Candace Bryan
Candace Bryan is editor of Azula, an online publication focused on ocean lifestyle and conservation. Candace is currently based in Brooklyn, New York.
What is your morning routine?
I wake up at 7:00am every morning; get out of bed, put on pyjamas, and put my hair in a bun. I live on a second story apartment on a busy street on New York’s Upper East Side, so I’m always surprised I managed to sleep through all the honking, footsteps, and shouting going on outside my window.
I turn on my laptop, pour coffee (which I’ve scheduled to brew at 6:45am), and touch my toes for about a minute. I listen to one guilty pleasure song before I get started, but then no more music. By 7:15am I’m working and I basically don’t look up from my computer until midday.
I live with my boyfriend, who wakes up around 9:00am and immediately takes a shower (part of my morning involves wondering how someone could take such a long shower). I also frequently contemplate going over to my standing desk to work, but always find excuses for why I should stay in the comfy chair.
How has your morning routine changed over recent years?
I used to abide by the “work starts at 9:00am” mentality, so even if I woke up at 7:00, I’d just read a magazine, browse through Flipboard, or do some half-assed yoga until it was time.
I soon realized that was a huge waste of time, because my mind is most active in the morning, and I’m far more productive knowing I can call it quits early and have the afternoon to myself.
What time do you go to sleep?
Usually some time between 11:00pm and 1:00am on the weekdays.
Do you use an alarm to wake you up in the morning, and if so do you ever hit the snooze button?
I believe people who use snooze buttons lack joie de vivre. Not me. Maybe it’s because I’m young, or maybe it’s because my alarm wakes me up with Express Yourself by Diplo, but even when exhausted, I’m so excited to start my day that I practically jump out of bed.
Also, I usually wake up a few minutes before the alarm, but I simply turn it off and start the day early.
How soon after waking up do you have breakfast, and what do you typically have?
I usually don’t eat until noon, and will then frequently have a bagel with tofu cream cheese, tomato, and jalapeños. Or on days when I’m not as hungry, a bran muffin.
Do you have a morning workout routine?
No, but I always go on a run in the mid afternoon.
Working out in the morning is better for me because if I get stiff from sitting all morning, I can get loose again. Plus, I lose focus around 2:00pm no matter what, so it’s good for my endurance.
How about morning meditation?
On days where I have a lot to do, or am generally stressed, I’ll say to myself over and over again “I’m going to make today my bitch!” It’s not classy, but it works.
Instead of wasting time lamenting that I have to answer 100 emails, I say “I’m going to make today my bitch! I’m going to make these emails my bitch!” and I’ll be done in 40 minutes.
Do you see to email first thing in the morning or leave it until later in the day?
First thing. It’s embarrassing, I guess, that I’m sending out messages at 7:30am, but at least it’s not 3:00am, right?
How soon do you check your phone in the morning, either for calls/messages or social media and news?
Before I stopped using Twitter, I would check it first thing, while still in bed. Awful stuff. But I’ve deleted the app, so I’m safe.
What are your most important tasks in the morning?
Figuring out what I’m going to write about that day, so I can think about the topics while I do the tedious tasks I have at hand.
What and when is your first drink in the morning?
7:01am – coffee with cinnamon and almond milk.
On days you’re not settled in your home, are you able to adapt your routine to fit in with a different environment?
Yeah, it’s actually great.
Since I work in the morning, I can finish early and hang out with my friends or enjoy my travel location. Sometimes I’ll even wake up an hour earlier, so I have more time in the day.
What do you do if you fail to follow your routine, and how does this influence the rest of your day?
I only fail my routine very rarely, when I’m insanely hungover, so it influences my day pretty negatively.
I do the same stuff, but start at 9:00 instead of 7:00am. And I definitely don’t wait until noon for that bagel…
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