I know I have mentioned in several blog posts that I am trying to get into more of a settled routine with studying and working out. The challenge for me is the fact that my productivity nose-dives after 5 pm and it is nearly impossible for me to get anything done effectively after about 6 or 7 at night. So, when I leave work at 6 or 6:30, there is no way I am able to go home and study. It’s also just as unlikely that I will go home and workout. But, if I want to both study and workout each day, I don’t have enough time to do both in the morning before work… so what’s a girl to do?
For the past 2 months I’ve been studying in the morning and then working out after work. Many times, work ends after 6:30 which means I don’t make it to the gym at all. On days like that, I think to myself “I should have worked out in the morning!” But then, I probably wouldn’t have studied that day right? Uhg. There’s just no way to do it all.
Several months ago, I tried incorporating 10 min HIIT workouts into my morning routine and I really started to enjoy it. But somehow, that habit fell by the wayside and I stopped working out at all in the morning.
These days, when I wake up I immediately head downstairs to the kitchen and start my coffee.
Kyle and I use an Aeropress coffee maker and LOVE it. The Aeropress plus the Tanzania roast from Dunn Brothers (thank you Caroline for converting me!) is perfection.
I’m also usually pretty hungry first thing in the morning, so I make some kind of breakfast. Chia pudding has been a go-to this week.
Then, I head back upstairs and start studying/blogging/emailing/online shopping… some days are more productive than others 🙂
On the rare occasion that I don’t have to be at work until 8 am (last Thursday was such a day), I get in a short treadmill workout while studying.
After an hour hopefully studying and not reading about celebrities online, I get ready, hop on my bike (lately), and go to work.
Documenting my early arrival to clinic before any of my patients have shown up. Success!
Thinking about this routine makes me want to improve upon it. I know I can get more done in the morning and add more to my day. So, first, I am going back to my 10 minutes of HIIT each morning. I really hope this will kickstart my day, energize me, and get in a tiny bit of exercise for those days I don’t make it to the gym.
I’m also going to focus on NOT opening my computer when it’s time to study. It is way too easy to get distracted and I want to make the most of my morning hour.
If I was perfect, I would have water with lemon, meditation, yoga, and all kinds of other morning rituals that successful people do as part of my daily routine. One step at a time.
Questions:
What is your morning routine?
What changes have you made to be more productive in the day?
Erica {Erica@EricaDHouse.com} says
Riding your bike to work counts as some exercise, too!
Caroline @ The Little Things Blog says
YAY! I’m glad you’re loving Dunn Brothers! I really could go for some of their coffee this morning!
Michelle Dalson says
Good job! I’m wondering how much studying you still have to do as a resident? Are you just studying more stuff about ophthalmology only?
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
I’m getting more sleep and it feels so good!
Mary says
Okay…so I am not doing 10 minutes of HIIT but I have started back onto my 10 minute workout before work! Thanks for the inspiration…I hope to continue and add more time! I could work up to 11 minutes! Thanks!
Polina says
Hi, Andrea? What time do you go to bed and when you wake up?
Alice @ AtomsByAlice says
I’d like to know as well! You must wake up SUPER EARLY to have enough time to do everything in the early morning BEFORE WORK! Early bird catches the worm, for sure!
Andrea Tooley says
I usually start getting ready for bed around 8 and try to be asleep by 9- sometimes earlier, sometimes later. I get up at 4 🙂 (most days- some days I sleep in until 5 or 5:30 if I got to bed later). Last night I was at the hospital until 9:30 and didn’t go to sleep until after 10 so I got up at 5:30.
Michelle says
Hi! I am very curious how do you manage to read those small words on a treadmill. I’ve been trying really hard to do it but I get real dizzy in a few minutes.
Andrea Tooley says
Sometimes if the words are too small I can’t do it, but if they are normal sized I can read while at least walking on an incline and sometimes jogging (but that’s harder) 🙂
Anne says
Hm…my solution would be to go to bed earlier and get up a bit earlier (10 minutes?), fit in a workout, then shower / study. And, like you’re doing – try not to multitask? Then when you’re studying, you’re *really* studying. Maybe shop / dink around online in the evening, when your brain is on hiatus? Just some ideas…
Thought of you as we were in your neck of the woods last weekend for a night away, and a stop at Trader Joe’s…*sigh*…
Lisa says
Hey Andrea! Long time no comment! I’ve been studying like a crazy person and went home to California for a few weeks ;D I’ve found a few tools that have really helped me get my morning focus on:
A. focus@will music (you can get a trial)
B. Plan it all in my pretty simplified planner (or a day designer with hour by hour)
That way I can watch myself and am conscious about slipping into the lalala browse the internet mode 😛
C. I track the focus hours with a tally system, so it makes me not want to break the chain.
D. Accountability partner (I don’t have one, but it’s a good idea) maybe your husband can help you keep on track!
Hope all is well with you and that you’re rocking your morning routines !
Bests,
Lisa
Andrea Tooley says
These are SUCH great tips! Thanks so much Lisa!
Andrea Tooley says
These are all great ideas!