The Power of Routine - The biggest aspect that may be missing from your health journey.

          How many days per week do you workout? Which type of workout is the best? Do you follow a low carb diet, or are you high carb? Actually, I have heard plant based diets are the best. Do you sleep eight hours per night? Have you tried fasting until 3 pm everyday? How many rest days are you taking? Do you get 10,000 steps per day? Are you drinking your bodyweight in ounces of water..... Stop!

Take a breath. Let's regroup here. 

The first step towards a healthy lifestyle is quite possibly not an "appropriate" answer to one of the questions written above, but instead a simple morning routine to set your day up for success. 

In my personal experience on my journey to optimal health, I have found creating a sustainable morning routine to be the key factor in success for a healthy lifestyle. 

I like to start my day with a 5:15 am wake up time, regardless of how early I need to be at work. Waking up at the same time each day, puts my body on a happy sleeping schedule. This actually allows me to fall asleep at 10 pm every night, so I end up being able to sleep from 10 pm to 5:15 am- which is around 7 hours of sleep per night. Amazing!

From 5:15 to 6 am, I have a cup of coffee, do my daily devotion, journal, and map out my day. At 6 am, I head to the gym for one hour. By 7am, I have had time to wake up peacefully with a strong mindset, set myself up for success for the day, and morning movement. After the gym, I shower and make the same healthy breakfast I eat the majority of the time.

I then sit down at my laptop for several hours to knock out any school assignments I have due, before heading to work. After work, I have already accomplished my exercise for the day and my studies. Therefore, my evenings remain free to spend time with my boyfriend and friends or watch a movie or a show that interests me. Having worked out earlier, I am motivated to make healthy eating choices throughout the day. Since my body enjoys routine, I find that my meals are quite similar day to day. Similar daily meals ensures that I am following an eating routine that will give me the best results!

Now, of course weekends are reserved for spending time with friends. Therefore, I may stay out later and drink one extra glass of wine too many. Yet, I stick to my routine Monday through Friday of committing to a solid sleep schedule, making it to each one of my morning workouts, and eating healthy meals throughout the day.

The more I follow my routine, the better I feel- making it easy to keep going and living a healthy lifestyle. At the end of the day, everyone will enjoy a different sort of workout and diet. Most people's opinions will differ on what they consider to be "healthy." And that is totally okay! Diversity is good. Different opinions are great- even encouraged actually. 

However, if there is one thing I may encourage you to pursue when moving forward on your health journey, is  to follow a routine. Tailor that routine to your personal preferences and goals, but you owe it to yourself to add structure in your life, to make it easier to adhere to a disciplined lifestyle.

Forget eating and exercising "perfectly." That does not exist!

The power of routine really may just be the biggest aspect missing from your health journey.