Have you ever enjoyed a Saturday morning so lovely and pleasant that it still stands out in your memory?

This shoot was on one of my favorite mornings. I was still living in D.C. on Capitol Hill at the time, and Saturday mornings were my absolute favorites: dress up (or in winter, bundle and boot up), grab a coffee, visit the markets, read, write, plan a photo shoot. The entire day was mine to enjoy. 2020 was many things, but thankfully among them, a year of embracing having nowhere to rush off to.

If you’re feeling “bleh” and would like a bit of inspiration for the mornings or weekends, here’s what I like to do:

• At times, I follow this Tim Ferris morning routine, entertainingly broken down by one of my favorite Youtubers, Sorelle Amore. For the phases when I can do this consistently, this has me feeling, both mentally and physically, like a million bucks, honestly. (Yes, this does include a cold shower. No, I am neither strung out nor off my rocker. Yes, I do recommend it. It’s miserable at first but your body adjusts and it does feel incredible afterward.)

• Make the bed. For me, a clean room is calming, and a made bed is a. big part of that. It’s just the correct thing to do first.

• Make coffee. If making iced coffee, I’ll either make an iced Americano with two shots of espresso, or use Stok unsweetened cold brew (both with creamer, obviously). Sometimes I’ll make a hot tea or Americano.

• Walk the dog. This has been a great way to get out of the house, establish a routine, and warm up. I’ll usually listen to a podcast or watch Netflix while I walk on our walking trail.

• Exercise. Early AM workouts are my favorite. I’ve found that lifting and cardio feel great in the morning, while yoga works well as an evening wind-down or a midday break. I shower and get ready afterward and only have to do it once for the day. I also feel alert and happier when having worked out first thing.

• Meditate. I use the Peloton app for this, but I also love Headspace. Even 10 or 15 minutes is a great way to start the day focused on my breathing. (I tend to hold tension and stress in my chest, so breathing techniques help me tremendously.)

• Get dressed. This does not happen every day! But even when working from home I do try to change into different clothes to help signal it’s time to start my workday.

• Style hair and makeup. If I have plans to go out later that night, I’d rather get ready earlier in the day to avoid being rushed later. Then all I need is a quick touch-up.

Mind you, I do not do all of these things every single day - it takes incredible self-discipline to get as much of these accomplished as I can, but the more I make time for, the better I feel.

I hope these ideas inspire you to look after yourself! Stick around my blog for more fun tips and shares.

bisoux,

Tay