Simple Ways I’ve Enriched My Morning and Evening Routines

For most of my teaching career, my morning and evening routines have been fairly similar, with slight changes here and there. As of this new year, I have found a few ways to enrich these routines, which has been making my time at home – particularly before and after work – lovelier and more meaningful.

For a while, my mornings before work were often consumed with getting out my daily Instagram post over breakfast. However, I realized this wasn’t a fulfilling way to begin each day. Over the past few weeks, I have been posting when it works for me, without forcing it every morning at the same time. Instead, I now first do a session of Babbel while I drink my tea, which feels good because I have been wanting to keep up my French. These are quick and easy to do! Next, I read my Daily Skimm email newsletter and absorb the news of the day (I’ve actually been a longtime subscriber but was reading it at different times). The email is perfect for busy mornings as it gives summaries of news with links to articles if you want to learn more. They also make great product and book recommendations.

The last thing I do over breakfast is slowly and intentionally read a poem in Mary Oliver’s Devotions. So far, this is just a beautiful collection. I am going through and reading one poem each morning, then pondering it. The poem might set the tone for my day, inspire me, or make me think. Often a poem sticks in my mind, and I think about it beyond the early hour. This reading is what I consider to be my morning meditation. I love having this be the last thing I do before getting up and going to work; it feels much more purposeful than focusing on social media.

My evenings are different now as well. As I mentioned in my last post, I have been doing Move, Adriene’s 30-day journey this month. During the week, I complete a session when I get home from work. I find it a lovely way to close out my day and transition to a peaceful evening. Then, after feeding Cleo, I take a shower and get in my pajamas. I used to take morning showers, but something about the pandemic made me liken to evening ones. Usually H and I are just home on week nights these days, and I like getting cozy for the night and having my skincare routine done early. I also ensure that I light a seasonal candle (I am very much enjoying this one currently). There’s something about having a comforting scent drift through the house as we have dinner and relax on the couch. As always, I still have peppermint tea after dinner, and I write in my journal and read some of my book before bed.

Lately, I have found myself drifting away from things like Instagram and looking inward. This is a period of my life in which I am valuing time to grow and make meaning when I can – through poetry and yoga and quiet time at home with my fiancé and my dog. The winter leans itself to these practices as well. I am simply listening to what I need, and thus, feeling content.

P.S. My mom recently bought me some yarn (moms are the best) and lent me some knitting needles; I haven’t knit in years and am so excited about my new fluffy white scarf. Also, more simple inspiration.