Caveat: I am not putting times on this post, as my sleep schedule is completely wonky right now. I get up very early. I hope to shift things back closer to normal – at least, normal for me – soon.
Stephany asked about my morning routine, which kind of made me laugh. It’s very boring, as you will soon see, and is likely very different from the morning routines of those of you who have kids and spouses/partners and long(er) commutes. I’m only responsible for myself – no one else to prod awake, no one who needs a lunch or a backpack check. So it’s pretty streamlined and very routine.
I’ve had the same basic routine for the last, oh, 15 years or so.
Wake up, pull up the covers, and get dressed in my workout clothes. For the next 60-80 minutes, depending on the day, I walk on the treadmill in the little exercise room across the hall, ride my stationary bike (THE best pandemic purchase ever, seriously… it folds up! Perfect for a small apartment.), and do a series of PT exercises + lifting light weights.
While exercising, I listen to 1) ESPN radio (SportsCenter All Night), which gives me an overview of things that have happened in sports in the last day or so, and/or 2) sports podcasts (most frequently one hosted by a father-and-son, both of whom went to Notre Dame, which I know will resonate with Ernie :>).
I also – yes, I multitask – read through the stories on the Washington Post and NY Times apps that I missed the previous day, to catch up on non-sports news. This usually helps keep my heart rate, and blood pressure, up pretty well. 🙂
Then, I wipe down the kitchen counter and my desk (a COVID WFH habit that I really like), get my bag together for school, and get out what I’m wearing for the day.
Next up is a quick shower, and since I know someone will ask, yes, I wash my hair first, then put in conditioner and leave it in for the remainder of my shower (even though, according to the blogosphere [I thought it was Engie who posted about this but I can’t find it on your blog, Engie, if it was?], this is not necessary, which goes against every fiber of my being…). I also wash my hair every day, because otherwise it is a disaster. Wash, rinse everything, and be done. This is not an elaborate shower routine. 🙂
Hop out, dry off, do my mini-ablutions (face sunscreen and cream is the extent of my “makeup”, and honestly I could use any suggestions to help me look less like the Ghost of Wisconsin Winters?), brush hair and teeth, and get dressed. Note that I get dressed for the climate of my office (which is, in a word, arctic), not the weather outside. This is working well, TBH. I may be overdressed but I’d rather be warm, thank you, than blue.
I make the bed nicely, gather up my bag and lunch bag, and head on in to the office. I thank my lucky stars that I am an early morning person and don’t need to deal with much traffic in the endless construction zone that is one of the main roads in town (sigh), pull into the parking lot, and thank my lucky stars again that I paid through the nose for a parking spot close to my building. No more slogging up the hill from the parking ramp to my building, fighting the wind that never seems to stop.
I land in my office, make some tea, and settle in to read/comment on blogs, and (this week, at least!) post my own.
And that, in its boring entirety, is that. Aren’t you sorry you asked, Stephany? 🙂
I LOVE to hear about other people’s routines.
I hate mornings and it is not my favourite thing to get two kids ready and out the door to school each day, but we all have our burdens in life – haha. But why can’t school start at 9 am?!!!
Anyhoo.
As for makeup, I am quite minimalistic but one of my favourite “hacks” is using a quick swipe of lipstick – yes, lipstick – on my cheeks which I rub in as blush. I learned this from a Clinique beauty tech 15 years ago and it is the only thing I use for blush now. I stays put and, while I don’t wear lipstick on my lips, if you do, you can have your lips and the blush tone easily match!
I do wonder about kids upending routines when they a) come along, but also b) as they grow. It’s not like things stay the same! The constant adjusting of schedules would be really hard for me – gold stars to you and all the other parents. <3
Ah! I will have to try your hack! Thank you! And, you've reminded me that I bought something that was supposed to be for... I think it was cheeks, lips, and eyes? Same principle. Now it would be a matter of a) finding it and b) um, actually using it. 😉 I'll report back.
We’re not supposed to leave conditioner in? News to me! I think I was dumbfounded by a post by Suzanne in which she said we’re supposed to wash our faces LAST and I wash my face while I’m waiting for my conditioner to work. LOL. I’m obviously showering ALL WRONG.
I honestly can’t imagine a morning routine that doesn’t involve dragging an unwilling dog out for half an hour every day anymore. It must be AMAZING to have the first time you go outside for the day be when you are dressed in real clothes!
We are all showering wrong! I could have SWORN it was you who mentioned the whole “you don’t have to leave conditioner in” thing, but clearly not.
I figure as long as I’m clean (this morning, that almost didn’t happen because I forgot to bring the new bar of soap *into the shower* [forehead smack]), I’m good, right?
My morning routine used to include an outside walk in most weather… but it was dark and a bunch of people here commented on how that worried them, and then I got worried about tripping over something I couldn’t see, and… yeah. So now it’s the parking lot (because I park below the building, because I am spoiled and also Wisconsin winters…). I used to have to drag a very reluctant dog out so at least your doggo is excited to go?
Look I am obsessed with Stephany’s week in the life series and when I saw the title of this post in my Feedly I couldn’t click it fast enough. YES WE WANT THE DEETS!!!!!!!
Let’s see, I workout first thing in the morning but I don’t multi task other than watching TV for fun while I’m on the treadmill. My hair comes out the same whether I rinse off the conditioner right away or leave it on for a few minutes, but I still like to leave it on for a few minutes. My makeup is minimal/none but I’ve been known to take a mid morning break to curl my hair on days that I feel like being fancy. Unfortunately I don’t have enough time to read blogs before work so I’m always sneaking them in here and there. The best thing ever about WFH besides no commute is that I’M IN CONTROL OF THE THERMOSTAT!!!! And I’m free to snuggle up in a warm blanket at my desk, which was frowned on at the office because it wasn’t professional or something.
Um… blankets are frowned upon? Because I have like 3 blankets in my office, plus this: https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126040?page=cozy-sherpa-wearable-throw. And yes, I have worn it while in meetings with students! Ha.
Oh, wow, curl your hair? Impressive. I know I’ve never seen a photo of you, so I have no idea how long your hair is, but I do not have enough hair to warrant curling, lol.
Not boring at all!! I love morning routine posts!!!
Well, it IS boring but it’s good to know that I am not the only one with a routine and, admittedly, some quirks. 🙂
Except for the shower (I shower at nigt) this is basically what I do. Exercise first is my very favorite. AND WHY does ever main road have to be torn up at once WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY? We should absolutely meet up for early am tea or coffee or breakfast on campus— that would be so fun!!
YES – exercise first! I also mirror you in that I clean things (bathroom, kitchen) BEFORE I shower, after I exercise.
Do not get me started on the construction. We’re going to have hard freezes next week and then where will they be???
We should totally meet up. I never, ever head to your side of campus (I barely know where anything is – actually, I look things up every time I venture over there!) so it would be good for me to branch out. 😉
I love details like this! I would be happy to make any and all makeup suggestions for you, if you want! Although it might slow down your routine!
Trust me, I would take them. But that might require posting a picture (something I have – as yet – avoided…). I guess a good general question would be, what absolute basics would you recommend? Keep in mind that my eyes are insanely sensitive and I have never been able to wear mascara, just fyi.
This was NOT boring at all. I also enjoy hearing about others routines and I think you have yours DOWN! 🙂 Sounds like begin our day pretty much the same – minus the heading to the office part (which I only have to do once a week).
For the minimalist make-up person, I suggest tinted moisturizer. It’s no extra step but does wonders for the “pale fraction” of society (including me!). 😉
You know, I think I used to have tinted moisturizer but don’t anymore. I might look into what Engie mentioned, and see if that is somehow kind of like a tinted moisturizer (I use an SPF one year-round that works for me – untinted – so need something for on top of that…).
And, my days in the office are generally short – e.g., I will go in for morning meetings then head home. So it’s like half days much of the time. That is one benefit of the super-expensive parking pass, my proximity to campus, and my early early commute. 🙂
I do this same thing except shower at night— early morning people unite!
My hair would be a DISASTER if I showered at night, for sure!!! The benefits of longer hair.
I am feeling very smug right now reading these comments. Muahaha. WE WANT TO KNOW EVERYONE’S ROUTINES, BORING OR NOT. And I don’t find it boring at all! It’s very interesting as someone whose morning routine looks vastly different.
I think maybe it was me who mentioned that you don’t need to leave conditioner in? I heard that somewhere, but I can’t remember where. I think at one point I was doing a lot of research on how to wash oily hair because my hair gets SO OILY SO QUICKLY, and it was mentioned that it doesn’t need to sit. But you do you! If you want to let your conditioner sit, go for it!
Fine, I’ll let you be smug. Ha. It is fascinating to know how everyone starts their days, isn’t it? I mean, we all clearly get along (at least in the blogosphere, LOL) and yet, our routines are so very different.
Aha! Maybe it was you who brought up the conditioner thing. Honestly, I’ve done it for so long that it would feel super-weird to not do it anymore!