Flourish with Rach

This post contains affiliate links. See affiliate disclaimer here.

As I mentioned in the first post of this routine series, I love learning about people’s routines. I feel like you can learn a lot about someone by finding out what they do everyday. Plus, it always gives me good ideas for adjusting my own.

My routine didn’t happen overnight. It took time for me to figure things out and get into a flow. I’m usually guilty of trying to do too much. In the morning I generally don’t have a ton of time, so I had to be sure to focus on the things that would make the biggest impact. These had to be items that I would feel good about even if I got nothing else done that day.

I’m going to give you a glimpse into my morning routine and give you some ideas for creating your own. Take what resonates with you and leave the rest. And let go of the thought you have to get it right your first morning. This may take some time and that’s okay — you’ll learn along the way!

My usual morning practice

There are certain things I do each day that are mindless at this point. I wake up. I make the bed (if my husband isn’t still sleeping). I take my thyroid medication (this has to be taken on an empty stomach so I always keep water next to the bed and try to do this immediately). I go in the bathroom to do expected, brush my teeth, and wash my face. A workout is ideal in the morning, but sometimes it happens in the evening — I don’t stress it. I usually shower at night, but I’ll rinse off after a workout.

Now that I feel like an actual awake person, I can get into my routine.

My six

Each day looks a bit different as far as wake up time goes. Some days we have a sales meeting, some days I do a 6am Pure Barre class, some days I opt to sleep in because I don’t have anything planned for the morning. I know this isn’t encouraged by sleep experts, but this is how my current season looks. It’s working for now, but I’m always open to change for the better.

Although the time I’m getting started with my routine varies, the length of time and items involved are the same. My routine takes just over an hour and there are six activities outside of my usual morning practice.

• Devotional
• Spanish lesson
• Meditation
• Write the Word journal
• Care for Stella
• Water plants (if needed)

I have a “Routine + Activities” note in my phone where I can check off the items as I do them. I also have my ideal morning written down for different scenarios which helps me know when I should wake up and where my routine fits in. This helped make it a habit because it was an internal accountability tool. If for reason something didn’t get done in the morning, I could refer to my list and do it at a later time. My morning routine isn’t always perfect.

Ideas for cultivating your morning routine

I would suggest you choose 3-5 items to be a part of your routine as you’re getting into the habit. You can always adjust this as needed. Your routine can be as long or short as you need to feel centered and ready for the day ahead.

• Shower
• Stretch
• Workout
• Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea
• Read the Bible
• Pray
• Meditate
• Gratitude journal
• Listen to your favorite music
• Make a healthy breakfast
• Take vitamins
• Catch up on your favorite podcast
• Go for a walk
• Call a friend or family member
• Read
• Affirmations

This list is certainly not exhaustive — use it to inspire your own morning routine. Choose things that make you feel energized, joyful, prepared, and productive. If you’re needing extra encouragement to create a routine, I highly recommend the book The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. His philosophy is “if you win the morning, you win the day.” Lets win the day, yall!

Tips for cultivating your morning routine

Keep your phone out of arm’s reach — We are all guilty of using our phone as an alarm. Our phone sleeps right next to our bed and we half-awake snooze the alarm three times. Whoops, there goes a lot of the morning. Or we wake up, but spend thirty minutes scrolling. That’s not good either.

Use an actual alarm clock — This will eliminate that phone issue we just discussed. I use a fancy alarm clock I found on Amazon that actually acts like the sun rising and plays sound that gradually gets louder. A basic alarm clock works just fine too.

Include things in your routine that you’re excited about — We can’t always do what we want. Sometimes the things that are best for us aren’t our favorite. But you should look forward to your routine. At least parts of it! Exercise may not get you out of bed in the morning, but if you love your relaxing coffee time after, that’ll encourage you to push through!

Attach a new habit to an already existing habit — Cultivating a routine may feel clunky at first, but this tip will make it a lot smoother! Lets say coffee is definitely a part of your morning and you’re trying to get into the habit of taking your vitamins. Pair those habits together: set your vitamins out by your coffee maker. Your existing habit will trigger your new habit which is much easier.

Be mindful of your plan for the day — Your day will affect your routine. I check my Simplified Planner the night before so I’m aware of anything important coming up (an early meeting, a workout class, an appointment, etc). This affects when my morning routine needs to start and end. It may also affect my mindset during my routine. If I know I have a stressful meeting ahead, I may choose a guided meditation specific to overcoming that.

Your morning routine is YOURS! Do what works best for you. Own it, but be willing to adjust it if you need to. Some mornings you’ll feel unstoppable. Some mornings you’ll feel like everything is out of control. No matter what, each day is a new day ❤

Are there things you do each morning to set yourself up for the best day? I’ve love to read them in the comments below!

This post contains affiliate links. See affiliate disclaimer here.

Routine is something I so badly wanted, but had the hardest time creating. This isn’t going to sound sexy or thrilling, but I knew a structured routine would help me accomplish my goals. Don’t get freaked out by the word structured. Structure is actually what allows freedom because you have the ability to create that structure. It can look however you want, however works best for you.

Are you back with me now??

I’ve been wanting to write this post for a while, but I had to be sure to get my own routine down. How could I encourage you if I wasn’t doing it?

It certainly has taken some time to create and cultivate, but I have found a routine that works really well for me in this season. Use this as a point of reference, a guide you could say. Your routine may be very similar to mine or it may look completely different — either way is totally okay! Base your routine on your personal goals and priorities.

This post is part 1 of 3. Right here I’m going to talk about the basics: why, how, and my favorite resources. Part 2 will be my morning routine. Part 3 will be my night routine. Are you excited or what!? I adore learning about people’s routines because it always gives me good ideas and ways to make mine better. So if you’re anything like me, you’re ready!

Why create a routine?

This is a very good question, especially if you’re the free-spirit kind of person. As I said earlier, your routine is yours, so it can look however best suits you. Free-spirit or planner, you will benefit from a routine.

I am a huge fan of being intentional. A routine is ultimate intentionality. By creating a routine, you are intentionally doing what matters most. I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but the way you spend your time is the way you spend your life. A cultivated routine is taking control of your schedule so that you can accomplish whatever it is you’re after!

We are so busy in our daily lives. A routine means there’s one less decision you have to make. You have already determined how you’ll spend your morning and evening, so your brain has space to think about other things. Or even relax. It may feel clunky and unnatural at first, but eventually your routine will become a part of your rhythm.

I’m a creature of habit, so I thrive on routine. But even if you’re not like me, a routine is the best way to cultivate the life-giving habits you want. Exercise, meditation, connection, learning something new. These habits are formed by doing them daily. Consistency leads to progress.

How do I create routines?

This was the hardest part for me. I knew I wanted a routine and I had a general idea of the things I wanted to include, but how do I take that and create something? I’ve broken it down into three steps and a bonus step for good measure.

1. Identify what’s important in the morning and evening — Begin by brainstorming activities. You don’t have to edit or narrow down just yet. Maybe consider activites based on different areas you’d like to grow in (faith, health, relationships, recreation, finances, etc). Choose the 3-5 for each routine time (morning and evening) that will make the biggest impact right now. Remember, you can always change and adjust.
2. Dedicate time to those activities — How long will you spend on each activity? This is especially important in the mornings for me because I have to be at work by a certain time, so my routine must fit into that. Dedicate time to each activity and if in doubt, give a little extra so you’re not feeling rushed. An hour is ideal for me in the morning, so I made sure my activities would fit into that time block.
3. Write it down — You are learning a new schedule, so you’ll likely need some reminders about what you’ve set out to do. Think of this as a check list for your ideal morning (or evening). You may not get it perfect every day, but you’ll be much better off with a gentle reminder and direction.

Bonus: Communicate with others about the part they play. This may be your family, your roommate, or a friend. Lets say you are working on growing in your friendships. You want a morning walk around the neighborhood to be a part of your routine, so be sure to communicate with your neighbor. See if they can commit and confirm a good time you both can make it happen. It would also be awesome to express why this is important to you.

My favorite resources for cultivating routine

• Notes app in my phone: This is where I store my routine. I have a place to check off each activity as I do them, so I always know where I stand. I don’t do my routine in any particular order, it just depends on the day and how I’m feeling, so this is really helpful for me.
• Simplified Planner: My planner is my lifeline. There’s just something about taking pen to paper. My Simplified Planner houses all my appointments, meetings, commitments which helps me know when my routine should get started and if any adjustments need to be made. For example, if I have a really early meeting, I may wake up even earlier or move some of my routine activities to later in the day. If you’re new to Simplified, you can get $10 off your order here! Thank me later ❤
• PowerSheets: The progress I have made this year and last year have been possible because of this incredible goal planner. It serves as accountability and helps me identify what I want to cultivate. They are sold out for 2018, but the 2019 collection will launch October 24th. Promise me you’ll grab one and have your best year ever!

I’ll keep the encouragement short and sweet. Do your best. Give yourself grace. Be willing to adjust. Do you already have a routine? Will you be creating one? Lets chat in the comments.