Corbett Barr
Corbett Barr is a blogger, podcaster, independent entrepreneur, and the co-founder of Fizzle. He splits his time between Portland, Oregon and Mexico.
What is your morning routine?
I wake up around 8:30am. My wife and I take our dog for a walk every morning for about thirty minutes. I find this helps get the blood flowing and wakes up my brain.
After the walk, some days I stop at a coffee shop and get to work right away. Other days I work from home, and start by brewing some green tea. I typically eat breakfast around 10:00am and work until 1:00pm or so. From there, a few days a week I take a break to work out (running outside or doing bodyweight exercises at home).
How long have you stuck with this routine so far?
This has been my routine for about six months.
How has your morning routine changed over recent years?
I tend to change things up every 6-12 months. Most recently I added the daily walk first thing in the morning.
What time do you go to sleep?
Around 12:30am.
Do you do anything before going to bed to make your morning easier?
I check my calendar to make sure I don’t have anything urgent the next morning.
Do you use an alarm to wake you up in the morning, and if so do you ever hit the snooze button?
I don’t use an alarm. Generally, I get up within fifteen minutes of my target time.
How soon after waking up do you have breakfast, and what do you typically have?
I tend to eat about 60-90 minutes after waking up. My breakfast varies between eggs, oatmeal, and yogurt.
Do you have a morning workout routine?
My wife and I go for a slow jog once or twice a week instead of walking. Otherwise, I generally save my workout for later in the day when I need a break from work.
Do you answer email first thing in the morning or leave it until later in the day?
I usually triage email quickly in the morning, only replying to something if it is truly urgent. Otherwise, I wait until the afternoon.
Do you use any apps or products to enhance your sleep or morning routine?
Every morning I check Asana and Trello for tasks and projects, and I turn music on through Sonos.
How soon do you check your phone in the morning?
Immediately when I wake up.
What are your most important tasks in the morning?
That’s the essential question, isn’t it? Generally, my most important tasks are tied to whatever project I’m working on at the time.
What and when is your first drink in the morning?
Water right away, then green tea about forty-five minutes after waking up.
How does your partner fit into your morning routine?
My wife and I wake up at the same time, take a thirty-minute walk, and make tea together. After that, we start our independent workdays.
Do you also follow this routine on weekends, or do you change some steps?
The first forty-five minutes of the routine are the same on weekends (wake up, walk, make tea). After that we tend to read for a couple of hours and then make breakfast together.
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’m alone or with my wife, yes, I can stick to the routine. When we’re traveling with friends, generally no, the routine changes.
What do you do if you fail to follow your morning routine, and how does this influence the rest of your day?
I find that when I don’t go for a walk in the morning, I’m not in the same headspace, and I sometimes feel sluggish or tire out more quickly during the day.
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