Matt Young
Matt Young is a podcaster, digital marketer, dog walker, and (in his own words) an incessant talker from the beautiful county of Devon, UK.
What is your morning routine?
I’m normally up by 6:30am, sometimes earlier, at which point I’ll go downstairs and have breakfast almost immediately (via a quick trip to the loo of course!). I flick through the BBC or Sky apps or Twitter to consume my news and sometimes I have been known to play the occasional game on my phone. I always listen to the radio in the mornings, something funny that gets me going (normally Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2).
My housemate is an early riser too so we’ll exchange grunts in passing but as soon as some form of coffee or food is imbibed, our communication improves. He’s an incredibly positive person which is fantastic to be around… I’m not sure I have ever seen him in a bad mood. We discuss our days and then go about it. He sometimes reads quietly in the front room but more often than not, he’s out the door early; he’s a builder.
How has your morning routine changed over recent years?
I used to get up much earlier, about 4:30am, as I started work at 6:00am. That routine was really good as it meant I had some quiet time first thing.
I have also recently gone through a relationship break-up. Looking at the positive side of that though, my routine is much quieter and easier without having to work around other people using the bathroom.
What time do you go to sleep?
Late, rarely before midnight.
Do you use an alarm to wake you up in the morning, and if so do you ever hit the snooze button?
Yep, a gentle affair so as not to stir me with a start. I have been known to occasionally hit snooze.
How soon after waking up do you have breakfast, and what do you typically have?
I eat almost immediately. Eggs or cereal mainly… it changes often as I like variety. At the weekends, it is often fried!
Do you have a morning workout routine?
Nope, not unless you include showering.
Do you see to email first thing in the morning or leave it until later in the day?
I check it first thing but rarely reply then, unless it is important. The same goes with social media. I’m a social media fanatic and it is also my job.
What are your most important tasks in the morning?
To make sure the start to the day sets me up for the remainder of the day. No rushing around, I try and get prepped the night before if I can (making packed lunches, etc).
What and when is your first drink in the morning?
Normally coffee but if I’m having cereal I tend to avoid having anything else to drink as I just end up feeling bloated (must be a sign of age).
On days you’re not settled in your home, are you able to adapt your routine to fit in with a different environment?
I have to, yes. Hotels are easier to adapt, staying with friends is much more complicated and I normally just abide by their own routine.
What do you do if you fail to follow your routine, and how does this influence the rest of your day?
I rarely run late as I only have myself to worry about these days and if I can’t handle that, I need to have a serious word with myself.
Some morning’s I have a long drive if I’m delivering training in Cornwall or somewhere else equally remote. On these days, I make sure I prep the night before and give myself time to eat, shower and get dressed before leaving.
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