If you’ve been following my blog, you know two crucial things about me:
1) I L O V E coffee. I can’t live without it. We’re forever committed to one another.
2) I live for making lists. There’s no part of my life that a list can’t solve.
With that being said, I have my second cup of coffee and a mission that only a list can help me solve.
I’m a major routine person. You’re probably asking yourself, what does a list have to do with a routine? It makes a huge difference. What I love so much about lists is the concrete factor. You can see them and hold them. Regardless, if they’re hand written or typed up i.e. laptops, phones, and any type of smart tablet. It holds you accountable.
We’ve been living in uncertain times, a new normal; pick appropriate phrase and insert here for what feels like a very long time. I’ll be the first person to admit that I was losing motivation, which says a lot. I’m sometimes too motivated for my own good. When my quarantine seasons started it was suppose to last two weeks. That was March and this is July.
Could I have kept my pessimistic outlook on life? Abso-FREAKIN-lutely.
Did I? No, I didn’t. I chose to take the road less traveled by. At least a road I usually don’t travel by. I knew I needed to be more on the optimistic side.
So, I turned to my routines. I knew the best way to keep me motivated and maintain “normalcy” was to fine tune my current routines and incorporate a few new things.
Which leads me back to my lists. If you read last Tuesday’s {July 7th} post then you know I’ve developed a Summer reading list. It’s composed of 6 different books I plan to read//finish between now and the end of summer. When I say end of summer I mean mid-September, like the real end of summer. I’ve shared that list with everyone reading my blog and I’ve mentioned the list to everyone listening to my podcast Off the Paigee. So, no only do I have the physical list to hold me accountable, but in a way I have all of you to hold me accountable as well. I can honestly say it’s been working. Since posting a week ago I’ve read a minimum of 15 minutes a day.
So, the list is working and it’s improving my daily routine.
I didn’t want to incorporate just reading into my day-to-day life, I also wanted to incorporate more healthy habits. Since self-isolation began I’ve started walking a minimum of 3 miles a day. I use to walk late afternoon or even in the middle of the afternoon, but I realized that wasn’t the best use of my time. So, I started walking first thing in the morning. It’s probably one of the greatest additions to my morning routine. It’s so wonderful being able to be out in the world again in some capacity. I’m able to get fresh air, a little cardio, and keep out of the ridiculously hot parts of the day.
I’ve also been able to add yoga into my days. Whether I’m adding it to my morning routine or my night routine or both, I’m finally ticking things off of my resolutions!
I’m a Gemini and it’s in our nature to crave change. I wouldn’t say that I get bored easily, but every once in a while I need something to breathe new life into me. How do I do that? I change my hair color. When I’m over changing my hair color I switch up my routines. Changing the time of day I walk is a perfect example. So is adding yoga into different time slots throughout the day.
I also change my routines to fit the seasons. It keeps life fun!
We all have our routines, even if we don’t realize that we’ve created them. Routines can become somewhat robotic, but they’re important. They help keep our days flowing, especially in times like these.
The uncertain, unprecedented, or new normal times request it.
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