Are you a morning person?
I would consider myself a morning person. Definitely. Alternatively, my dearest best friend, Sarah, is NOT. Hence, our timing aligns in the afternoon because I would be dying by the time the sun sets.
I recently graduated from university, earning a Dr. in my name, yet to put it into practise of course. However, at the time of writing, I am in the midst of my application for internship in the government sector. Hence, this gives me time to focus on other goals, mainly this website, writing out articles, months ahead of time as I have these ideas and scheduling them to be posted on this website.
Well, let’s see how long I can keep this up. I’m pretty optimistic.
As I mentioned earlier, I am definitely a morning person. I do not know when it began but I’ve always liked getting up a few hours earlier than my required time to go to class as I love to take it slow in the mornings or go for walks or even getting things dine first thing in the morning such as studying during my schooling days as I realised I function best in the morning. Now, everyday feels like a weekend and I’ve lost track of the days in the week.
Hence, I would usually get up around 5 before the sunrises. It makes my day feel longer. Now, being at home, I do not have a specific routine or schedule. It is definitely easy for the day to just go on by, filling it with multiple activities just because I have the capacity to drift aimlessly for a while. This is not healthy for me as I am a creature of habit.
Thus, a pattern started to form unknowingly and these are just some routine I do in the morning.
1. Waking Up At 5AM
I usually get up much earlier than 5am. The night before I will set the alarm for 5am but experience has taught me that when you get up first thing in the morning, laying back in bed for those extra few minutes is dangerous which had led me to oversleeping multiple times. Hence, just wake up the moment you get up and proceed as you normally would had your alarm went off at the proper time.
By waking up earlier, I tend to complete tasks more as I work best in the morning. Hence, more task is being completed before daylight rolls in or by 10am, it feels as if you have accomplished so much when the day has just started.
Besides that, by living back with my parents, it’s a bit difficult to get personal time as I love spending time with them a lot and we tend to go out during the morning and afternoons on most days. Thus, getting up earlier allows me to focus on tasks at my own pace and allows me to work on certain activities that is focused solely on me. Simple things like folding the clothes or making breakfast while listening to music or podcasts are just some examples of “me time”.
2. Writing
Most of my articles are written first thing in the morning.
I will usually get ideas or topics for articles all throughout the day. However, I find that I easily get into the zone in the morning. Perhaps, due to lack of distractions which allow me to go into deep work.
3. Moving
After I’ve usually written one article, I would get my steps in.
Previously, acquiring 10,000 steps per day was easy as I would be moving around a lot in the hospital or the trip back and fro to classes and hospital would provide the minimum required steps for the day. In addition to that, it felt good as well. However, after coming back home, despite moving a lot throughout the day, it is still not enough for me to meet the daily minimum required steps.
Hence, I find it best to just complete around 30 minutes in the morning, either walking in the hall or outside till the sun rises and bask in the cool morning air or even doing simple chores like folding the clothes.
Whatever it is, just get moving allows me to fully wake up and oddly enough, provides me with even more energy for the day.
4. Making Breakfast
I love baking and cooking for people.
I started learning baking and cooking in high school when my parents first moved into their new home and received an oven as their free gift.
I’ve always wanted to cook for a large group and yes, I love hosting social gatherings at home. Cooking at home is healthier and allows you to be mindful of the ingredients that you are adding into your meals. When I’m not home, my parents usually eat outside and I’m not too fond of eating out. It’s way more expensive and less healthier. It’s nice once in a while to take a break. However, as long as I’m living with my parents, making breakfast for them is something I would continuously do and not just breakfast, usually lunch and dinner as well but my parents are big breakfast eaters.
After making breakfast and setting the table, spending time and enjoying breakfast with them is something I look forward to. There are days when we do not eat at home but I would still join them.
5. Cleaning
This is odd but I actually love cleaning except cleaning the cars.
Cleaning while listening to music on full blast or any podcasts or music is extremely therapeutic for me. Besides that, nothing beats waking up to a properly kept house, something which I believe my parents appreciate too. It just feels good.
6. Spending Time With Loved Ones
This comes back to my point regarding breakfast. Despite being an only child and having spent most of my time growing up with my parents, I still loo forward to spending time with them, be it over simple things like breakfast, lunch or dinner or sometimes by just doing my work on the dining table or near wherever they are.
No, I’m not clingy and dependant. I am perfectly capable of living on my own. However, growing up made me realise that as I am growing older, so are they and I had a teacher who told me that this is the time to make that call, to check in on your parents all the time, to listen to their stories and experiences and to just be with them whenever you can.
As for now, I can. Hence, I make the most of when I can by simply spending time with them over the little things.
Thus, after coming back home, this is how my morning routine has evolved into by it’s own and I am a creature of habit.
The Theoretical Doctor 