I know, I know absolutely every lifestyle blogger and YouTuber has done some version of a morning routine post and it may seem like I am jumping on the band-wagon for click-bait. But I promise you this is for a reason! See, right now I am trying to build a routine for myself and I have gone through about 5 different versions in the last few months in an attempt to find just the right kind of morning routine. I think I have some ideas that are a little different from the typical morning routine posts out there. This isn’t a pretty example of some perfect routine, this is how you can curate your own perfect routine that is perfect for you and your life.
What is the point? The entire point of a morning routine is to start the morning off on the right foot to help you feel nourished, successful, and ready to conquer the day. That being said, only you know what nourishes you, only you know what makes you feel successful, only you know what your day consists of and what you will need to conquer it. Make your routine completely personal to you. Take some time, and I mean like take a week to think over who do you want to be. Think about the things that make you happy or jealous. What things do you see other people doing that you really, truly wish you could do? Not in a vain way, in a way that your soul longs for. Who are the people you look up to, most admire, most wish to be like? What traits, habits, or skills do they have that you wish you had? For me I want to work out every day, I want to be a writer, I want to be a reader, and I want to be an entrepreneur. I took these things in mind and I built a morning routine around each of these elements. Do I have to get up at 5am?? Before you set your alarms for 5am let me start with saying I only get up at 7:30 to start my current morning routine. I have done 6am routines in the past and they worked for me at that time. But your routine is personal to you, remember? What is one constant in your life, class? Work? Feeding the dog or baby? Whatever thing happens in the day, I’ll just use work as an example, that is relatively scheduled, build your routine around that. If you start work at 9 and it takes 35 minutes to get to work then you need to be done and out the door before 8:25. If your only goal is to write, or read, or meditate for an hour then you only need to get up at around 7am. How much time should I spend on my morning routine? How much time do you want to spend? Does a 15-minute morning routine accomplish everything you need? Do you need 4 hours to accomplish everything you need? I suggest spending 15-30 minutes on each thing on your list so that you have ample time to get into each one, but also gives you a little wiggle room in case one item runs long but another runs short. This helps the time to even out and you aren’t rushing from task to task feeling like you are already failing the day when it hasn’t even started yet. Don’t Expect Immediate Perfection This will take a little bit of time to fine tune to make it fit you. That very first day, that very first week will not go according to plan. You will have to skip things or rearrange the order you do things. This is okay! You are not a failure or incapable because of this. Approach that first week as an experiment, just testing to see what does and doesn’t work. Then, at the end of the week, take stock of what did and didn’t work, what needs to be cut, added, or rearranged to work best for you, your life, and your family. My most recent routine I spent about 2 weeks getting to a place where I can consistently follow through each morning with relative ease. Your Morning Routine Starts the Night Before Take 5 minutes before you go to bed and make sure everything is ready for your morning routine. Wash the coffee pot and fill it with water, so all you have to do is put the coffee in and turn it on. Lay out your work out and work clothes so all you have to do is put them on. Have breakfast predetermined. I have heard that these little hacks save a ton of time but I never tried them until now. Let me tell you, they work! It makes the morning flow with ease, like the day was just made for you to waltz in and do your thing. This little feeling carries into the rest of the day as well. Let this routine evolve as needed I have gone through several types of morning routines, from having none other than waking up and flying by the seat of my pants for the rest of the day to focusing on nothing more than meditation the entire morning. With each season of your life, over the course of the year your needs and desires will change. If your routine just doesn’t feel right in a few weeks or a few months, reevaluate and recreate. Do you need to adjust just a few things or toss it out and start from scratch? Don’t feel like you need to cling to the one routine you created. If it becomes obsolete or isn’t serving its function of ‘starting the morning off on the right foot to help you feel nourished, successful, and ready to conquer the day’ then it isn’t what you need anymore. It is okay to edit or scrap this routine as needed. Those are my tips for creating a morning routine that works best for you. Make a list of everything you want to include in your morning routine. Include the things you most want and discard anything else. Tailor it to your time, needs, and desires. Set up anything you may need the night before to help the morning flow with ease. Remember, you can change this routine anytime you need. It’s okay if you don’t complete everything when you are just getting started. Give yourself grace, this is new, so experiment with it until it is just right. Remember this is your routine, make it work for you. Comment below with your new morning routine plan! Much Love, Jessica Marie Examples: Okay, some of you have it all figured out and are ready to start. But I have a feeling that some of you are like me and prefer some visuals or examples. Here are some samples of past morning routines I have done to show you that your routine can be tailored to you in each season of life, and to the things you find most important at that time.
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How to Donate to Charity Even When You’re Broke (Without Volunteering)
By Jessica Marie We all want to help charities and donate to their causes. But I also know how discouraging it is to be low on funds and truly be unable to donate to even our more cherished causes. Aren’t there ways we can help that don’t break the bank? Yes! This is a list of 3 ways that you can help charities and non-profits by doing things you already do and don’t cost you a penny. Ecosia Ecosia is a search engine like Google but, the money they make from their ad revenue goes towards planting trees. I have been using the non-profit Ecosia for years now and it works great! Only once or twice a year do I have trouble finding something and have to give Google a try. Plus, you don’t have to feel guilty clicking on those ads at the top of the search results. Rather, by doing so you are helping to plant trees. It works on mobile too, I added Ecosia to my phone and use it for all my searches there too. All phone brands can use Ecosia now. You can add it as your default by searching for it in the app store. On your computer simply search Ecosia.org and set as your default search engine. Now go forth with your online searching and help plant trees at the same time! Tabs for a Cause Did you know that every time you open a tab on your computer you can help raise money for charity? Tabs for a Cause does exactly that. It works by placing ads on every new tab, then you simply type in your search (using Ecosia of course) and now you have earned 1 heart that can be donated to charity. This happens at absolutely no cost to you! After 50 tabs have been opened you can donate those hearts to a charity of your choice. Basically, the ad revenue from the ads on the tabs are being sent to charity. There is a limited number of charities to select from, but it still gives you the chance to donate to charities by doing something you already do every day. To add this extension to your web browser, follow this link and you can start donating to charity at no cost to you. Here is the link: https://tab.gladly.io/?u=JessAnthro Amazon Smile Did you know there was a way to donate to charity every time you shopped on Amazon? Use Amazon Smile and you can select any non-profit to donate to, and this comes at no cost to you! It does not affect the price of your items on Amazon at all. I currently donate to a local Wildlife Rehabilitation center, but there are more charities and non-profits than you can imagine to choose from on Amazon Smile. You can change the charity or non-profit at any time. So, next time you have to buy something from Amazon instead of a small or local business, be sure to make a difference by using Amazon Smile. And once you set it up, if you accidentally go to Amazon.com, Amazon will remind you to switch back to Amazon Smile. Search smile.amazon.com on desktop or search for it in the app store and you can set it up today. Those are three ways that you can help charities and non-profits that don’t cost you any money. I’ve been a student and a struggling college grad and know how hard it is to want to donate to charities and non-profits but also realizing I have to feed myself and my dog. I hope these can help you feel better until your bank account is full again. Please share with anyone who might also be looking for ways to donate. Much Love, Jessica Marie In the mountain town of Bailey, Colorado lies an unassuming white building just one turn off the main highway. On its side in big, bold, black letters reads “Sasquatch Outpost”. Inside is a fantastic little gift shop with everything Sasquatch and Bigfoot you can imagine, and a museum dedicated to the cryptid itself. I heard about this place when watching a Bigfoot documentary (yes, I admit to watching these types of shows) and knew I had to go there. So, for my 28th birthday I loaded up with my brother and friend and we drove up to the mountains to visit this fascinating place. After the drive up through the Rocky Mountains you are happy to find there is free parking out front of the building. Once you step out of your car you are greeted by the crisp mountain air, surrounded by evergreen forest, and the quaint little town of Bailey. Once inside the Outpost they have fashioned the gift shop like a forest with faux trees and other décor, it even smells like a forest too. From Bigfoot Legos to coffee mugs, signs, magnets, sweaters, books, and so much more, it feels like a bigfoot lovers dream. Bring your love, or skepticism, of bigfoot and your stories and you will feel right at home here. For a small fee you can enter the museum and continue this dive into the elusive sasquatch. The museum is very well done, I was fully expecting a very low-budget, hokey, uncomfortable experience and they blew me right out of the water. It’s a high-quality and thought-out museum. Walking you through the timeline of bigfoot for European settlers, Native American tales, evidence, and stories from some rather credible sources. They have a map of Colorado and pins of sightings or other evidence of the bigfoot in-state. Ending with a perfect photo op and a chance for you to vote on how real you think the Bigfoot is. Then you lead back to the gift shop. I have always been completely fascinated by all things supernatural, cryptid, and unexplained so I left the same as I entered, anything is possible. And supported this place with a few pieces of Bigfoot memorabilia to grace my home. My friend left the same skeptic she came as. She’s Scully and I’m Mulder. But we all had a great afternoon with memories and a unique experience. Can you say you’ve been to a Bigfoot museum? Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic or anywhere in-between you can have a fun time at the Sasquatch Outpost in Bailey, Colorado. If you live in Colorado and are looking for in-state places to go add this one to your list! And if you are traveling to Colorado in the future, see if you can squeeze this in, it’s fun, affordable for everyone, and family friendly. This could also be a great visit if you are looking for Halloween destinations. Much Love, Jessica PS: If you are looking for other Halloween destinations, check out my other blog post on The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park Hey vibe tribe! Whether you are a podcast connoisseur or just getting into this trend everyone is raving about, I have 8 podcast genres and 17 podcasts that you need to be binging right now. These are my top faves that I keep going back to over and over again and I think you will too. I listen to all my podcasts on Podbean and Spotify, so these are completely free (no costly subscriptions needed) and can be found on these apps (and others) for your listening pleasure.
News: Up First from NPR and Global News Podcast from the BBC First genre on this list is news. I believe it’s important to stay up to date on what is happening in the world. That’s why I liked these two podcasts, they are short, concise, accurate, and give a good overview of what is going on in a calm and rational manner. I can turn them on in the morning while I get ready for my day, by the time I am ready to go, I’m caught up on the news and ready for the day. Up First from NPR is a daily 15-minute podcast on US and some global news. They have a follow up that is the NPR Politics Podcast, also 15 minutes daily, but I found it is often very similar information to what is in the Up First Podcast. The NPR Politics Podcast follows the happenings of the government and politics more closely and in-depth than Up First. But you can try both and see which one suits your personal needs best. Global News Podcast from BBC covers global news events, it is a 30-minute daily podcast on events happening all over the world. It’s a great way to move outside ones’ own country and see how the rest of the world is doing or their take on events unfolding within your own country. Honorable Mention: If you are not a huge fan of the news and the typical news format but feel you want to keep up, check out The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. He’s a comedian who tells it like it is while making you laugh the whole time. Spirituality: Highest Self Podcast with Sahara Rose, Your Own Magic with Raquelle Mantra, The Line with Ashley Wood Science has shown that people who hold a spiritual or religious belief tend to have a less-stressful life, among other benefits, and I can personally attest to this. The three podcasts in this section can be applied to any religious, spiritual, or value system as they are not born out of or confined to any one religion. Their insights and knowledge are valuable to any person and can help one. The Highest Self Podcast is hosted by Sahara Rose, an author and Ayurvedic practitioner. Her goal is to help people discover their highest selves so that people can share those gifts with the world. She holds no punches and says exactly what needs to be said in a loving but firm way. She is extremely wise and I am always left feeling better connected to the divine that I did before I pressed play. Your Own Magic by Raquelle Mantra is an interview style podcast where she has guests of all backgrounds, types, spiritual and religious knowledge on her show. Her own understanding of so much spiritual knowledge, mixed with the insights of her guests, her episodes are always eye-opening and enlightening. I love that no topic is off limits or too bizarre for Raquelle and her guests. The Line with Ashley Wood is a soothing and calming podcast. Ashley’s voice and demeanor is always calming but also filled with wisdom channeled from the highest beings. In this podcast, Ashley helps guests connect to their akashic records and to their highest selves so that they can live their most aligned life possible. Honorable Mention: Growin’ Your Magic with Leia Spalenka is a mostly interview based podcast where Leia has guests on various topics such as health, wellness, and all things magic. She’s new to the podcasting world but the heart and the knowledge in each episode is worth a listen. Business/Hustle: The Dave Ramsey Show, The Goal Digger Podcast Who doesn’t need to learn more about money, finances, and hustling? I know I need all the help I can get! I was raised on Dave Ramsey and his financial courses so I know the basics inside and out. This show has a rotation of guest hosts with so much diversity and knowledge, there is always something to gain in these episodes. The Goal Digger Podcast with Jenna Kutcher is a great podcast for those hustling to create a small business. She’s honest and has great tips for starting your own brand, business, or other entrepreneurial endeavor. Art: My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast, Public Intellectual I am only recently realizing my lifelong desire to be a creator and artist, so I am dipping my toes into all things art. If you’re new, like me, then check these two out. My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast is an interview-based podcast where Jessica Stewart has conversations with top artists in their field, how they got there, tips for artists, and more. I like the candor and ease of the conversations and how encouraging they are for other artists. Public Intellectual with Jessa Crispin is a bit more expanded than just art. She also talks politics, feminism, class, and more, but often ties these topics back into art. How we are expressing these topics in our art. She says it like it is and doesn’t apologize, but I love the honesty. Health: Wise Traditions, Plant-Powered People Podcast Wise Traditions is a podcast that interviews experts in various health, wellness and scientific fields as they talk about lifestyles outside the norm. Beyond the basics of eating whole foods, they get into the nitty gritty and have you rethink modern life as we know it, while giving great tips for how and why we should incorporate more traditional habits into our daily lives. Plant-Powered People Podcast is a podcast hosted by two vegans who give amazing advice, recipes, and other lifestyle tips to incorporate more vegetarian and vegan habits into your life. You don’t have to be vegan or vegetarian to incorporate their tips. I am neither, but I do try to make swaps in as many ways as I can, and they are a kind and encouraging place to start! Crime: My Favorite Murder, Criminal I have always been a huge fan of true crime and crime shows, as life is often stranger than fiction. I may be way behind the 8-ball, but I only just discovered My Favorite Murder and I have to say, the hype is warranted. My Favorite Murder is hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, who have fantastic chemistry, it feels like you have been invited into a group of two best friends where you are more than welcome to join the club. They do a mix of true crime stories and listener stories. I recently listened to an episode on pets saving their owners that was both terrifying and heartwarming. Criminal with Phoebe Judge is a great podcast about true crime stories both old and new. Her interviews make you feel like you are there, watching the story unfold. Paranormal and Unusual: The Untold Hour, Into the Fray Radio I love science, but I also love the paranormal and all things unexplained. What are ghosts? (I lived in a haunted house, so I know they are something) Are cryptids real? What are aliens? These things are yet to be explained, and until then I’ll be captivated by conversations and dives into the unknown. The Untold Hour with Jessica Chobot and Andrew Bowser is one of my favorite podcasts. Originally Bizarre States they are back and rebranded as The Untold Hour. Chobot is basically my queen now. They do interviews on all topics spooky, creepy, paranormal, odd, weird, and more. Plus, listener submitted stories of their own encounters with the unexplained. Into the Fray Radio with Shannon LeGro is a fun interview podcast where Shannon brings on guests of various types. Some authors or experts in a field or topic, and people who have extensive stories or personal experience with the paranormal and unexplained. Believe them or not, there is always something fascinating to be found in this podcast. Honorable Mention: American Hysteria by Chelsey Weber-Smith is not actually paranormal, as everything she talks about is firmly grounded in reality (in a manner of speaking), but it is also so unique and one of the few podcasts I have listened to every episode of. I think every American should listen to this podcast, as we could all stand to learn a thing or two from this show. “American Hysteria is a podcast exploring the fantastical thinking and irrational fears of Americans through the lens of moral panics, urban legends, and conspiracy theories, how they shape our psychology and culture, and why we end up believing them.” Science: Science Friday, 60 Second Science by Scientific American, Spooky Psychology Let’s end this list with science. Science Friday is a weekly interview podcast where Ira Flato hosts guests talking about their new scientific discoveries, advancements, and continually eluding areas of exploration. They touch on everything from astronomy to botany and everything in between. If you are short on time but still want a quick run down of exciting scientific news, 60 Second Science from Scientific American is your show. In 60-180 seconds they give a quick run-down of that weeks breakthroughs. Honorable Mention: Spooky Psychology with Megan and Lauren is a great podcast giving deep dives in every episode on a topic in psychology. Often exploring the deviant and spookier aspects of humanity and how it relates to psychology. And that’s it! That’s my top list of 17+ podcasts you should be binging right now. These are all fun, informative, relatable, and completely binge-worthy! What are your favorite podcasts? Are any of your favorites on this list? Any you are excited to start listening to? Leave your answers in the comments below. Happy listening! Much Love, Jessica |
AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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