I'm currently working toward not needing the external stimuli to prompt me to do what I want to get done

[strive2thrive25]

I am not a morning person, unless I had a great night of sleep. Otherwise, my joy of starting my morning early and attacking the day makes a dark turn. I feel most of the time I require around 10.5 hours of sleep to really be at my best. Committing to a morning routine that I want for the long term (that i am actually happy with) seems like one of the strangest things I struggle with. I want the freedom to do what I want but the skill to be able to change my state and maintain the optimism and focus through out the hour, day, week, month, year.

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I have always struggled with a any routine. My mind just doesn't make routine s. Even when I'm in a routine, a part may drop out and I'm not aware of it till far in the future, when alot more parts drop out and then I notice a problem, and I remember, oh that's what's wrong,I haven't done this one thing in awhile (the first thing that dropped off the radar).

I have found that a morning routine hinges on a bedtime routine which I have a really hard time disciplining myself to be consistent in but it's kind of key for me. I've found if I make my goals too rigid, it won't work. They have to be more like a rule of thumb but fluid. I found small steps work best to establish anything, (routine or goals). Stick to a few step protocol and stay with it . See what you like about it. You have to make it rewarding for yourself. For example, with no direction, I am naturally a night owl, but without any direction I could get doing things and going to bed way, way too late. So I started a routine recently. Go up to my room about 10, take cbd ,oil, wash face, take out contacts etc. And then get on a comfortable bean bag chair, put phone away and read a book for about 45 min, then go to bed. What is keeping this simple routine working for me, is the reward of reading. I would like to add to this routine, write down a couple of the most important tasks that need to be done tomorrow. (I need to put that on a sticky note 🙂. )Anyway I'm getting to bed two hours earlier which is helping my morning routine .

That said, checking and writing anything in social media is in the morning routine. And I limit it to one or two. Another rule of thumb.

Don't know if you've read this far, but I've spent a life time flying by the seat of my pants, putting out fires. And sometimes that's ok too. You need that for motivation, to get out the door and be productive.

It's just that in my older years and especially at this time I'm working on basic routines that I I can be happy with myself about. Life is truly a learning process about you , and understanding you. There's also a book called Elastic Habits by Stephen Guise which maybe helpful. Best