Abby Stewart
Abby Stewart is a teacher, writer, and all-round fun-raiser from Houston, Texas, currently living in San Francisco, California.
What is your morning routine?
My alarm goes off at 6:00am, I then make a decision regarding whether or not I want to wash my hair that day. If I decide to go for a wash, I head to the shower – if not, I press snooze until 6:30, when my manfriend’s alarm goes off.
I do my hair and makeup and dress myself, which usually takes about 20-30 minutes, depending on my level of comatose for that given morning. I always pick out my outfits and hang them on display before I go to bed; otherwise I will spend an additional fifteen minutes throwing clothing about the room before (always) eventually deciding to wear whatever my first choice was. Then, I turn on the Keurig.
I take Sherman (our dog) outside for his morning routine and feed him. At this point it’s probably around 7 or 7:15am and the manfriend is usually done showering.
While I make tea and coffee in the Keurig, he makes breakfast – usually bacon and eggs. Sherman belligerently lies in the middle of the kitchen, hoping we’ll drop something. Then, we eat together with no technology or TV, just chatting about our upcoming days. At 8:00am, he leaves for work and I watch one episode of The Office (US version) while I finish my tea. Finally, I walk the two blocks to work at 8:30.
How long have you stuck with this routine so far?
This has been my routine since my new job started at the beginning of July.
How has your morning routine changed over recent years?
I was not a morning person for a long time, and could sleep until noon if you’d let me. However, since I became a teacher, work starts fairly early most days (summer school starts later) which has required me to wake up earlier and earlier over the years. Depending on what job I’ve worked, I’ve gotten up anywhere from 5-6:30am.
What time do you go to sleep?
Midnight, maybe a little before.
I usually have a pretty hard time falling asleep, so I take melatonin. Lying in bed is when my brain decides to get ALL the ideas, so I usually keep a notebook close by and am sometimes jotting things down until 1 or 2:00am.
How soon after waking up do you have breakfast, and what do you typically have?
I have breakfast after I get physically ready for the day. Don’t be jealous ladies, but my manfriend can fry a mean egg, and he always uses bacon grease to do so. So, I start the day off with a large amount of protein and some fruit. I am a big believer in big breakfasts and breakfast specific food.
Do you have a morning workout routine?
Nope, well, unless you count walking to work. I usually do yoga in the afternoons, directly after work. I am trying to integrate meditation into my mornings, but for now The Office will suffice.
How soon do you check your phone in the morning, either for calls/messages or social media and news?
I check my email and social media while I’m still lying in bed. My job doesn’t necessitate a large amount of emails, so it’s purely for social reasons that I login. I follow a lot of overseas Instagram accounts and I like to see what the world was up to while I was sleeping.
I also get an email newsletter called theSkimm delivered daily; it summarizes international news highlights and keeps me abreast of current events without my having to wade through various news outlets.
What and when is your first drink in the morning?
Tea with breakfast, usually an English Breakfast blend with milk.
On days you’re not settled in your home, are you able to adapt your routine to fit in with a different environment?
When I am traveling it’s usually personal or for vacation. That said, it’s easy for me to change my routine to adapt to various environments. If I am visiting a friend or family member, I typically let them dictate my morning routine – brunch plans, yoga class, etc. I try to go with the flow if I am not in my bubble.
What do you do if you fail to follow your routine, and how does this influence the rest of your day?
I don’t like feeling rushed. It’s the worst. That’s why I always make sure to have my lunch, clothes and lessons prepped the night before.
I use the morning as a springboard to get myself moving and motivated to take on the day – I like to absorb the quiet and peacefulness that comes before chaos. If I leave the house five minutes behind, I feel incredibly late and rushed, and it does negatively impact the way I perceive the rest of my day. I wish I could say I am adaptable in this regard, but on work mornings I do like things to go a certain way.
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