Routines That Actually Work (When Your Brain Has 20 Tabs Open)
Photo credit: Punky @punkturesphotography
You know how everyone shares their perfect 5am morning routine? Yeah... that's not this.
I'm not going to tell you to wake up at dawn, drink lemon water, and meditate for an hour. Because honestly? That's not real life for most of us. And it's DEFINITELY not what works for my brain.
Here's the thing - people tell me all the time, "You're so organized! I don't know how you do it!" But can I tell you a secret? This isn't really about being organized at all. It's about figuring out what my brain actually needs to function without feeling like there are 20 tabs open all the time.
When My Brain Has 20 Tabs Open
You know that feeling when your computer has 20 tabs open and it starts running really slow? That's my brain without routines. I feel completely out of control and often really irritable. I may have some heart racing, get REAL bitey with my family - and feel as if I can't think straight if someone interrupts me when I'm trying to handle everything at once.
And here's what I've learned over the years - routine is a game changer for me. But it's not because I'm naturally organized or disciplined. It's because my brain can be so all over the place, and basic routines help me get out of my head and into actionable steps.
What does YOUR brain feel like when it's overloaded? And what's ONE thing that helps you slow it down?
My Morning Reality (Not Perfect, Just What Works)
My morning routine is pretty standard, but there's a WHY behind every piece of it:
I get up and take my vitamins right away. Then I drink water - a good 20 to 30 ounces every morning. If I don't drink enough water, I just don't have energy. It's like my body needs that jump start to get going.
Then I do some form of movement -strength training or walking. Now, people think I exercise because it's healthy, and sure, that's great. But me to you? If I could have a clear head and emotional space without working out, I might not do it. The exercise clears my head. It gives me perspective. It helps me sort through all the things I'm dealing with day to day. I especially like to be outside where I can smell the dirt and just breathe -weird I know AND it totally calms my mind.
From there, it depends on the day. Sometimes I'm seeing clients, sometimes I'm doing office work, sometimes it's housework. But typically, Mondays are my day to reset everything - laundry, cleaning, touching base with clients, responding to emails and texts and calls. Having this day set aside allows me to fully enjoy my Saturday and Sunday because I know I have this reset built in.
When is YOUR good brain energy time? What could you protect during those hours?
"Putting the House to Bed"
Now here's something that's been a total game changer - what I call "putting the house to bed." And it starts the night before.
When I sort of put the house to bed, I empty the sink, run the dishwasher, do a quick tidy. Most nights, anyway - some nights I'm exhausted and it doesn't all happen, and that's okay too. But when it DOES happen? In the morning when I wake up, my mind doesn't rush to handle all the clutter I see sitting around. It's fresh for other things and more difficult tasks that require brain work.
See, if the kitchen's a wreck, the first thing that grabs my time and my energy is the kitchen. But cleaning the kitchen is a fairly mindless task for me. Wasting my good brain energy - which for me is in the morning - on mindless tasks feels like such a waste.
When I stand in my kitchen and things are in order, it's like... okay, I feel so free to go to the next thing instead of dividing my interest and my good energy.
What's ONE thing you could do tonight that would help tomorrow feel easier?
The "Squirrel!" Moments
Now, I don't want you to think I have this all figured out, because I definitely don't. Let me tell you about what I call my "squirrel" moments.
Here's a perfect example: I go down to put laundry in. I put the laundry in, and then I look around and realize, "Oh, it needs swept down here. Or the washer top needs wiped, or the sink cleaned.. Oh, you know what? I forgot to unpack this Amazon package in the basement." And I start doing THAT instead of going back upstairs after the laundry is in and returning to the task I was actually supposed to be doing.
This usually happens when I'm NOT in my good brain energy zone. When I AM in the zone, I can look at my list, do an item, check it off, and keep moving. When I'm not? That's when I'm bouncing all over the place, doing everything EXCEPT what's on my list.
What are YOUR biggest distraction triggers? When do you notice yourself going down rabbit holes?
The Brain Dump Magic
One of the most grounding things I do is what I call a brain dump. I just dump(write) EVERYTHING onto a piece of paper. Then I look at it and schedule it accordingly in my planner so I can set it aside and not carry it around in my head.
When that is completed I ALWAYS, feel calmer inside. Like okay, I can manage this. There's something about seeing it all written out that makes it feel less overwhelming and more doable.
The act of getting it all on paper totally grounds me. Sometimes I can even feel my shoulders relax when I do it.
When do YOU feel most clear-headed? What's already working in your life that helps your brain feel calmer?
Protecting My Wind-Down Time
Here's something else I've learned about my brain - it needs transition time. Once I go into my bedroom, I only use my phone to read, and I have it in dark mode. It's a pleasure book, not something that's going to get my mind going. My notifications are set to off, so after 7pm I try not to respond to texts, calls, or anything of the sort.
You know what happens if I get a late call from one of my kids or deal with a client emergency in the evening? My brain gets sort of active, thinking and responding instead of calmly winding down. It'll even affect my sleep - I don't sleep well, I'm restless, and it's like my brain is working on things even while I sleep. Definitely not a restful night.
What winds your brain up before bed? What would help you transition into rest mode?
It's Not About Perfect - It's About What Works
Here's what I want you to hear: this isn't about having the perfect routine or being super disciplined. It's about paying attention to what your brain actually needs and then working WITH it instead of against it.
I love to be able to run the day instead of the day running me. And that just doesn’t always happen. Sometimes my day still runs me because I've been out of reach all weekend or things start popping up. Or because something of more importance happens. But having my plan at least allows me to say, "You know what, that can wait. This is more important." And once that has been handled the plan provides a way for me to jump back in.
This isn’t an easy adjustment for me in the moment. But having my planner and ideas and lists made helps me at least prioritize what matters most.
Your Turn to Get Curious
So instead of trying to copy my routine or anyone else's, what if you got curious about what YOUR brain actually needs?
Think about your best days - what did you do the night before that helped? What's already working that you could do more of?
When do you feel most focused? What pulls you off track? What helps you feel like you're running the day instead of the day running you?
Remember, this has nothing to do with being organized or disciplined. It's about figuring out what works so your brain can function well. And that's going to look different for every single person.
I believe in you AND let's figure out together what your next step is. Because baby steps are STILL progress.
What's ONE small thing you noticed about what your brain needs while reading this? What's ONE tiny thing you could try this week?
What questions came up for you while reading this? I'd love to hear what resonated or what you're curious about. Because remember - I'm not the expert on your life. I'm just here to help you figure out what works for YOU.
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Photo credit: Punky @punkturesphotography