Jonny Blair
Jonny Blair is a long time traveler from Northern Ireland who’s visited almost eighty countries.
What is your morning routine?
As a traveller and general nomad, I have two different morning routines; my morning routine when I’m staying in the same place working, and my morning routine when I’m travelling. I think I’ll share my travelling routine with you today.
I try to get up early, around 7:00am, to get washed and changed in the hostel ready for the day ahead. I normally have breakfast in the hostel as it’s usually included in my accommodation costs (I tend to look for hostels that have free breakfast).
During breakfast I plan what I’ll do that day: sights to see, transport I’ll use, and a rough budget. For this I use a travel guidebook and a notebook. If I’m with my girlfriend we plan together. If not, I either travel alone or with a few others from the hostel.
Next I’ll have a quick check online at my e-mails, Facebook, Twitter, and take care of any business associated with my blog. I won’t spend more than thirty minutes on that in the morning.
How long have you stuck with this routine so far?
All of my backpacking life! I like to get up early, have breakfast, and plan the day ahead.
How has your morning routine changed over recent years?
If I settle in a particular place for a while, my routine changes as I will be working full time.
Most of the jobs I have done are shift work, so the routine changes completely. In some of my recent jobs, I’d finish work at 5:00am (in a bar for example) and be home for bed as the sun is coming up!
What time do you go to sleep?
When I’m travelling I try to get to bed for midnight. If I’ve a lot of online work to do, it will be 1:00am.
Do you use an alarm to wake you up in the morning, and if so do you ever hit the snooze button?
I do sometimes when it’s something important, but usually I wake up naturally around 6.30am. I try to turn the alarm off as soon as it sounds as the noise annoys me!
How soon after waking up do you have breakfast, and what do you typically have?
It changes depending on where I am.
I love fried breakfasts; eggs, bacon, toast, sausages etc. So if where I’m staying has that I’m always up for it. Other times I’ll have toast with jam or breakfast cereals, I love Weetabix.
I’ll almost always have a cup of tea with my breakfast, as well as an orange juice.
Do you have a morning workout routine?
No, I’m afraid not. Walking and hiking are my ways of keeping fit on the road.
How about morning meditation?
No, though if I’m travelling in China and people are out meditating, I’m always game to relax and watch them.
Do you see to email first thing in the morning or leave it until later in the day?
I’m always itching to check it any time I can so if I have Wi-Fi in the hostel I’m staying in, I’ll check it when I wake up!
How soon do you check your phone in the morning, either for calls/messages or social media and news?
Never. I don’t like mobile phones and I hate using them. Yes I have one, but I only ever use it in an emergency.
What are your most important tasks in the morning?
Checking e-mail, planning my day, and having a cup of tea.
What and when is your first drink in the morning?
A sip of water from my bottle when I wake up.
What do you do if you fail to follow your routine, and how does this influence the rest of your day?
“Failure to prepare is preparing to fail,” so if I haven’t planned my day ahead, I may miss some key sights and activities.
Planning is key, but I don’t only do it in the morning, I also try to plan stuff the night before.
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