[BonsaiGuy]

I am inspired to write this post due to a refreshing conversation I had this morning with my friend sarahsweets.

What does your most effective morning routine look like? Do you like to wake up early and seize the day, or do you sleep in to get well rested? Do you make breakfast, read or write, clean the house, take care of the kids, watch the news, a combination of these things?

Basically, I think establishing a routine, especially a good morning routine, can be incredibly important and helpful to us. I am looking for the best ways that you like to get up and get going. I am aware that some may be struggling with this and I am hopeful that other people's suggestions will help us all.

I get up early, generally very early (I get up for work at 3:45, but for instance this morning woke up at 1:30 and couldn't get back to sleep). Days off I tend to wake up about 4:30(?). I'll lay there for awhile if it's a day off, but basically, get up, fix my breakfast and sit at the computer with my light box for awhile (during the season at least). Then it's either off to work, or very unstructured time.

[avlady]

I have a very hard time waking up in the morning. I am usually up at the latest by 6:30. I take my meds first then make myself coffee. I turn the news on tv, and wait about an hour to wake up. I don't eat breakfast but like juice. then I try to shower, and start my cleaning routine. I know housework doesn't sound all that rewarding but to me it is as I am disabled with schitzophrenia and bipolar. I have had several head injuries, concussions and housework is basically my days work. I do go to the senior center during the mornings and lunch and meet people there.

[Aurelius710]

In recent weeks, I've been generally awake and up at 6:30am. If I sleep in, it's no later than eight o'clock. Once I'm up, I fix some breakfast and get ready and then I face the day. With the long weekend, I haven't had much to face up to and plan for in the past few days, but starting tomorrow, I will.

I think I would more generally say stability helps us. I kept hold of several habits that I called totems. Certain days off, regular visits to a therapist, or even a prohibition of working during my lunches. I would hold on to them as totems in a chaotic world. If nothing else was certain, these things would be.

I guess this 6:30 wake-up call would be another totem for me.

[Wander]

Well, atm I wake around 6 am, have coffee, and sometimes go for a light swim in the ocean. Then its social media time for half an hour or so. Breakfast depends on when I get hungry. Usually around 10 am. As I am not working and often physically ill I tend to schedule my day around how I feel. I try to get out and see family a couple of times a week but mostly I stay home and read, rest, watch TV, run errands and generally pace around looking for something to do that won't break me physically.

However this 'schedule' changes dramatically depending on my mood, how I am doing physically, and whether or not I am able to go to university and work. I prefer to be busy but take each day as it comes.

[Blue_Bird]

I don't have much of a routine but will be making one since my break ends today and the spring semester at my college starts tomorrow. So basically the goal is to get up around 6am, drink coffee, pray, take meds, shower, breakfast etc. then begin my day.

On days I have class, go to the college. On days I don't have classes study and whatnot. I'm aiming to go to the gym 3 times a week so that would be in the morning as well.

[AspiringAuthor]

I wish I could get up earlier, and I am trying to get up at 6AM, but due to my taking Zyprexa (which is the only thing that helps me sleep reliably, but then it helps "too much"), I more often than not get up between 7 and 8 AM.

My routine:

- moisturizing (I have stress-related eczema and moisturizing is key)
- weigh myself
- put on kettle
- get out breakfast-making supplies, put my pillbox on the dinner table
- make instant coffee with milk
- make breakfast and put away breakfast ingredients and supplies
- eat breakfast (eggs and vegetables and rye toast every morning), drink coffee, drink my seeds drink and Metamucil drink, all in order to promote satiety and help reduce hunger
- take morning supplements and pills
- floss
- brush teeth
- rinse (I alternate between fluoride and xylitol mouth rinses, every other day)
- wash and put away the dishes
- wash the sinks in the bathroom and in the kitchen
- wipe the mirror in the kitchen
- wipe the stove and the counters in the kitchen
- record my weight and when I woke up in a Google sheet
- put sunscreen on face and hands
- brush hair
- spray perfume on myself and my clothing (which I prepare the night before), get dressed, if I have time, make my bed, but more often than not, it is a mess
- head to work

I do not take a shower daily and when I do, it is usually at bedtime.

[TheSeaCat]

Well I work full time so my morning routine usually constitutes of getting ready for work. My alarm clocks goes of about 6:30 and I just kinda lay there playing with whatever ball of fur is in my bed for a few minutes trying to muster up the strength to get out of bed. After getting out of bed I typically hurry off to the bathroom.

After using the bathroom I make my bed; studies have shown that making the bed releases productive chemicals into the brain. Not to mention I really don't like coming home and seeing messy bed; not to mention it just feels nice crawling into a made bed; instead of sheets tangled into the blankets.

After making my bed I take my morning medication consisting of a Buspar and a Prilozec and then I head into the kitchen and either grab a bar; or grab something already made from the fridge; I have really been liking overnight oats for breakfast; I quickly eat breakfast making morning conversation with my roommate while she eats her own breakfast.

After breakfast I go to my vanity table and quickly do my morning skin care routine so while I am doing my hair it can seep into my skin before putting makeup on the skin care. I usually do my hair like I just had it professionally blow dried; I like this look the best not to mention it's pretty easy to do in the mornings. While my hair cools on the top of my head; I do my makeup; after doing my makeup; I undo my hair from the pins and quickly make it look perfect.

After doing my hair and makeup I get dressed for the day and check my organizer to see what my plan is for the day and then shove the organizer into my purse. After getting everything on I will usually remote start my car and then decide if I am going to bring leftovers for lunch or eat out for lunch. I quickly make me up my morning tea; I've been trying to cut out the coffee; I will occasionally stop and get one; but I've really enjoying the tea here lately. Then we lock the doors; say goodbye to the fuzz balls and sometimes we carpool to work and sometimes we go separately; just depends what either of us have to do that day.

And that is my morning routine

[piggy momma]

I stall as long as possible - my bed is so warm and comfy. I usually get up about 20 minutes before I have to leave the house.

I turn my heating pad on and lay it over my pig and re-cover her with the blankets so she’s warm.

I grab a towel from the bathroom and go upstairs and wash my hair in the kitchen sink.

Come back downstairs, blow dry my hair, brush my teeth, get dressed, and I’m out the door.

I get up at 1am for work so I like a brief routine. On days I don’t work I like to sleep in as late as possible before I have to leave for school.

[~Christina]

I wake up when every I choose my schedule got flipped with my husband when he started staying up all night , I’ll stay up til 6-8 in the morning watching tv or reading.

Some days I wake up about 3 hours later some times it will be 3 pm

Do to my insomnia and no sleep hygiene helps I sleep whenever I can.

When I go get up I turn on the coffee pot and go about my daily hygiene. Mhmmmm coffee ! I browse Facebook and here. Then start my daily cleaning I deep clean daily ( ocd) I have been trying to get more exercise but it’s winter in Middle Tennessee and our weather is mostly rain so walking is impossible and I live in a tiny town so no where to go exercise available. We are saving up for a treadmill. But having PsA makes exercise very difficult as if I do to much it increases my pain, Dammed if I do damned if I do damned if I don’t

I lead a very boring life. I miss working 60-70 hours a week. I have one local friend but she wants to always drive an hour away to shop, I see no reason for me to shop unless I can buy something, plus she wants to make it a all day event. I just can’t handle it physically.

I crochet scarfs but seriously how many can I make or give away.

Yep I’m b o r i n g.

[BonsaiGuy]

Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor

I wish I could get up earlier, and I am trying to get up at 6AM, but due to my taking Zyprexa (which is the only thing that helps me sleep reliably, but then it helps "too much"), I more often than not get up between 7 and 8 AM.

My routine:

- moisturizing (I have stress-related eczema and moisturizing is key)
- weigh myself
- put on kettle
- get out breakfast-making supplies, put my pillbox on the dinner table
- make instant coffee with milk
- make breakfast and put away breakfast ingredients and supplies
- eat breakfast (eggs and vegetables and rye toast every morning), drink coffee, drink my seeds drink and Metamucil drink, all in order to promote satiety and help reduce hunger
- take morning supplements and pills
- floss
- brush teeth
- rinse (I alternate between fluoride and xylitol mouth rinses, every other day)
- wash and put away the dishes
- wash the sinks in the bathroom and in the kitchen
- wipe the mirror in the kitchen
- wipe the stove and the counters in the kitchen
- record my weight and when I woke up in a Google sheet
- put sunscreen on face and hands
- brush hair
- spray perfume on myself and my clothing (which I prepare the night before), get dressed, if I have time, make my bed, but more often than not, it is a mess
- head to work

I do not take a shower daily and when I do, it is usually at bedtime.

I as well use a form of xylitol (gum). Sometimes I think that the mouthwash may be more effective and have been considering giving it a try.

Also, can I just say thank you for the details? I really appreciate that. Also, I find it facisinating that you have the mental stamina to record your weight, do everything you listed, then record it after all of that. It may sound dumb, but I have a very hard time focusing on a task or keeping details in mind for that length of time. I will panic sometimes if I don't finish something important "right now" because of the fear that I might "lose it".

Good luck with everything

[BonsaiGuy]

Originally Posted by TheSeaCat

Well I work full time so my morning routine usually constitutes of getting ready for work. My alarm clocks goes of about 6:30 and I just kinda lay there playing with whatever ball of fur is in my bed for a few minutes trying to muster up the strength to get out of bed. After getting out of bed I typically hurry off to the bathroom.

After using the bathroom I make my bed; studies have shown that making the bed releases productive chemicals into the brain. Not to mention I really don't like coming home and seeing messy bed; not to mention it just feels nice crawling into a made bed; instead of sheets tangled into the blankets.

After making my bed I take my morning medication consisting of a Buspar and a Prilozec and then I head into the kitchen and either grab a bar; or grab something already made from the fridge; I have really been liking overnight oats for breakfast; I quickly eat breakfast making morning conversation with my roommate while she eats her own breakfast.

After breakfast I go to my vanity table and quickly do my morning skin care routine so while I am doing my hair it can seep into my skin before putting makeup on the skin care. I usually do my hair like I just had it professionally blow dried; I like this look the best not to mention it's pretty easy to do in the mornings. While my hair cools on the top of my head; I do my makeup; after doing my makeup; I undo my hair from the pins and quickly make it look perfect.

After doing my hair and makeup I get dressed for the day and check my organizer to see what my plan is for the day and then shove the organizer into my purse. After getting everything on I will usually remote start my car and then decide if I am going to bring leftovers for lunch or eat out for lunch. I quickly make me up my morning tea; I've been trying to cut out the coffee; I will occasionally stop and get one; but I've really enjoying the tea here lately. Then we lock the doors; say goodbye to the fuzz balls and sometimes we carpool to work and sometimes we go separately; just depends what either of us have to do that day.

And that is my morning routine

I am so happy with the detail of these posts! Thank you so much for that.

Don't you just love waking up to some morning fuzz ball cuddles? Both of my kitties sleep with me and they are great to wake up to. I have been trying to drink more tea lately as well. I have a thing for Matcha because I'm having a hard time leaving the full-fat dairy involved with my coffee. I do love a creamy, milky drink.

Skin care also is a must, I never really did anything like that until I met my wife and can I just say that my world changed! Since then, I have been trying to show more men the light.

[BonsaiGuy]

Originally Posted by piggy momma

I stall as long as possible - my bed is so warm and comfy. I usually get up about 20 minutes before I have to leave the house.

I turn my heating pad on and lay it over my pig and re-cover her with the blankets so she’s warm.

I grab a towel from the bathroom and go upstairs and wash my hair in the kitchen sink.

Come back downstairs, blow dry my hair, brush my teeth, get dressed, and I’m out the door.

I get up at 1am for work so I like a brief routine. On days I don’t work I like to sleep in as late as possible before I have to leave for school.

The start of your post made me think of this

hygiene

get dressed

put yesterday's clothes in laundry

breakfast

then just what ever. usually computer with music on in the background

I usually can't sleep.

so if it's too early for breakfast I'll just do computer stuff (I have to eat breakfast at 8 30, no later or earlier)

[hopeless2015]

M-F
Alarm goes off at 6 or 6:15 depending on if I'm washing/blow drying hair. Shower, hair, makeup. Take meds and pack lunch bag for work. Head out the door at 7:15, stop at gas station for big *** coffee (yes, I should just buy a coffee maker) hit the interstate for work. Work 8-4:30, drive home. Sometimes I cook, sometimes hubby cooks supper, eat, wash dishes, TV, night meds at 7:30/8:00, 9:00 set out clothes for next day then get in bed.

Sat/Sun...no real routine

[AspiringAuthor]

Originally Posted by BonsaiGuy

I as well use a form of xylitol (gum). Sometimes I think that the mouthwash may be more effective and have been considering giving it a try.

Also, can I just say thank you for the details? I really appreciate that. Also, I find it facisinating that you have the mental stamina to record your weight, do everything you listed, then record it after all of that. It may sound dumb, but I have a very hard time focusing on a task or keeping details in mind for that length of time. I will panic sometimes if I don't finish something important "right now" because of the fear that I might "lose it".

Good luck with everything

Thank you! For me, the work of these little formulae in Excel or Google Sheets is still, after all those years, like magic, so it brings me joy that when I record the time when I went to bed and the time when I got up, my formula computes duration of sleep - it took me awhile to massage it into submission, what with time formats, but after I did, it just work and will work for years to come. Of course, the hope is that my sleep-wake cycle will become so regular that I won't need this record-keeping, but for now I enjoy it.

Also, I am on Topamax now and slowly the weight has started to come up, so I am hoping to enjoy seeing the graph of weight bend down after all. I think of this record keeping as building my Excel skills .

[Naynay99]

Hey. Reading people’s routines is eye opening. Some of you are like those army commercials- u do more before 5 am than some people do all day!
My morning routine is crap, as I am not a morning person at all and will sleep till 11 or 12 if I could. And sometimes do on weekends. But on weekdays my am looks like this:
-Alarm goes off at 645 am. Hit snooze until 7. Say good morning to my kitties. Go to the bathroom. Fish around till I find something clean to wear. Get dressed while watching either the morning news or I ❤️ Lucy on TV. Run outside to warm up car. Come back inside, and feed cats. Have a glass of water. Get ready- brush hair, teeth, etc. (I usu take showers at nite). Quickly make an English muffin w cream cheese or something else portable for breakfast to take with me to eat in car (when there is actually food in the house). Drive to work.
If I could wake up earlier I wouldn’t have to rush but I love my sleep. If I actually kept up with laundry or food shopping my mornings would also probably be easier, but this is pretty much how I get by most days.

One thing possibly worth mentioning... On workdays, I put my clothes and everything (meds, snacks, ipod etc) out the night before to not have to stress in the morning. It is MUCH MUCH easier, and saves from the morning, "where the *** is that thing!!!!!" Grrr, flip out! That used to happen a fair bit...

[TheSeaCat]

Originally Posted by BonsaiGuy

I am so happy with the detail of these posts! Thank you so much for that.

Don't you just love waking up to some morning fuzz ball cuddles? Both of my kitties sleep with me and they are great to wake up to. I have been trying to drink more tea lately as well. I have a thing for Matcha because I'm having a hard time leaving the full-fat dairy involved with my coffee. I do love a creamy, milky drink.

Skin care also is a must, I never really did anything like that until I met my wife and can I just say that my world changed! Since then, I have been trying to show more men the light.

I do love waking up to a cute little creature the past couple nights the roommates Pom has been hogging his side of my pillow and burrowing in my covers; like my bed is warmer than her bed or something. I don't know but it's so precious to wake up to. Demon; my cat usually is warming up my feet in the middle of the night and will come lay on my chest once it gets close to time for my alarm to go off.

I have never tried Matcha; I've been drinking a lot more green tea so like Raspberry and Peach flavored green tea.

I'm glad you know what skin care is; so many guys think slapping water on their face removes the gunk.

I also see that you are still pretty new; it is very nice to meet you Bonsai; I look forward to seeing more of your posts.

[BonsaiGuy]

Originally Posted by hopeless2015

M-F
Alarm goes off at 6 or 6:15 depending on if I'm washing/blow drying hair. Shower, hair, makeup. Take meds and pack lunch bag for work. Head out the door at 7:15, stop at gas station for big *** coffee (yes, I should just buy a coffee maker) hit the interstate for work. Work 8-4:30, drive home. Sometimes I cook, sometimes hubby cooks supper, eat, wash dishes, TV, night meds at 7:30/8:00, 9:00 set out clothes for next day then get in bed.

Sat/Sun...no real routine

No need to knock the to-go coffee.. sometimes it can be a lot better than the homemade Also, maybe you can message back on my page, but I'm curious as to how your meds are working for you? We're on the same dosages. Have you finished your Lamictal tiration?

[BonsaiGuy]

Originally Posted by Naynay99

Hey. Reading people’s routines is eye opening. Some of you are like those army commercials- u do more before 5 am than some people do all day!
My morning routine is crap, as I am not a morning person at all and will sleep till 11 or 12 if I could. And sometimes do on weekends. But on weekdays my am looks like this:
-Alarm goes off at 645 am. Hit snooze until 7. Say good morning to my kitties. Go to the bathroom. Fish around till I find something clean to wear. Get dressed while watching either the morning news or I ❤️ Lucy on TV. Run outside to warm up car. Come back inside, and feed cats. Have a glass of water. Get ready- brush hair, teeth, etc. (I usu take showers at nite). Quickly make an English muffin w cream cheese or something else portable for breakfast to take with me to eat in car (when there is actually food in the house). Drive to work.
If I could wake up earlier I wouldn’t have to rush but I love my sleep. If I actually kept up with laundry or food shopping my mornings would also probably be easier, but this is pretty much how I get by most days.

I think your routine is just fine lol if it's working for you then it doesn't matter when you wake up I also watch the news when I make my wife breakfast, but sometimes it gets me frustrated

[Sunshinesworld]

I like to wake up early, but that doesn't always happen. I like to wake up by 6, feed the cats, walk the dog. But sometimes I sleep in until 8 or 9. I also drink a ton of coffee in the morning. I like to take my mornings gentle and easy. I like to read a book or magazine in the morning. I like especially to wake up when it's still dark out.

[BonsaiGuy]

Originally Posted by Sunshinesworld

I like to wake up early, but that doesn't always happen. I like to wake up by 6, feed the cats, walk the dog. But sometimes I sleep in until 8 or 9. I also drink a ton of coffee in the morning. I like to take my mornings gentle and easy. I like to read a book or magazine in the morning. I like especially to wake up when it's still dark out.

I find reading in the mornings to be extremely helpful and I think this is a great suggestion. It is almost like a warm-up for the rest of the day.

Also, I look at waking up be for the sun rises almost as a game I call it "beating the birds". This way I can get a head start on my day and get to see a beautiful sunrise at the same time!

[hopeless2015]

Still working on the titration, but this combo really seems to work for me. At one point I was on 5 meds and still not doing good, last IP visit they dumped the lauda and busbar, weaned me off trileptal, upped the lamictal and added seroquel. Also got a new pdoc who is great and said I was medicated up to my eyeballs!!!