Erin Loechner
Erin Loechner is a writer and former art director and stylist in Los Angeles who is now nestled in a Midwestern town with her husband and toddler. In her newest book, Chasing Slow, Erin shares her journey away from fast, fame, and frenzy to a new-fashioned lifestyle of less.
What is your morning routine?
Well, it’s admittedly a bit hit or miss in these parts. I’ve got two morning routines: my survive and my thrive. Currently, with a six-month-old baby who doesn’t yet sleep through the night and an early-rising four-year-old, I’m smack dab in the middle of survival mode.
Here’s what it looks like:
Sometime between 2:00am and 4:00am, my husband wakes me up just as he heads to bed (he’s a night owl and takes the midnight feeding) so I can feed Scout and rock him back to sleep before heading into the kitchen to start a condensed work day. I’m a full-time mom first and a blogger second, so the bulk of my work is relegated to those wee hours in the day when the house is dark, the room is quiet, and my own small world is sound asleep. It’s admittedly one of my favorite parts of the day.
I start my morning by writing first, always, and then I sneak in a few more logistical matters (emails, interviews, social media, etc.) before my four-year-old daughter wakes up. Once she’s up and at ’em (around 7:00am), the computer is closed in lieu of breakfast and books, puzzles, and play.
How long have you stuck with this routine so far?
This is a fairly new routine (we just welcomed our son six months ago), and is an adjustment from my typical mornings, or my thrive routine.
My thrive routine still calls for an early morning, but I leave the house and head to my local coffee shop to write before the rest of the gang wakes up. I then take a morning yoga class before heading home and putting on my Mom Hat for the day.
What time do you go to sleep?
The second my littles are in bed, I follow. This is usually somewhere between 7:00 and 8:30pm, hopefully! I’m definitely an early-to-bed type.
Do you do anything before going to bed to make your morning easier?
On a day where I have to leave the house (going to my daughter’s Chinese lessons, the grocery store, or a playdate), I’ll lay out my clothes the night before. And I always try to remember to move the bacon to the fridge to thaw, but I inevitably forget ;)
Do you use an alarm to wake you up in the morning, and if so do you ever hit the snooze button?
I’m a firm anti-snoozer. Gotta rip off the band-aid.
How soon after waking up do you have breakfast, and what do you typically have?
Although I like having breakfast right away, it’s not worth waking up the kids with a sizzling skillet. Often, I’ll wait until my daughter is awake (she’s the lighter sleeper), and then I’ll make breakfast for both of us. It’s nearly always the same: eggs, avocado, and berries for her; sweet potato hash with bacon, kale, and a fried egg for me. I’m a total creature of habit when it comes to food!
Do you have a morning workout routine?
In the past, I religiously attended a 9:30am yoga class. I still miss it, but I know that once this little guy starts sleeping through the night, I’ll be back in action. It’s a beautiful way to wake up for the day!
Do you have a morning meditation routine, and if so what kind of meditation do you practice?
I start my morning with a simple prayer: Lord, help me see. That’s it. Nothing fancy. I find it offers me the precise amount of perspective I need throughout the day - I’m always repeating it in my head!
Do you answer email first thing in the morning or leave it until later in the day?
Never! I only answer emails after I’ve written, or after I’ve met an important deadline for the day. Emails are simple and quick for me to answer, so I like to reserve them for a time when my brain isn’t operating at peak creativity levels.
Do you use any apps or products to enhance your sleep or morning routine?
No, I sleep like a rock. No need for any help there!
How soon do you check your phone in the morning?
I always peek over to see what time it is and that’s generally it. I prefer my laptop to my phone, so I’ll get started on computer work right away.
What are your most important tasks in the morning?
Work. I squeeze quite a bit into that 2:00am(ish)-6:00am(ish) window, so I like to make it count as much as possible.
What and when is your first drink in the morning?
Water, then coffee! Right away, and in that order.
Do you also follow this routine on weekends, or do you change some steps?
I generally don’t work on weekends, so I sleep in a bit, although I’m still covering that early-morning feeding shift with the baby. I sometimes crawl back into bed and sleep until my daughter wakes up, and then it’s business as usual.
On days you’re not settled in your home, are you able to adapt your routine to fit in with a different environment?
You know, when I’m traveling, I have a very anything-goes attitude. I like the fresh perspective a new space offers, so I’m much more able to adapt to the routine of that environment rather than forcing my own.
What do you do if you fail to follow your morning routine, and how does this influence the rest of your day?
Oh, I have a hard time if I don’t get in my morning hours. Even on weekends when I’m not working, I prefer being the first one awake to center myself in quiet. It’s the only time of day when the house is silent and calm, so I treasure it so much!
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