A daily routine to free up your mind!

Has there ever been a time in your life that you felt like it was ground hog day when you woke up? I used to say in my store manager days, around the fall season, when waking up, “it is time to make the donuts”. I enjoyed going to work and loved the people, but my life seemed to be mostly on autopilot. I would get so out of sync. Some refer this as living life “like a dress rehearsal” or just plain going through life and not “smelling the roses”. I would take some vacation time to re-energize, organize, and for a short time, get things back on track. It is hard to explain, but a chaotic home, created a chaotic mind for me and it would create so much anxiety. I realized that several years ago, that I had to make some changes because I had so much anxiety. I researched and read up on what were the causes of my stress and why I had anxiety. Sounds crazy, but I wrote down what was important to me and what I needed to change. This is where the daily routine was discovered. If you consistently do things that are important often then it is much easier when things “happen” in life, and you get out of sync. Things do happen and life can throw us a curve, and we get out of our routine. If we have consistently been on a routine, then if is much easier to get things back on track. I simply started with a list of what made me happy and what made me unhappy, what did I worry about, what did I beat myself up about. Wow, it was a lot of crap. Now, I am not saying that I have everything perfect but at least I have taken things off my mind that use to send me over the edge. In the research, what I found was not that you have a huge to do list everyday but that you take care of things first that are important then have “white space” for fun stuff. White space meaning empty spaces in your day to creatively think, play, visit, cook, or what ever makes you happy. If you take care of things in your routine, then you spend less time worrying and complaining of what is not done. Time and energy wasted on mindless complaining.

What was important to me? Family and friends, health, and home.

I also asked myself what were some simple things that brought a smile on my face? Spending time with those I care about, gardening, cooking, and having an organized clean home. I know my home cannot always be perfect, so I picked a few things that I disliked the most. I wanted clean counter tops, and no fingerprints on the dishwasher, microwave, or refrigerator. I added a “wipe down” to my morning routine. I like a clean car, so I added as well. I simply looked at things that matter to me in my home and found a way to incorporate into a routine. Now, remember, my tiny habits have been a huge game changer for me. I added flossing, vitamins, daily yoga poses, small weightlifting, and “tidy up and wipe down” simply because I use to spend time fretting about. Now, I do it and free up all that wasted time of complaining and beating myself up.

Daily morning routine: (This is what happens regardless of what needs to be done. The only time that these things might not all happen is when I am away from my home).

Wake up, wash face, brush teeth. Don’t laugh, I use the restroom, then weigh myself. My mom told me to do this, and I have always done.

Make coffee, take vitamin. Wipe down kitchen counter, microwave, and refrigerator. I try to do this at night after dinner but if it is not done, I do it while coffee is brewing. It takes like 5-7 minutes.

Drink coffee (probably more than I should) and review plans for the day. I make a list of what I want to accomplish. Not all happens. It is a plan. I have found that this helps me. It might be a small grocery list, clean the windows, or might be order wedding gift. I make a list and hope to get some things done.

Write in my journal. This has been a game changer for me. I reflect, I think about what I am grateful for and what I want and where I want to make changes. I have been journaling for at least ten years.

Treadmill and small weightlifting. (I can move this around a little since I am at home now). I use to do this daily until I had a habit formed then I changed to Monday thru Friday and I do yoga on Sundays with an online group.

Shower. I lift my arm weights of 8 lbs on each side, a hard yoga pose, before I get into shower. (another crazy tiny habit idea). I put on a mask about 3 times daily before I get into the shower. I have found it easier to wash off the mask in the shower and if I make something easier, it will likely stick as a habit!

Daily night routine:

Wash face, moisturize, brush teeth, and floss. I try to get in bed when my body is tired. I am a early riser and usually in bed by nine. I know, some of you are opposite. I completely understand. Louis does his best work at night.

Weekly routine:

Water house plants and wash bed sheets every Saturday.

Groceries and car wash every Saturday or Sunday. Depends on life 😜.

House chores. I clean my own house but rotate chores. I know, my house is never totally cleaned at one time. I started this routine during the beginning of the pandemic, and it has stuck. Clean kitchen, floors, and dust one week, and master bath and bedroom the next week. I clean upstairs once a month. Don’t get on bent out of shape, it does get dusty up there, but it is only going to get cleaned about once a month. No one sees it but Louis or when the boys are here. They surely don’t notice🤣🤣. I only wash the linens up there when someone spends the night.

Blow off back patio. I do not clean the tables unless having guest, or if Louis and I eat outside, I will clean off the table we are going to sit at. Otherwise, the outside tables stay a little dusty.

Blog outline is written every Friday morning.

As you can tell, I have chosen what seemed to be important to me and what caused anxiety. I hated a dirty counter, and fingerprints on microwave, and refrigerator seem to drive me nuts.

The reason I am sharing this with you is because if there was one thing that has helped lose some of my anxiety, it was knocking off some major things that kept my mind spinning. My health, I now exercise as a routine. I do house chores (not perfect) but as a routine. I chose what matters to me the most. I also take my father to as many doctor appointments because I use to waste so much time worrying about if his medication is correct. So, I challenge you today to write down what creates these mindless, beat me up, nags on your brain that you want to do, and add it to your routine. As I have been writing this, I am adding a couple😊. This is not about perfection, this is getting things off your mind and freeing up time. You will find out that you create more "white space" in your day and weekends so that you can spend more time being with those you care about and doing things you love 💖. Have a beautiful day!

I want to add how much fun my herb garden has been. I am using the rosemary and thyme for a dinner party! It is so easy. Most herbs love the Texas heat.