking-myself-out-of-my-apt fiasco, I’ve swept things under the rug and am now waking up super early, to my bewilderment. So I’m doing pretty well, but the 30 day plan sounds like a good one to apply to my exercise non-routine.
I want to start going to the Gym, however I’m at loss about what one does in a gym. I think I need a partner or something :/
30 days is a good plan, besides the gym I want to incorporate driving myself to school and doing my homework when it’s assigned.
Yep, I’m a nerd too.
Oh sweetest Gala! What perfect timing! TODAY is the first day of my fruits and veggies cleanse, so how extremely awesome that you would write this! I’ve been running everynight for an hour and dancing like a maniac afterwards, and now I’m starting this cleanse..
You are INSPIRATION! Here’s my schedule… Most of my activities are in the afternoon, after school…
-wake up, school, watch Ellen (!!), run for an hour, dance, do homework, dinner, do homework, pack lunch for next day, shower. :]
There’s even time for some fun in there in between each, since homework fluctuates..
Kisses, Bisous!
xoxo
Sprinkle
Thank you so much for this post, just the right amount of ass-kickin’ I needed right now ;) Oh and I would totally be up for an iTC vol.2 !
This post came just in time! I’m trying to switch up my routine quite a bit this year! I’m calling it my High Maintenance Makeover Challenge! I’ve never been a girly-girl, but now at 20 years old, I think it’s a good time to try all of the things I thought were too girly and high-maintenance in the past ( changing my nail color weekly, building a new, spectacular wardrobe, investing in new makeup techniques, styling my hair, extensive skincare, etc.), and see how that works for me! If I end up liking the results, I’ll stick with it. If not, I’ll opt for looking like a hobo for a little while longer. :p
Good luck with your ideal routine!
You’re definitely right about the 30 day trials! This month (as I think you know), I’m going without eating out at all. The first two weeks were undoubtedly the hardest; I’ve slipped up, but those slip ups have caused me to realize that I don’t LIKE what I was eating, and that it wasn’t something I wanted to do more of (at least with fast food). I do miss the social aspect of eating out with friends, but that can be remedied.
I’m going to definitely be thinking more on this post, what I want my days to be like, how I want to organize them, etc.!
iCiNG Challenge, please! I’m off to a chaotic start this year, since my b-day’s on Jan.2, for the first time ever I’ve had 4 parties so far, with one more to go! Great for resolutions about being with positive people, crap for anything to do with my health. I’m home today with a migraine (not terrible for a migraine, or I wouldn’t be on the computer, but still…) that I’m convinced is a result of not taking care of myself for almost 3 weeks now.
For people wanting to buy a hoop a little closer, google: Bunny Hoopstar – she’s great!
The Icing Challenge worked wonders for me last year – I’m certainly up for doing it again. I feel horrible that I can’t even remember what my NY resolutions were!
This is exactly what I needed! I had a grade A melt down last night complete with sobbing and helpless self-depletion. Anyway an Icing challenge would be the perfect thing pour moi right now. As far as the changes I would like to make in my routine:
-Get up at 7:20am
-have my shower and pretty up
-Eat at least one fruit for breakfast
-drink tea instead of coffee for breakfast
-dance to some michael Jackson everymorning while I’m getting my breafast ready
-do some EFT tapping before I leave for school
iTC Challenge 2 pleasee :)
My classes at college have changed to being in the afternoon two days a week so I need a better routine for the morning ‘cos I usually end up doing nothing alll morning til college !
And I have classes in the morning two days a week, and I generally just feel quite all over the place !
iTC would be great.. it definately helped make some great changes last year .
you timings with these things is just impeccable miss gala !
lovee xx
You know, it’s interesting that you should do this today. Just yesterday, I was realizing how crappy I’d let my routine become (when you can’t go a day without chocolate, then you know things are bad). So I decided to make some changes. It was actually a kind of epiphany, really. So:
What isn’t working:
-Work. I need a new job. Until I can become a famous author (which would just be awesome), I need to pay the bills. And this job has stopped doing that.
-Food. Like I said, I have been eating chocolate every day. I’ve also been stuck with the about four or five meals that I can make quickly. I’ve got to go browsing the vegetarian recipe sites with my mom so that we can get some ideas.
-School. I’ve been afraid of doing horribly at school, which has caused me to do horribly. I’m smart, I know it, so that’s going to change.
-Writing. If I want to get that book published, I need to edit this first draft.
-Exercise. I used to either walk or do pilates every morning. I’ve since stopped, and I need to get back into the exercise habit.
How I’d like my routine to look:
6:15 – Wake up
6:30 – Exercise
7:00 – Get dressed, have a healthy (preferably raw) breakfast, etc.
8:30 – Either go to work or work on my resume (because I’m pretty much laid off right now)
And go on through the day. I’ve scheduled writing time, chores, and such. Then, at 5:00, I can relax for the rest of the day. But I’ll try to be in bed by 10:30.
In order to do this, all I really need is the willpower. And this is just a temporary schedule for until I get a new job. For all I know, my new job would run from 10 to 6, so who knows?
Great article Gala! Just what I needed! For all you people trying to change things for the better, there’s this site dedicated to helping you change anything you want: first30days.com I strongly recommend it! =) It delivers daily tips to your inbox during 30 days on the subject you choose. Pretty neat, no?
I think we are all stuck in that weird dimension where it’s after all that festive indulgence is over but we want to get back into the groove.
But.
It’s a hard transition so our daily routines are thrown off balance.
30 days to change a habit is a great idea. See if you like it you know.
Yeah, Gala, while you were chomping on six pieces of toast, I was hoovering six big Japanese rice crackers.
Let’s all try again.
keen!!
My routine sucks just now. I can barely even say that it’s a routine at all.
Wake up around 11.30am, switch the laptop on, make some coffee, search job websites and general surfing… That’s it for the day generally unless I’m working or seeing the Mr.
I tend to sit around in my pj’s all day and I feel that I waste so much of the day.
I intend to fix my night owl tendencies tonight by staying up all night and fighting sleep so that tomorrow I should fall asleep early instead of 3am.
I’d like to wake by 8am, get up, get showered and get dressed then try to do something productive with my days.
I’d be up for another transformation challenge. I looked back at my comment last year and I achieved half of it so I’m going for 100% this year!
I think the transformation challenge sounds like a great idea!! Last time, I didn’t participate as much as I should have, although I signed up for the emails and all of that. I was really disappointed in how lazy I was, and now that I’m ready to make changes, it would be amazing to have handfuls of people going through the same thing as me! I feel like I would get a lot more done knowing that there was a wall behind me. It would come at perfect timing too.
Normally I eat really well, but during the winter I let myself go and in turn have gained about 5 lbs in a few months. I know that this is a small amount of wait to some, but it has become harder for me to fit into my old jeans, and that is super depressing!! I want to feel energized and full of life!
The toughest part for Miss Plannerpantses like me is to stop planning everything and start moving! I’d love another iCiNG transformation challenge!
More Transformation Challenges! Last one was good!
Yes Gala my darling sparkle of radiant light! Please bring about another round of the Transformation Challenge, I need it badly. Not because I’m not organised, I could give even you a run for your money when it comes to organising and list making. But because I need your help to turn my currently super sad reality around and bring back the magical me!
I dont know, I have been feeling pretty good with my routine over here…
The only thing i would like to do is yoga every morning before going to school but i have to get up at 5 am if i want it! so i end up getting my yoga on the weekends and after school at 4 pm. Im getting home lunches to school so i dont have to spend extra money, nice salads and cereals and yogurts, im cooking more which is WOW :O Im making muffins with fresh fruit and the other day i made my first ever CUPCAKES! they were absolutely yummie and sparkly and fab! hee hee and eating fruit like crazy, and hooping! everyday i get a tiny teenee bit better, and if i have to go out try to walk up the stupid hill out of home, all that i cant seem to do is lose weight! I feel way better with my eating habits but it turns me down to see my body the same size :( oh well just keep going and still working on accepting my size…
besitos!
YES! Bring it on!
i’d never heard of mercury retrograde until you mentioned it, and im a convert to this theory! the past week i’ve seen even the strongest of minds crack under simple sentences and actions! :P
i’m a vegan and people always say how i MUST be really healthy/skinny cos i dont eat bad food. But i’m like there’s plenty of junk food i can still have
dark chocolate is my worst habit, it tastes too good i cant just have one piece ever!
Gala — thank you! You basically just articulated exactly how I have been feeling for the last week, and now I know exactly what direction I need to take. Yay!
As a great baboon once said, it is time.
...to kick some ass. Let’s get ready to rumbleeeee.
Christmas messed my routine up and it’s just back to normal. I like to have somewhere to go at least four times a week. I physically hate being holed up in the same room for a long period of time.
I’m glad I’m back to university, and working!
I was told about your website about halfway through last years iTC, so ‘Yes, please!’ to a repeat performance. Perfect timing too, methinks.
Well, knowing that 2009 is the year for aquarius; it is going SO SPECTACULAR so far. (: I am focusing more on my outfits and jewelary. I am getting more organized with school; etc. I mean that mercury retrograde totally screwed up my whole college experience rollercoaster ride, but I ended up pulling it around (:.
Which btw, I decided to go with Endicott. I love SCAD, but I don’t think their interior design undergraduate program is up to date and as excellent as Endicott’s. I know that nowadays technology is hugeee and CAD is the new big thing and I don’t think SCAD had many CAD classes.
Any hoooo … I am definitely more positive and happier. Before my routine was all sloppy and I kind of just let things flow, which never worked. Now I decided to write things down the day before, so that way I am motivated the next day, etc, etc.
I am taking this VHS class which is Creating Art History, and it is glorious. I get to go to online museums and critique others works and scan my art work online.
I will be going to NY just for kicks during February vacation. Which is awesomee because I can celebrate my late birthday there (: and shop.
So this is definitely all a new change for me. Before on like New Years, I’ll make a list and be all ‘woohoo’. But now I am more motivated and such and this mercury retrograde is definitely having me be more prepared with things.
Oh my, sorry for the longgggg reply. Haha, I am too excited. (:
Basically I really do need to start introducing a routine for myself. A healthier routine that is. Right now I’m sleeping in to about 10:30 and going to bed at about 11pm. Seriously I need to start picking up and getting up.
I’m going to be having a drastic change in March so I’d love to actually start getting prepared for that. I’d also love the Icing challenge. That was great fun.
My daily routine has changed immensely, because I was diagnosed with epilepsy two months ago. I have heavy attacks once every week at least. The strange thing is that it’s helped me put everything in a different perspective. I finally moved to my University’s city, and I have great roommates. I’m taking only one course so that there’s not too much stressing me and my epileptic head out.
I can say, for the first time in my life, that I am actually satisfied. I wake up with a smile, I’m studying English language and culture (which I’ve dreamt of since I was 13), my black and pink room is amazing, I do what I feel like and for the first time in my life EVER I’ve learnt that there are beautiful things about me. That I’m a great person (even though I’m seriously disturbed ;]) and that I’m strong enough to let go of all the very bad things that have happened to my past.
I try to do things I’ve always wanted to do. Today I spent hours in a small cafe in town, drinking lattés with my big ol’ book in my hands. I got a tattoo recently that I’ve wanted for a long time. I do whatever I want as long as it’s truly what -> I
another “YES!” to revisiting the transformation challenge — I’ve been trying to get myself Moving and back to my creative work…
I really need this right now! I need to start eating more healthily and going to bed earlier. My problem is, being the typical upper secondary school teen, I sleep in until 11, 12 or sometimes even 1 o’clock on Saturdays and Sundays and go to bed past midnight every night of the week. And get up at 7. Not a good combination! At night I always get really psyched up about eating healthily and switching up my routine and then in the morning I wake up tired and knowing I have a day of school school ahead of me and I just think “fuck this I’ll just have some sugary cereal and orange juice”. So this is for the weekdays and I’m gonna allow myself an hours lay in on a non-school day.
7.00 – Get up as soon as the alarm goes off rather than going back to sleep. Go into the bathroom & do what I need to.
7.15 – Get dressed, do make-up.
7.40 – Have breakfast, straighten my hair and style it as needed.
8.00 – Get coat and shoes on, check I have everything and leave. Unless it’s raining in which case I can take it all a bit slower since I can get a lift!
And on the weekend…/days off…
8.00 – Wake up and write for 20 minutes.
8.20 – Hooping or some form of exercise.
8.30 – Bathroom, clothes, make-up and hair.
9.00 – Breakfast.
9.30 – Start doing some work.
Ahhh…good luck everyone.
Also, I think doing the iTC would be great!
The thing I want to change about my routine is all about lunch. I usually sit and my desk to eat and … well, read blogs! Today, I ducked into a friend’s office and chatted while watching some of the inaugural proceedings. MAN it makes such a difference to get up and get away from the screen!
I tried it and IT WORKS!
I set my alarm for 8.00 instead of 8.5 and i woke up at 6.30- the earliest this month.
THANKS GALA!
Yes, yes, yes!
I have awful issues with routine, mostly because my work patterns vary. I’ve also been feeling very lethargic and disillusioned lately. The transformation challenge might be the rocket up the arse that I need (figuratively speaking, hee hee!).
I hadn’t discovered this site at the time of the transformation challenge, so I’d totally be up for it if you decide to do it again!
i would love a repeat of the transformation challenge, i stupidly didn’t get involved in the last one!
this year i have been trying really hard, particularly at university, to get really involved and active, and it is ACTUALLY WORKING. i have made a ton of new friends already, strengthened friendships that had just begun, advanced my artwork and feel better about myself; i’ve been out lots and had fun, i’ve started cooking myself proper meals instead of living on junk food and frozen meals, i’ve been keeping on top of the mess in my room.
my routine isn’t always the same because my degree course is very self-directed – for instance, on monday i’m in 10:30-1:00, today i was in for 2:00-5:30 for a workshop, tomorrow i’m not in at all, thursday i’m in 6:00-8:00pm…
however, when i wake up in the morning and have to go out, whatever the time, here’s what i’d like to do:
// wake up, get out of bed, text/ring mum to say good morning.
// make a pot of herbal tea and drink it while i check my emails, etc.
// get in the shower etc.
// get dressed, do hair, put on makeup etc.
// pack a lunch, get money, pack bags etc.
i also want to start planning my outfits for the next day the night before i go to bed, and pack the things i’ll need that day the night before, too.
Hey Gala!
I really like this post. I hope everyone tries to make new habits this year, it’s really worth it!
Well.. today I burst out of bed because I have a new plan for productivity and general happiness which seems to be working.
I just have to wake up at 8 every day (normally I slug until 11am) and work my heart out on fun stuff until 12. I’m also putting some doses of hooping and tap dancing in there for good measure.
I am totally down for an iCing Transformation Challenge! Right now I’ve got my entire routine pretty much down, but I’d like to add in some exercise & AWAY from the computer time. And you know, maybe get dressed more than twice a month.
Oh Gala I’m soo for a iTC, I missed the last one because I didn’t know of your blog at that time but I read the article and it sounds like just what I need right now!
I was sooo hyped for 2009, I made tons of resolutions and the first 2 days i stuck to them but when school started I fell back into my old habits and even worse, I started skipping school because I didnt feel like being able to get up so I sleep in till 3 pm and do nothing all day. And even if I go to school, I get up soo late that I have to rush and instead of getting pretty (which i love) i look like a total bum because I have no time, I dont even eat or make breakfast because I dont have any time for it, its horrible!
I wanna establish a routine somewhat like this:
6:00 get up without hitting the snooze button but instead stretching like a cat and getting up with a smile on my face
6:05 doing some exercises: sit ups, crunches etc
6:25 doing my make up and hair while drinking some soy hot cocoa or tea or hot water
7:00 breakfast! a healthy and relaxed one, also preparing lunch for school
7:40 out of the house, to school
till 3 or longer school,
monday&wednesday&friday work till 5
when i come home: eat lunch! and then doing my homework straight afterwards! i always find myself procrastinating it till 10 pm (when i should go to bed) and wasting the whole time in between with nothing and feeling totally stressed about my homework because i wait with it till the last minute!
after homework: shower, laying out clothes for the next day, packing my purse for the next day etc, just preparing so i have less to do in the morning.
And especially important: going to my driving lessons! On my goal list for this year I had tons of things and I thought I had considered everything when my mom read through it and told me that i totally forgot about getting my driving license. im soo unmotivated about it but i know i have to do it soon!
Wow, long post, but im really excited about finally getting a routine and being motivated!!
okay this post has been such a motivation to kick my already slacking that is happening in 09. but i am determined and i the 30day thing makes total sense. but big changes will begin in the next few days, oh yes. i think my horoscope said to wait on these till the 26th, and funnily enough that is the start of a new grad school term for me, so it’s my day to start anew, here we go.
Hey i would love an icing transformation challenge. It sounds like a great idea to me and I know there a lot of things I can do to change.
oh man, let’s do it! i promised myself so much awesome this year, and it just hasn’t panned out.
YESSS!!!! Another icing challenge!!!!!
Goes something like this…...
7 o’clock-ish (am) I wake to my son dropping books on my face saying MOMMY! ITS MORNING TIME!!!!!
Find kimono somewhere on the floor amoung legos and sippy cups, then stumble down the stairs to feed the monster.
Feed monster some sort of cereal.
Begin bundle against the 7 degree winter and brave Gimmie! coffee shop before nine with not a stitch of makeup on. Scrape ice off entire car, brush of monster that decided to jump in snow bank.
Once americano is in hand, little monster gets dropped of at school, and then my eyes start to focus.
It needs an adjustment ;)
xoxoxo
An icing transformation challenge would be great!
i have been trying to establish a regular meditation practise into my morning routine but just can’t seem to make it a habit. i get up and run on alternate mornings without even batting an eyelid but its the sitting still thing that always seems to have me stymied!
also really want to give up ‘unconscious snacking’ by working on eating only when i am physically hungry..and that I taste and savour every mouthful instead of mindlessly putting stuff in my mouth because it is there..!
bring it on!
Thank you for writing this. For me, I’ve pretty much struggled with the worst sleep habits for quite some time now. I think one of the main reasons for this is because I choose to work out at night, as opposed to the day. After my workout, my energy level skyrockets to “energizer bunny” and yeah…that sleep thing, not happening!
As a fresh college graduate, I would definitely look forward to putting my new sleep/workout habits into prospective. I also want to work on my blog more, start looking for jobs (I’m a college graduate since last Thursday!), and begin training for my first 5K this summer.
♥ always,
Vanessa at Stylish and Classy!
This is perfect timing!
My goals:
-Get more sleep
-Get all A’s for this next semester
-Get back in shape for school volleyball by doing track and club volleyball
-Volunteer
-Be an overall more happy, helpful, generous, and outgoing human being!
-Smile more
Yep, I think that’s it.
Whooo!!!!!
I’m excited! Everything is like falling into place or something. And I know it’s kind of strange but the Mercury Retrograde seems to be working to my advantage!
I’m feel all weird, but it seems to be helping me be more outgoing and I feel a heck of a lot more focused.
Thank you Gala!
You are a modern mastermind mindreader..person..thing?!
Icing challenge, PLEASE!
Ooh P.S. are you still out of the country? Because I would’ve loved to have seen what went on in New York today for the inaugeration… Did you get to watch it? So exciting and breathtaking, knowing history is being made!
xoxo
Sprinkle
icing! challenge! icing! challenge!
thanks Gala :)
I really need to get out of my habit of going to sleep in the hours past midnight and my daily morning Mother Energy Drink… And start doing routine exercise!
My health and energy is suffering, new routine please!
This topic has come at a perfect time for me! I was also feeling like I had been slacking off. Ive stopped exercising and I havent been eating the best and whatnot. I think I was trying to take on too much change to fast. So… Here is my new routine:
7am-wake up and shower.. take time to eat a light breakfast.. head to work and once there have my morning tea (I love sweet tea!!).. work..leave work(rejoice!).. change clothes and do my workout.. finish writing in my food diary.. cook(or nuke) dinner.. pick out clothes and make lunch for next day.. write in real diary so that I dont go insane.. and finally sleep by 12am.
I NEEDED THIS:)!
I’ve been drowning in homework and projects and I need organizatiioooon!
and I totally support another ITC the last one I didn’t do it so I’d love a nnew chance, the motivation was awesome!
I’m glad I’m not the only one struggling at recovering from the holidays. I’ve never had such a hard time readjusting!
So far, the best thing that has worked for me is eating mostly raw. My energy, clarity of mind and motivation have skyrocketed! The change has been so drastic, that I liken it to a miracle!
mmmmm depends on the day…. hard to get a time table when working 3-11 some days and 7-3 the others. I just want a normal day job! 9-5 please!! Would make me happy :)
I would go and blame the holidays for my bad sleep habits (and work, can’t forget work), but I really only have myself to blame. I normally feel ten times better if I get up at 8 or 9 am, have had a cup of coffee and danced around my room for 10 or 15 minutes. That stopped when I got lazy, got a tooth infection and just got lazy. I’d just rather cuddle under my blankets until 10 or 11, which isn’t good. I’m more cranky when I sleep that late. So, I needed this kick in the ass, Gala. Thank you, love. Because I definitely need to revamp my daily routine.
I’d love another Icing Challenge. It would be a great way to kickstart 2009.
I mostly get up at 7, sit at my computer, eat at my computer and start getting ready at 8.30 or something. I’d love to exercise more (hoop is on the way!!) and have porridge or cereal with fresh fruit in the morning.
And get more confident about myself, although I’m not really sure how to do this. But again, Yay Icing Challenge!! :)
I plan my mornings the night before I go to bed. I jot down a “to-do-list.” It is very very helpful! Here is this morning’s to-do-list for example:
7:00- wake up
7:05- brush teeth & wash face
7:10- stretch & exercise
7:50- shower
8:00- breakfast
8:10- makeup
8:20- blow dry/style hair
8:30- change into pre-picked (from last night) outfit
8:32- leave the house
my new year’s resolution was to write a daily to-do-list and now i wonder why i haven’t started sooner! :)
as always, your advice has come at precisely the right time:) all i’ve been doing lately is staying up late, sleeping in, eating 2-minute noodles and toast to the extreme, doing nothing in the way of physical activity and spending my days online. haha what a fattie! the thing is i knowww how brilliant being healthy actually makes you feel.
so merci for your ideas- i’ll be using them!
I work random hours and Don’t have a routine other than waking up 2 hours before work and refusing to get out of bed, shower, find uniform, walk to bus stop, arrive in city, drink coffee, go to work, work, catch bus home, hunt, eat, loiter on the internet, sleep.
It’s a bad routine.
Oh I have been avoiding this whole issue since the end of last year. It’s kind of difficult sorting out a proper routine when university and my part time job are so fluid and random in terms of what I have time for. From, uhm, today! I’m going to get out of bed earlier, eat better, actually complete the things I write on my to-do lists and remember to spend time with people who make me feel happy. I’m going to start actually going out in the beautiful outfits I’ve created instead of spending my days sitting around indoors in a jumper that smells of pot noodle and burnt tax returns. Exactly when all of these things will fit into my timetable rather, as always, depends on all the other timetables I have to fit them into. . .
oh please!!!! I would do the challenge again, there was such a spirit in it, that it was much easier achiving your goals!!!
Pls pls pls pls pls!!!
i started my first 30 day trial of the year on january 5th – check me out! ;) i’m giving myself two simple goals for each 30 day period of the year with the intention of keeping up with previous goals that i enjoyed so by the end of the year i will feel joyfully accomplished! or at least i’ll know what doesn’t work for me. my first two are to eat what feels healthy for me(gluten, refined sugar and animal product free nosh) and to hoop 10 mins each way just on my waist daily. so far so good. these ‘guidelines’ have prevented me from having a pizza and chocolate fuelled past few days and got me working on my own scrumptious recipes. vegan ‘cheesecake’ – yum!
another icing challenge would be great! thanks gala x
ps it’s so cool to see so many nonpareils adding hooping to their routine! eeek! hoopers take over the world…
my january is a lot different then how my life was last year. i’ve started going to the gym. i’m hanging out with friends i’ve lost contact with. i’ve been taking photos everyday for my daily photo projects. i’ve even left the country for the first time!
i’ve made lists so far for the next few months on what i would like to accomplish from a large (find apartment/new job) to small (watch freaks and geeks and read harry potter). bit.ly/britslists next it is to break it down to the daily level.
mostly i would like to wake up earlier. some days i already have to wake up at 6am for work at 8:30 but i want to get up earlier so i don’t feel like i’m rushing and a complete wreck in the morning. i want to go to the gym five days a week. i want to watch more cnn and less reality tv. i want to write more for my website.
it’s three weeks in and i think i’m doing pretty well so far but there is definitely more to work on.
YES on the challenge repeat!!!!!
I have been clearing a lot of unnecessary things from my schedule, but many bad habits remain, so I really need to get in gear again!
A daily routine is something that I try to get myself to establish, but it never really seems to happen. I try not to think so much about it because then it would all seem too planned out. So far, my morning usually consist of eating a great breakfast. This, i look forward to greatly. My food of choice is usually a mixture of kashi and special k cereal or a bowl of oatmeal with diff. varietys of fruit and nuts. I recommend oatmeal to anyone or a great breakfast.You can add anything to it! I LOVE BREAKFAST! With cereal, you eat AND drink..at the same time:>. But i believe you have to start the day off right and hopefully doing so will help you out later on.I try to keep all of my other meals and snacks as healthy has possible as well. It makes me feel better when I don’t put so much junk into my body. You are right though, I don’t do yoga every day, especially not that early in the morning.:P And because of that, i look forward to doing yoga when i feel it is time to again. I don’t ever want to force myself to do any excercise, I simply want to look forward to it. So, joining a gym has done me some good. Mon.Wed. and Fri. are cardio and some light lifting days. and the rest i leave up to myself to do another form such as running, dancing oorrrr HOOOLLAA HOOPPINGG.heh. I thought it funny that your interest for hoola hoops came up because i had just baught one. Nothing fancy like your folding one though,gotta get me one of those.
:P
Well the beat goes on, and everybody hears it differently.
A different routine everyday is not a bad thing. It will deff. do some good.
Chins Up!
I really needed to read this! I’ve never commented before but I’ve been reading for a while now and I absolutely love it =) I’ve been meaning to say hi and thank you for creating such a place. I’ve been stuck in an unproductive rut for a while now and this article was just what I needed to realize that maybe I need to change up my routine.
Good luck with your routine goals! =)
Transformation Challenge please!!
Transformation challenge – repeat, repeat!
HOORAH!
This article was really a wake up call. Since I broke my ankle, I’ve been lazing around on the couch, and watching bad TV programs. I’m definitely going to incorporate good food, exercise (only abs and upper body), and productive activities (knitting, drawing, reading) into my new routine!
And I’m totally keen on another iTC! :D
In total need of a transformation!!!! Bring on the challenge!! XD
Woooohoooo :p
Hm, a new morning routine is in order…
6:07- Wake up. Hit snooze.
6:14- Wake up again. Actually get up.
6:22- End exercises.
6:40- Finish getting dressed and go downstairs.
6:50- finish eating and packing lunch
6:55- Leave for school.
Sounds good to me. :) Let’s see how it works…
YES for a repeat on the Transformation challenge!
In an ideal world, my routine would look like:
8:00: Wake up.
8:05: Yoga/stretching/meditation
8:15: Get in shower
8:30: Brush hair, apply moisturizers
8:35: Eat breakfast
8:55: Get dressed, apply makeup
9:15: Leave for school (complete with pre-packed lunch and book bag from the night before)
This year is already 2000 and divine for me! I’ve started taking yoga classes, going to the gym cutting out refine sugar, taking MSM supplements, and have kept up with five classes, an internship, and an active social life! I can’t keep to adding small improvements into my life (attending synagogue regularly, taking Jewish study classes in the city, et cetera).
My Morning Routine.
HMMM.
Monday – Friday
6:00 AM Wake Up
(Okay some days it’s 6:30. )
Shower, Hair, Makeup.
Put on my underwear,hose, blouse, dress or skirt. (Gotta wear skirts, HATE. LOATHE DESPISE pants, except Jeans which I can’t wear to work.) Shoes.
Release the hounds! (Max and Whinny!)
Coffee. Watch the news and weather as I get ready.
Retrieve the Hounds! (OH JUST get in for god’s sake!!!!)
Garage, car, drive.
Try not to die on the 40 / 61 highway in to work.
Park in lot.
Walk in to First Watch if there is time for real breakfast. (I love Franny’s egg technique, and Tim or Lori’s serve.) Bread Company if not.
Go back to the mines, and get to work.
SIGH!
I forgot to mention I do this all by 8:30.
BRING BACK THE TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE!
My routine is so out of order, it can hardly be called a routine. I’m totally feeling you with the sleeping in thing. At first it was great catching up on all the sleep i’d lost, but after 10 weeks of holidays i’m really sick of it.
I am so ready for a repeat iTC!
So much has changed since the last time, and i’ve learn’t so much about myself since then. The last 6 months have been pretty rough for me and i’m starting to move on. This seems like the perfect time for another iTC. I’m so sure that i will actually complete it this time. Bring on the transformation!
Though I have only recently started following this blog and wasn’t around for the first Transformation Challenge, it sounds like a fantastic idea and I would love to be involved in another go.
At the moment, my routine is a bit bare and rushed.
6:15 a.m. Wake up
Use the bathroom
Shower
Dry Hair
Coffee
Check phone, email, etc
Pick out clothes
Straighten hair and put on make up
Throw clothes on
Rush out the door
Speed to school
I’m really tired of feeling rushed every morning. I haven’t been eating breakfast, which is very important. I’ve been skipping vitamins and wearing nice outfits. I would also love to at least to a set of sun salutations in the morning. They always relax me, which would help tremendously. The boyfriend and I would also love to start packing lunches for school again. That alone saves us money and is much healthier.
I think I will try this 30 day trial idea. Small steps, though. I won’t attempt them all at once. I think waking up a bit earlier, eating breakfast, vitamins, and lunch are the easiest to start.
I just need to start packing lunches at the beginning of the week, or the night before. That way I don’t have to rush around in the morning. Also, if I eat breakfast, I could take all my medications and vitamins with that. If I wake up a bit earlier, I would have time to eat and pretty myself up a little more. I just have to start setting my alarm a little earlier everyday.
Oh, and I’ll take all the support and encouragement I can get. :]
I’m pretty bad about flaking out on things like this.
Oh, and Mercury retrograde has been insane. We Geminis really do get the brunt of it.
Yes! Can we please do the Transformation Challenge? It’s how I discovered your blog in the first, now that I think of it. I could use a good kick in the ass, personally.
Ugh, actually managing to get up in time to go to lectures would be nice.
My main problem is that I spend too much time in my flat and when I’m here, I SNACK. On everything. Currently creme eggs. I do no exercise and although I do some work I’m easily distracted.
My solution? Move everything into the kitchen (where it will be stolen, I know) leaving just the apples on my desk
Exercise will have to wait, I haven’t got time with revision/essays right now
MAJOR: Net downtime. Between certain hours in a day, maybe two and five I resolve to disable my net connection. No distractions.
Gala, I decided that my 25th revolution around the sun was going to be that… a revolution! Thanks for this article, and all the other self-improvement ones, you are really helping! Especially on days when it’s harder to get motivated and it seems like it would be easier to revert back to old habits, or worse, do nothing.
ok so unrelated but just watched a documentary online called The Secret Life of Haute Couture:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/...
check it out!
I’m so going to do this! YAY! If anyone’s interested, you can check out my progress on my bloggggg. hahaha!
part of this year’s routine will consist of riding my vintage pink bike in the mornings, so i am not in any hurry to beat the traffic. i just got an ipod dock and put it in my kitchen so preparing breakfast and coffee can also be a dance fest. i have to watch what i eat more – i am still completely vegan, but i want to get as many of my nutrients as possible from whole foods, not vitamins.
i want to sing in the mornings. and have raw smoothies.
naked sun salutations sound good too!!!
Whew! What don’t I need to do!
I need to eat better, get up earlier, exercise, figure out the blogsphere, call my family more, and make more time for the things that make me happy.
Gala, I’d love to know if you have a routine for managing your blog, and if so, how it works. I really enjoy bloging, but I’m feeling so swamped!What should I be concentrating on, and how should I schuedule it all in?
I completely know what you mean about the health food store. I’m a virgo as well, and I wanna buy up everything…
And since I can’t afford everything in one visit, I naturally begin making mental lists of what to buy next time…
I’m actually pretty happy with my routine. On a weekday, I wake up at seven, slug it to the bathroom, wash and moisturize face, brush teeth, go back to bedroom, do a sun salutation (it’s too cold this time of year to do it naked at the moment!), have breakfast with my family, get dressed and do makeup sometime within the next half hour. If I could do anything to make it better, I could get to sleep sooner and get some more cardiovascular exercise. To do that, maybe I’ll pick up a hula hoop! Other than that, I’ve recently gone vegetarian, started to use the Diva Cup, reduced my level of consumption, started taking vitamins, cut my hair and started attending sword workshops. I’ve made some really positive changes. I’ve also been improving my outlook, as well as drawing and writing more. I’m pretty proud of myself, actually. Two Thousand and Divine!
What a great post. I have had trouble over the past two months getting back into my normal routine which involves working out in the mornins before work.
Hopefully before the end of Jan I can get back on track. This post inspires me to try harder. Thanks for posting this.
Very inspiring post. I am as guilty as the next when it comes to changing routine. So, cheers!! Here’s to putting a change to all that. Thanks for sharing.
Bring back the icing challenge!
In response to your request for raw power, I present to you this beet recipe:
Peel and grate 1 beet, 2 carrots, and a generous hunk of ginger. Pour a bit of balsamic vinegar or lemon juice over everything, and add a bit of oil if you’d like.
Take advantage of your beet-stained hands by shrieking “Off, damn stain!” in your best and most tragic Lady Macbeth voice.
More at localizing.wordpress.com
I’m amazed how I managed in LBG (Life-Before-Gala.)
You’re incredibly inspiring. Keep doing what you do, it’s truly an amazing thing.