Mars Dorian
Mars Dorian is an online illustrator and indie sci-fi author. Named after the red planet, but born on the blue one, Mars currently lives in Berlin, Germany.
What is your morning routine?
I wake up and do exercises for 30-45 minutes before taking a cold shower. As I don’t drink coffee, this is the only thing that wakes me up ;)
How long have you stuck with this routine so far?
For about four years now, though I had moments where I neglected it… because of laziness. Face it, sometimes, especially on weekends after a party, I don’t want to stick to a routine. That’s okay, because those days are my rejuvenation moments.
How has your morning routine changed over recent years?
Over recent years my morning routine has become more tight and focused. The older I get, the less time I want to waste.
What time do you go to sleep?
That ranges from season to season. In summertime, usually around 4 to 5:00am because I can’t work when the sun is shining outside. It’s too bright, noisy and distracting. In wintertime, I go to bed at 12 to 2:00am because I work during the day.
Do you use an alarm to wake you up in the morning, and if so do you ever hit the snooze button?
Yes, I need an alarm. And yes, I often doze for ten minutes or so. I don’t mind it - as long as I get out of bed.
How soon after waking up do you have breakfast, and what do you typically have?
I don’t eat breakfast.
I always feel stuffed when I wake up, plus eating makes me tired afterwards. I consume food only once or twice per day, usually around 5 to 9:00pm. I do something called mini-fasting, which means you don’t eat for up to twenty hours in a row every day. I’m thin by nature, so I only do this for maximizing my energy.
Do you have a morning workout routine?
Yes. I do sit-ups, push-ups, stretching exercises and I walk for about one hour every single day before I start work. I also dance in my room and blasts up the music.
How about morning meditation?
I tried to meditate because I like Jedis, but it didn’t work out for me. My mind is a creative tornado, and I’d like to keep it that way. This just proves not everything works for everyone.
Drawing and writing are my meditations ;)
Do you answer email first thing in the morning or leave it until later in the day?
Unfortunately, yes. For me, email is still a mini Christmas Eve. I can’t wait to see a new commission request or new fan mail in my inbox, it’s part of the fun of being a freelancer.
How soon do you check your phone in the morning?
I don’t have a smartphone because it distracted me from being productive. I have an old Nokia ‘dumbphone’ which I never check unless someone calls me.
What are your most important tasks in the morning?
Workout, workout, workout. Since I’m an online illustrator and sit in front of my Mac all day, I need a lot of physical exercise beforehand.
What and when is your first drink in the morning?
After I finish working out, I drink a few cups of hot water filled with Kaiser-Natron, which is an alkaline powder good for teeth and body. It basically helps you balance the acids in your body, support circulation, and prevents plaque.
On days you’re not settled in your home, are you able to adapt your routine to fit in with a different environment?
Unfortunately not. I drop the exercises when I’m at another place, because I often don’t have the space or time. But I’m working from my place 99% of the time, so that rarely happens.
What do you do if you fail to follow your morning routine, and how does this influence the rest of your day?
First I complain like a five year old, and then I lose my flow. Productivity drops. But then I catch myself and start over again. The rituals are so strong now that I rarely ‘break’ them.
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