Can I talk about staring out windows for a second?
I’m lucky to have a window over my desk where I can stare out at the woods and down at the little alcove of my yard I’m slowly transforming into a Japanese garden. I also get a decent view of the sky, considering I do live in the woods.
I spend a lot of time staring out this window when my mind is drifting away from my work. But the best time to stare out the window is in the morning, before my brain starts working or in the evening when it starts to coast. In fact, on an ideal day, staring out the window is part of my daily routine.
It beats staring at my phone.
A phone-free routine
But here’s the thing, if you want to create a screenless non-scrolling morning or evening routine for yourself, you have to replace the old habits with new habits. Maybe you find yourself too wound-up to stare out the window for very long. I get it. Not everybody can be that chilled-out every day. So, you’ve got to give yourself a list of things you need to do before you log on for the day and after you log off for the night.
It’s just a lot easier to not do what you’re trying not to do when you have something else to do instead. So, here’ how you might want to replace the morning and evening doom-scroll.
Evening
I’m starting with the evening routine because it’s always best to prep for a good morning the night before. Also, since I’m assuming you’re reading this post more or less during the day, while you’re still awake, you’ll be able to implement the evening routine sooner anyway.
Remember, everybody’s life and needs are different, so you’ll want to customize these ideas to fit your own.
Log off after supper
Or even when you sit down to supper. This is the beginning of your evening routine. From now on you’re saying no to social media commentary on current events, blue light and endless scrolling. You now get to be fully present for the final hours of the day.
Go outside after supper
Take a walk around the neighborhood, play with your dog, work in your garden. Go for a jog or a bike ride if you’re one of those people. Get out and enjoy golden hour. Stick around for the sunset if it looks like it’s going to be a good show.
Read and or journal
Once you’re back inside for the night, settle in with your Sleepytime tea or whatever and do some reading. The Bible or your daily devotional are good options. Just make sure you don’t cram or try to play catch-up in the evenings if you’re behind on some reading plan. You could do mornings and evenings if you’re falling behind, just don’t read for hours when you’re supposed to be winding down. You might also want to journal or read some fiction if you like those things.
Make tomorrow’s to-do list
You know you’re going to start thinking of all the things you didn’t get done today anyway, so you might as well note down what you’d like to start on tomorrow. Remember, you’re probably only going to get half of it done, but that’s tomorrow’s business. Just write it down and we’ll deal with all that in the morning.
Brush teeth, wash face, go to bed
Notice I’m not advocating filling a tub with flower petals and bath bombs, lighting candles, putting on music and doing a face-mask every night. I know these super-extra self-care ‘routines’ are popular on Pinterest, but get real. You do not have the energy and time to do that every single night. And you probably shouldn’t be doing face-masks every day. And that’s a lot of bath-bombs.
Just give yourself time to do essential hygiene before bed. Take your make-up off. Brush and floss your teeth. You know what you need to do to make sure you go to bed feeling like you take care of yourself and wake up feeling refreshed. Just do that. You can do all that other stuff some nights, but it does not need to be part of your routine.
Morning
I hate mornings. Maybe that’s why I have a very strong routine for when I wake up compared to pretty much any other time of day. My brain is not working. It needs to be able to get through the first hour or so of the day on autopilot.
Maybe you’re a little more energetic, and once again, do this your way. If you can pop out of bed at five in the morning and go for a five-mile jog before breakfast, great. But here are my suggestions if you’d rather ease into the day a little slower.
Skincare
This really helps me wake up. My morning skincare if just cleansing and moisturizing, so it doesn’t take long, but the hot and cold water on my face really clears up the grogginess. I also wake up with a headache most of the time, and it somehow takes the edge off of that a bit too. A lot of people shower in the morning, which would probably be even better, but somehow I never got into showering at a particular time of day. It’s more just whenever I think I’m done sweating or digging in the mud for a while.
Tea or coffee
Immediately after my skincare routine, I’m staggering into the kitchen seeking hot black tea. Once it’s steeped, I usually take it to my desk and drink it slowly while staring out the window. Your morning tea or coffee time could also be a good time to touch base with whoever you live with and see what plans they have for the day. I often also review and revise my to-do list at this time.
Breakfast
Some people skip breakfast. Some make whole meal of it. I’m not going to tell you what’s best, I don’t know. It probably depends. Most of the time, it’s probably best to eat something to balance your blood sugar after waking up. It’s usually fairly light for me. Scrambled eggs. Cheerios. Berries.
Go outside
My favorite thing to do after breakfast, if I don’t have to go somewhere immediately is get outside. I like to get gardening and yardwork done in the morning. There’s nothing like outdoor air to finally get you ready to get things done for the day. And if you can do some actual physical work that makes a difference, it can be very invigorating. If you’re more contemplative in the morning, going for a walk or even sitting on your porch or balcony might serve you well enough.
Then You May Log On
And only then. Wait until you’ve gone through your whole morning routine before picking up your phone and checking anything. Keep your morning routine simple and natural. Make it something you can do without a lot of decision-making or working around obstacles. You won’t even be tempted to check your phone.
You may now return to the frenzy of the online world on your own terms. You’ve set your own mood and pace for the day. You know what you need to get done. You’ve also proved to yourself you don’t need to pick up your phone every five minutes. You’re in control of your own time and ready for a great day.