Aoife Clerkin
Aoife Clerkin is a social sector enthusiast working as the charity engagement manager for a startup. Passionate about social change, Aoife is based in Dublin, Ireland.
What is your morning routine?
The success of my morning routine lies in the ordinary, not the extraordinary. While I admire people who start the day with running and meditation, I am not one of them.
I’m a big believer in the power of quotes and I always have one pined to my bedside locker. My current quote is “Ships are safe in the harbour, but that is not what ships are built for”. I love that the first thing I see everyday is something positive.
I follow the same steps every morning when I get out of bed: stretch briefly, open the curtains and a window, and make my bed. There’s a teddy bear I’ve had since I was three days old so he gets pride of place on the bed.
I always choose my clothes for the day the night before as I find that this eliminates a lot of potential stress. I try to play an upbeat song while I’m getting ready. Today my song of choice was Keep Your Head Up by Ben Howard.
How has your morning routine changed over recent years?
My routine has generally stayed the same for the past couple of years. When I was in university my mornings were a lot more flexible and I was more likely to stray from my routine.
Do you use an alarm to wake you up in the morning, and if so do you ever hit the snooze button?
I set my alarm for 7.30am every morning but I tend to wake up naturally at around 7. I never press snooze on my alarm but I do tend to stay in bed for a few minutes before I get up.
What do you have for breakfast?
For breakfast I usually have a big glass of juice, a home made brown scone, a yoghurt and some fruit. I’m a big believer in breakfast being the most important meal of the day and I really notice a difference in my energy levels if I skip breakfast.
Do you have a morning workout routine?
I cycle to work whenever the weather permits it. It’s a lovely cycle through the Phoenix Park and along the quays of the River Liffey. I also enjoy getting the bus to work as it gives me time to do some reading.
How soon do you check your phone in the morning, either for calls/messages or social media and news?
In the last month I’ve decided to embrace social media. I blog and I’m trying to tweet more regularly. I’ll usually send my first tweet while I’m still in bed and quickly check my emails, responding to anything that is urgent.
What are your most important tasks in the morning?
It’s really important for me to plan my day.
When I arrive at work I write a list of tasks I want to accomplish that day. I usually start with the most difficult task and go from there. Checking in with my colleagues is also a vital task that needs to be completed in the morning as things can change so quickly when you work for a startup.
What time do you go to sleep?
I’m almost always asleep by midnight. I love baths so whenever I have the chance I’ll have a bath before bed. I find that baths really help me to unwind and reflect on my day. I’ve been putting a drop of lavender on my pillow for as long as I can remember and I find it very soothing.
What do you do if you fail to follow your routine, and how does this influence the rest of your day?
If I don’t follow my morning routine I try not to beat myself up about it and focus on the day ahead. It always helps knowing that tomorrow is another day!
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