Lately, I’ve been questioning how to change my morning routine at work. My current customs may sound familiar:
Current Morning Routine
1: Arrive to “office building” (for me: high school)
2: Sit down and open computer (for me: Dell, circa 1988)
3: Log into Outlook (for me: don’t get me STARTED on Outlook. Gross)
4: Waste 20 minutes on Outlook (for me: read forgettable e-mail and half-draft responses)
5: Migrate to Google Chrome browser for continued “work” (for me: meme research)
6: Bell rings for the beginning of “work” (for me: “first period”) Today I realized:
Opening my computer obliterates my morning.
Because when I get to my first period class, do you know what I do?
GUESS.
I open my computer AGAIN. I open my computer approximately 37 times a DAY. Those e-mails will still be there. The funniest Monday memes will still be there. Useful manicure and weight loss tips professional career advice tips will STILL be there.
I decided this morning I am ready to change up my morning routine. Here are some things I am going to try doing instead of death-marching to my little cyber-jail at 8:30 AM every day:
How to Change the Morning Routine:
1. Stand in the hall and start a conversation with someone. Anyone. I will chase them down and rip out their beats headphones if I need to.
2. Get some coffee. Preferably iced for spring–see related/tremendously important blog post here.
3. Go to the library (I’m not sure what the equivalent of this would be in a different work environment. Are there newspaper stands or something?)
4. Make up lists of words and phrases I will try to use during the day. For example, tomorrow I think I will find occasion to say “rainbow of challenges”. I’m getting chills of anticipation already.
5. Go OUTSIDE.
What do you like to do in the mornings when you get to work? Comment below!