Routine is a funny thing. My life is becoming quite disciplined and I’m still trying to decide whether or not this is a good thing.

Up Early – Get Inspired – Workout – Stretch

Up nearly every weekday by 5:30am, I’m out of the house between 5:40 and 5:50 to go to YYoga for either their 6:15am or 6:30am class. TRX twice a week, Spin once a week, YFit (strength and plyo training) once a week, yoga twice a week. On my way to class I always listen to an inspiring podcast. After class I stay behind to stretch and work on my splits. Sometimes it’s awkward to be all alone with the instructor, but I’m getting closer to the full expression of the pose everyday, and (after years of having “do the splits” on my goal list) that feels amazing.

Meditate – Gratitude – Journal

After stretching, I head to the sauna to meditate for 10-15 minutes (I have been successfully doing this habit now for 5 consecutive weeks). After meditation I head to the showers, get myself ready for the day and then go to Blenz where I order either a large or medium dark roast coffee (depending on how I’m feeling), sit down with a mason jar of oatmeal that I made the night before, and journal for 15-20 minutes. I start each journalling time by writing about three things that I’m grateful for. Even if I’m feeling tired (as I am today), this habit helps me to start each day off with a smile.

Writing Time – Work Time

After journalling I open a word document and (motivated by an intention I set in my goal-setting group on Monday to write a blog post every weekday) I write a post for this blog. The writing, the scheduling, the sharing on social media all generally takes me to 10:30am. Then I transition into work mode and start work on Cella – answering e-mails and (sometimes) doing the task I want to avoid the most, first. I work until 12:30 before packing up and jumping on the bus to head home.

Lunch – Vocal Work

Once home, I do 30-40 minutes of vocal work, make lunch and then get back to work (sometimes I do these two things – the eating and the vocal work – in the reverse order).

The rest of my day is a lot less planned

4-5 hours more of focused work on the magazine, maybe some reading, work on my other website (Creative Life), and time spent with friends (I’m going to see Whiplash tonight!).

Too Much?

My days are full and, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I’m still trying to decide whether or not this is a good thing.

Today my body feels weak, and although I feel calm and centred and incredibly fulfilled, I wonder if I’m pushing myself too hard. But then, my mornings are my favourite part of the day. I wouldn’t want to do less.

These daily practices make me feel disciplined, strong, beautiful, centred, abundant, creative and empowered. The stretching and vocal work are even moving me closer to two of my personal goals – doing the splits and acting with a theatre company on a professional stage.

Pushing myself, even when it feels uncomfortable, tests my resolve. How bad do I want to do the splits? I wonder as I stretch, and then I hold the pose for 30 more seconds.

I think the most important part of my mornings is the time I spend with my journal.

Writing (especially when done with a pen and paper) helps me to understand my thoughts and feelings. It helps me to identify my fears. It helps me to acknowledge my desires. Most of all, it helps me to continue gaining momentum and moving forward. I don’t know if I could even continue doing all of this every morning if I didn’t take that time to journal.

Each morning looks exactly the same – it’s chalk full of stuff and yet isn’t that fairly indicative of everyone’s morning? Is it so bad to have a plan that you stick to every week day (my weekends are much more relaxed).

What’s more, I did not start doing everything that I’ve just talked about at exactly the same time. I introduced one habit after another slowly, over the span of nearly three months. As a result I don’t feel rushed, or like I’m trying to check something off a list. I’m doing these things because I enjoy them.

My verdict? Routine is funny thing. I’m still trying to find the middle ground, but as a single gal whose time is all her own… this feels pretty good to me right now.