Erin Motz
Erin Motz is the co-founder of Bad Yogi, a yoga and lifestyle brand whose aim is to redefine yoga culture, and the voice of real yogis everywhere. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Erin currently lives in Nice, France.
What is your morning routine?
I wake between 7:45 and 8:05am simply because it’s early enough that I feel accomplished but not so early that I’m depriving myself of sleep. This is very thought out, haha! Then I brush my teeth, wash my face, and head out to the living room where I get situated for my meditation.
I meditate for 10 minutes and then immediately put pen to paper and write for about 20-30 minutes. It’s usually stream-of-consciousness stuff or my thoughts about any random topic I think of.
After that I head into the kitchen and empty the always-full dishwasher while my breakfast cooks. Once the kitchen is cleared up, I eat breakfast while reading emails and deleting any inbox junk. Then, I finally get to my to-do list.
How long have you stuck with this routine so far?
This is all relatively new, so about three months, I think. I’ve become exponentially more productive since I implemented a routine, and I won’t ever go back to not doing this unless some extenuating circumstance calls for it to change. Now that I’ve found one, I’m an evangelist for finding a morning routine that sets you up for a successful day!
How has your morning routine changed over recent years?
When I quit working my “regular” full-time job to pursue Bad Yogi three years ago, I had virtually no routine and really struggled with that. I felt unproductive and aimless, and I never really stuck with the changes I made towards improving my situation.
That did not serve me well, and I continued to feel pretty disorganized until more recently. I had to really discipline myself to build a routine that would give me an anchor. It’s taken a long time for me to find my groove, but I feel like I finally have the perfect mix right now.
What time do you go to sleep?
The exact time fluctuates, but I try to be asleep by midnight.
Do you use an alarm to wake you up in the morning, and if so do you ever hit the snooze button?
I do, and I never hit snooze. I don’t want anyone to be impressed by this, though, because it’s not discipline that stops me from hitting snooze. I just don’t need to because I make sure I get enough sleep - pretty simple!
How soon after waking up do you have breakfast, and what do you typically have?
I’m starving the moment I wake up, so I always eat within the hour. When it’s cold, I eat oatmeal, and when it’s warm, I eat fruit and some kind of protein and fat.
Do you have a morning workout routine?
I like to be a little sloth-like in the morning, so no. I save that for the afternoon!
Do you have a morning meditation routine, and if so what kind of meditation do you practice?
Yes, and it’s nothing special.
I sit on the floor with my eyes closed and let myself slip into the space between my thoughts. I don’t try to eliminate my thoughts, but I try to sit between them, as weird as that sounds. I use mantras but not the Sanskrit kind. I change them often and they evolve as the meditation goes, but they’re super simple. For example: “I am powerful.” “I’m seeking creative solutions.” “I’m open to all possibility.” They change all the time, and I just make them up according to what I need.
Do you answer email first thing in the morning or leave it until later in the day?
I answer email a couple times a day and not until the afternoon, usually.
How soon do you check your phone in the morning?
I keep it on airplane mode until I’m done with my meditation and writing.
What are your most important tasks in the morning?
Every day is different. I skim through my to-do’s (I use a Bullet Journal) to see what’s on tap for the day, and then I look over my Apple calendar, which I share with my business partner, to see what collaborative things we have going on.
What and when is your first drink in the morning?
A couple gulps of water with probiotics right after I’m done with my meditation and writing.
Do you also follow this routine on weekends, or do you change some steps?
Yep, every day, no change.
On days you’re not settled in your home, are you able to adapt your routine to fit in with a different environment?
Ehh, I’m flexible then. I like to be taken away by a place, so when I go somewhere new, I just let the new experience happen to me. If I’m traveling for work, then I stick with my morning routine. I need to feel grounded and be in a clear mental space to operate with clarity and purpose.
What do you do if you fail to follow your morning routine, and how does this influence the rest of your day?
I’ve missed three days over the past few months, and it’s totally thrown me off! I do try to catch up with it later in the day; for example, I’ll still carve out time to meditate and write, and that helps clear my head and bring me back down to earth.
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