Positively Midlife Podcast

Midlife Morning Routines - Ep. 34

January 25, 2023 Ellen and Tish Season 2 Episode 34
Positively Midlife Podcast
Midlife Morning Routines - Ep. 34
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Show Notes Transcript

 Do you have a morning routine?   Ellen and Tish discuss the power of a morning routine at midlife - and share what they each do most mornings.  Ellen and Tish found that they were spending valuable morning time scrolling on their phones - and their morning routines were just not cutting it. They polled the Tribe and have some interesting insights into setting intentions in the morning and what science has to say about why you should have one. They note that most successful people have morning routines and they credit it to starting their day out in the most productive way.

Things we talked about in this episode: belly dancing, Lululemon socks, Mel Robbins High Five,  Panda Planner, NYT mini crossword, Wordle, Spelling Bee, morning positivity, and easily repeatable routines that start your day off in a positive way.  Start off slow with one or two things and then build to have 4 to 5 parts to your morning routine.
Support us with a monthly subscription and get a quarterly live  Q&A with Ellen and Tish.

10 Things you should consider having in your morning routine:
1) Reduce Chaos by getting organized either the night before or in the morning
2) Reduce Drowsiness. Use sunlight to help harness healthy hormones
3) Make your bed. You've accomplished something and are less tempted to go back to sleep
4) Stay Hydrated. It improves your brain function and mood
5) Get proper nutrition. Maintain blood sugar and hormonal balance
6) Journaling. Especially gratitude journaling reduces stress and improve mood
7) Avoid Technology. Reduces anxiety and depression
8) Meditate or Pray. Helps center your conscious and subconscious
9) Plan your Day.  The To-Do List to organize and be more effective
10) Physical Activity. Boost Mood, deal with depression, improve sleep and reduce stress and anxiety


Obsessions:
Tish: Belly Dancing   Tish talks about how much more fun it is to use the belly dancing outfits and it helps you to see your core to work on your moves
Ellen:  Lulumon socks! fun colors

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Ellen Gustafson:

Tish, do you have a problem scrolling on your phone in the morning, and at night before you go to bed?

Tish Woods:

You know, I would find that I would really get into trouble. I would say, I'm just going to check one or two things, especially at night. And the next thing I know, and hours past or in the morning, I don't know, I would Yeah, I would get in real trouble with some of these different apps that I would go through.

Ellen Gustafson:

Well, me too. And you know, living out here on the West Coast, I was getting texts before I even woke up. And I felt behind from from that standpoint, but I started doing the New York Times mini crossword and Wordle. And Spelling Bee and gosh, again, 30-45 minutes going by, it just seemed like a big waste of time.

Tish Woods:

Yeah, I got into this, this hamster wheel of scrolling, you know. So one TikTok led to 20 TikTok led to me hitting up Instagram, then I'm over to Facebook. Now I'm on group texts with different friends. And boom, I'm down the social media rabbit hole faster than you can imagine. It was craziness.

Ellen Gustafson:

I know. It's like, how did we get here. But I went back to this kind of more intentional morning routine, because I really wanted to stop it. It just wasn't productive. And it's really worked for me.

Tish Woods:

I you know, I can agree. And plus, I think that morning routine is going to set your mental. I don't know, it just sets you up into a better, more healthy outlook on the whole day.

Ellen Gustafson:

Agreed, agreed. And I know we're going to talk a little bit about our morning routines, and some info we got from our survey with our tribe on morning routines. But, you know, before we get down this rabbit hole, let's get to our obsessions for the week. You know, I love this part. What do you got for me? Tish.

Tish Woods:

I've got a good one for this week. My obsession this week is belly dancing.

Ellen Gustafson:

What get out of here?

Tish Woods:

Yes, so a couple friends and my daughter and I have started to take belly dancing lessons at Dance Center USA, which is right here in Fort Mill. And I've got to tell you, this, this is really putting me out of my comfort zone. And I have never been really considered a good dancer. I've never been super comfortable with moving my body to you know, any kind of choreographed, you know, routines. That's always been really hard for me. Even though I'm an athlete, and I have good control over my body. Yeah, that type of letting loose, it's just doesn't come natural to me.

Ellen Gustafson:

It's kind of fun and sexy. And I'm assuming you have the bare midriff.

Tish Woods:

Well, the first week I did not, I had just leggings and a T shirt on right. And then everyone in class had their little outfits and weaves. And the one girl who I started with, Tamra and I we said we need to have jiggly little skirts, you know, it's just not the same. Well, I was able to get my hands on a big bag of costumes for belly dancing. And we came back for class number two, I had the little top and I had some for my friends and we had the the low pants and and the jiggly skirts. And I gotta tell you, it really does make you feel really into it and sexy. But more than anything, it was I was in tune to what my body was doing because I could see my body doing it. Yeah.

Ellen Gustafson:

You are really putting yourself out there these days.

Tish Woods:

Again, it was you know, part of it was making myself uncomfortable, you know, and it really pushed my boundaries. And we just laughed and it wasn't about you know, looking amazing or whatever. There was every body type in that room. And everybody was just feeling comfortable with it and having fun and but I do like I do like putting myself in situations where I'm uncomfortable and it pushes my boundaries and challenges me and belly dancing has done it. But yes, I do like the outfits.

Ellen Gustafson:

I know you love a good costume. I think you're gonna post some pictures of you in your belly dancing outfit on our socials, right?

Tish Woods:

Yes, I am. Yes I am. So Ellen, what about you? What do you have Have is your obsession for the week?

Ellen Gustafson:

Well, it's not quite as exciting, I have to say is belly dancing, but I could top that. I am not usually a fan of Lululemon. Usually the things I feel like they're small at that store. But our good friend Kristen Baker, I saw her last weekend. And she had these socks that were called the Lululemon tab socks. And I really like a thin sock, and it has this little tab up the back to put it on and off. And they are just the most comfortable socks for working out. I love to have them when I'm running or if I'm on the treadmill. So of course, I had to dash right out and get a three pack. I'm that kind of person. So they are called I believe that tab back socks, but I'll put a link to them. And I have to say it's the first thing I've ever bought from that store. Oh, wow. Okay, but you are very dedicated to your, your yoga. So I think that's great that you that you invested in something? Some nice new socks? Yeah. Does the padding really make a difference? Well, more for walking and running. But a lot of times in my restorative yoga, I like to have socks on because, you know, you're really kind of cozying up and these are fantastic. So a little link to the socks on on our in our show notes too. But let's move back to morning routines. Because I really do believe they're the best way to kind of set your day up for success. And to you know, like, when you have an apple for iPhone, you would get that purple update once a week. And you could see like, your screen time just keeps going up and frightening. Yeah, right. It's concerning. And I knew it wasn't how I wanted to start my day. And it was kind of taken over for me.

Tish Woods:

Yeah, you know, it's funny, like, at this time in our lives, you know, I think doing things that have more intention and more value, I think becomes so important and taking control of our schedules, I think at midlife, so it's not like aimlessly starting the day. But I liked how you said it earlier, starting the day with intention. And like that, and, and I think by curbing a lot of those social media or TV watching or whatever it is that you do kind of mindlessly. I think that's important. And it just set your day up, I think for a lot more success. So yep, I like the idea of morning routine.

Ellen Gustafson:

Well, I'm going to tell you a little bit about my morning routine, I'd like to share it and then I know you've recently started a morning routine. So I think we want to hear all about that. But I am somebody who wakes up early. I think you know that about me. I don't even need an alarm clock. And it's a curse, you know, I would really like to sleep in these days. But my morning routine almost always starts with coffee. And I have had a love hate relationship with coffee where I've been on it and often on it. It's healthy, it's unhealthy. But I'm just staying on it now just a nice cup in the morning. And I'm going to call my panda planner, a journal. Because you guys know I've talked about it before. It really talks you through a day starting with your intention with a motto, what you're grateful for. And I really find when I do that, it it really sets my day off right and I've I recently I told you about this thing called the high five from Mel Robbins where you also give yourself a high five in the mirror to kind of just really set your intention for positivity. So all of my all of this was out when I was scrolling in the morning. So I really had to really pull it back in.

Tish Woods:

No, I couldn't agree more. Like I said, I think with with the whole advent of TikTok that really sent me over the edge. Yes, I'm asking go. So, so wrong. You know, I mean, I love my TikTok, I love going through I love seeing what's kind of what people are into and stuff like that. But when you start your day off that way, it just takes you in just some crazy crazy, you know, directions and stuff like that. So I think you know, when you think about it, there's so many you always hear very successful people talk about their morning routine and how important it was. You know, I started looking up different stuff. Successful people's morning routine. And it really wasn't so much what they did, but that they did it. And they did it consistently, yes. And it and it all kind of led to this, setting their mind up in a positive way. And so that was really exciting for me. Yeah, definitely. Now well, as you said, I kind of started a new morning routine for myself, that starts with my lightbox therapy, and I'm about a month or so into using that. And it's really been a game changer, you know, I wasn't sure if it was one of those, oh, it felt good for a minute, and it was gonna go away. But I've been adding on to that morning routine a little bit each time. So when I do my light box therapy, I've now added that I read when I when I do the therapy, so I'm not the biggest reader, I know you are and I always want to be better at you know, reading more. And I thought, Well, I'm gonna have to sit there in front of this light for 30 minutes. So instead of Tiktok, and Instagram and whatnot, let me start reading. And so I'm just about finished with that book that you gave me about the surfing? Yes, Rockaway, oh my gosh, what an what an amazing story. I just am it just inspires me every morning, how, you know, this whole thing of taking control of your life, which is basically what she did. And, and the way she did it was through surfing was through, you know, channeling her energy into something that she was passionate about. So yeah, so that's been my therapy. And, you know, having read what other people have talked about, like, you can't start off with, like a million things that you don't want, right, kind of just build on it. So I've been building a little bit on it each time. And so my next thing was to start writing what I'm grateful for. And that has set me up with this amazing positive, it just fills me with joy when I when I think about that, whether it's, um, you know, my, my ex husband, him and I are still friends. And I had to reach out to him for you know, for some legal advice. And it was funny, because I was waiting to hear back from him. And I wrote in my journal, that how grateful I was that we had a relationship where we were friends, and that, you know, we come together as parents and stuff. And no sooner had I finished writing that, that being my email popped up, I could see that he had sent the thing that I was waiting to hear about. And I know,

Ellen Gustafson:

you know, Tish that is so amazing. You had shared that with me earlier today. And it just warmed my heart that you and Mike are such great friends and such great co parents and but just taking that moment to be grateful for it, right. And that's really where, where it all starts. So I know you have the light box, the reading. Now you're adding pieces on to it. And I really liked that idea. Like you, you can't try and start with 10 things because you just won't be successful, right?

Tish Woods:

It's like trying to do that like drastic diet and I'm going to exercise for 10 hours a day and you're just setting yourself up for failure. But can you make one change one thing in your morning routine that can start your day in a more positive way? And then go from there.

Ellen Gustafson:

I agree. Now I know I didn't mention my dog in my morning routine GiGi but I should have I know that you are also spending time with Mr. Ranger in the morning Ranger.

Tish Woods:

I think a lot of us did live have our have our we don't have our children anymore. So we're not carpooling. But we're puppy walking.

Ellen Gustafson:

That's right, definitely. Well, I noticed I do feel off when I miss this when I wasn't doing it. And I also last year did a thing where I took all of my apps off of my phone on the main page. I just push them to the other page. And I found this from person I follow who's about kind of minimalism, minimally living Cortney Carver, and she has blog and she did that project 333 A while back and moving the apps off. And so I see this is kind of a lifelong challenge for me, right things encroaching on my Morning Routine.

Tish Woods:

You know, that's amazing, like, so when you look at your phone, you don't see all these apps, so doesn't prompt you to start digging, digging any gems, right.

Ellen Gustafson:

And also, she had some wallpapers you could put up and they were like, you don't need this or don't you know, don't go on to your apps. I forget what they said. But they were really fun. I

Tish Woods:

was just gonna ask you, what do you have when you open your phone? What do you see?

Ellen Gustafson:

I see a beautiful photo of Paris of the Eiffel Tower. With the rain that I took. And I don't have anything still on my main page from from getting that. Like, I have to be like, Okay, I really need whatever I'm doing. I'm intentionally going to that app. Yeah.

Tish Woods:

Okay. So you immediately take yourself back to that wonderful trip that you had an amazing place. I love that.

Ellen Gustafson:

What about you? What do you have on their

Tish Woods:

mine is absolutely blank.

Ellen Gustafson:

Oh, my God. Okay,

Tish Woods:

I had to look. And then I realized it's blank. I need to put up I need to put a photo in there. But yeah, actually have to open actually open it completely up to see anything. So

Ellen Gustafson:

Hysterical, or I don't know, anyone who has that opening screen?

Tish Woods:

I, I'm not gonna say it was intentional, unfortunately. You know, because I'm a little technical. Ly challenged. No. So we know that. Yeah. But I think I might put on there something that I know what I'm going to put on there. I'm going to put on there something about surfing. Because that's my big bucket list. I want to put maybe a surf wave on there. So a woman's surfing on a wave. I think that's what I need to find is that picture.

Ellen Gustafson:

Yeah, that's awesome. You'll have to show Yeah,

Tish Woods:

I agree, though, with what you were saying. Feeling off when you start when you don't start your day up this way. And you know, there's been times you know, that I'll get a phone call and just jump right into work or something like that. And I can backtrack, and do do my little things. But it's just never quite the same. So if you're finding that your day's attacks, you first, my recommendation would be to set an alarm and get up earlier. So if if your day starts with running kids or running spouses or what, figure out 30 minutes before all that start life starts happening, and that you get yourself up. So you have that little bit of time. That's just really strictly to yourself. I think that's really important.

Ellen Gustafson:

Yes, you know, I agree, and I don't even think it quite needs to be 30 minutes. I mean, if you can only carve out 15 or 20. Start there, right?

Tish Woods:

Yes, yeah, most definitely.

Ellen Gustafson:

Well, I know that we talked about how most successful people start their day off in a positive routine. And let's talk about what some people have in their morning routines. And we can talk about a little science behind it, too. I mean, one thing we did is we polled our Trinity tribe about their morning routines, as well as some of our other friends. And some of you folks and we found that over 50% have a morning routine. That was kind of surprising. Tish

Tish Woods:

Oh, wow. I like that. Yeah. You know, it was funny. I had recently been to a big sales convention. And they had a speaker who was speaking about his morning routine, which started at three o'clock in the morning. Now, many people found that quite extreme. But he structured his day where he completed like more than most people do in a day by 7am. So that that was that was a little crazy. But I did start to you know, to ask, you know, some of the people that I'm with, and I was surprised how many people really do have a morning routine. And many people that I asked start off with some type of meditation or prayer.

Ellen Gustafson:

Wow, I really think that I'm hearing about more and more people starting that way with meditation, with prayer, just with silence, right, just really having that quiet time. I know that a lot of people including me, said coffee, coffee, coffee, hot water and lemon too. So those were big morning starters.

Tish Woods:

Yeah, yeah, I think You know that that quiet time? I think, you know, a lot of people, you know, again, whether it's meditation or prayer, I think that was, you know, super important. And then what was really curious though is I, when we were talking about, you know, doing this episode, I remembered that you are one of the first people I knew that actually had work from home. Right? This was years ago, this was years and years ago, this was when it was much more unusual. In you used to tell me about your routine and how you would get up, and you get dressed. And you just, you were absolutely put together like you were going to walk into the office, and you walked into your home office, you close the door, and you started to work. And it really brought me back to that time where how it was so important to you to start that mindset off.

Ellen Gustafson:

Yeah, I mean, a really being lucky out here in tech, we were working from home years ago, and that's when I had young younger children too. And I kind of psyched them out to like moms go into work, Look, she's all dressed up, she's got some place to go. Um, but I feel like it does set that intention, right, that kind of professional intention. And since then, people have stopped dressing up even more, you know, like, it's even more casual. But you know, I'm always in my hair, my makeup done, you know, being on zooms and teams calls and stuff all day. But it was really just again, setting that mindset in the morning. So I still continue it. But maybe in a little bit more casual way. You know, you mentioned journaling earlier. And I really think it's great that you've started doing it.

Tish Woods:

Oh, yeah, you know, you you had talked about the panda planner, and I remember you talking about the different parts of the panda planner. And while I didn't purchase a panda planner, I kind of use the same philosophies. Someone had bought me, like that type of, you know, where you make your To Do lists and stuff like that. And I'll write my intentions and my gratitude and those to do list. More so than to do's you know, maybe the, you know, goals for the day. Yes. But yeah, I think that's, you know, a really important part of like, you know, mapping out your day, though, is, you know, what do you want to accomplish today? Whether it's workwise, or socially or, you know, that the journaling, but again, you know, having that time to really think about it?

Ellen Gustafson:

Yeah, the one thing I love about the panda planner, is it asks for a little kind of, like you're saying for the day, and you know, sometimes I just revert back to the Nike just do it. Right. And it makes you think about that, and what you're grateful for as well, I think such great ways to start off the morning.

Tish Woods:

Yeah, I may have to still get me a panda planner.

Ellen Gustafson:

Well, I know your birthday is coming up as

Tish Woods:

well, you know, again, as we were researching into, you know, what does morning routine all about. And it's that repetitive routine that creates this sense of, of normalcy into keeping you calm, you know, again, when I was researching what, you know, different successful people did, it was really all over the board. But it was about that same thing each and every day to get this good start. And, you know, you know, this idea of like, you can wake up on the wrong side of the bed and you're running late and it leads to stress and you have you know, inadequate sleep and unhealthy you know, food habits and, and it kind of, you know, is this it's this downward spiral from it. Yeah. So the morning routine is absolutely contrary to that. It's that you know, sometimes your morning routine starts the night before. Yes, by getting things ready. So if you're a disorganized last minute person, your morning routine starts the night before for everything you're bad, you're to go bad going out the house is at the door and things like that. So it's really about planning ahead and and knowing where your challenges are. So if your challenge is running late and not getting up early, then started the night before

Ellen Gustafson:

Yeah, you know, I really like that there's some science behind this and that, that it can increase in to impact overall happiness and enter productivity. So I am all for these kinds of routines. And I do do some prep at night, even though I'm pretty organized.

Tish Woods:

You know, you were saying it doesn't always take 30 minutes, and there was this one therapists, Coyote Joseph that was talking about, it just takes a minimum as little as 10 minutes in the morning, to really start that positive Jumpstart. And I know this stuff may sound really hokey to some people. I know, I was telling my oldest son who, you know, was kind of struggling through some stuff. And I was like, What is your morning routine? And he said, right away, I don't have one right now. And I said, Well, I want you to start thinking about what you can do to start building one. So you know, it can start at any age. But again, it's that, you know, doing one thing, maybe 10 minutes, and if you can't take 10 minutes, yeah, just set your day and in a better direction. You got some bigger fish to fry?

Ellen Gustafson:

Well, I love that, that it's just 10 minutes, right? And I think that creating this habit, right, and this routine that's really specific to your individual needs. And it's easily repeatable, as we said, Don't boil the ocean here do not make this bigger than it needs to be. And I know that Andrea, Marcellus, also a wellness expert that you and I have read. She said that when setting up a routine, just pick one adjustment to focus on at a time and be consistent. And do it for a week and then add another like you've been doing Tish, I mean, I think that that's really the right way to go.

Tish Woods:

You know, what, you it's okay, if you start something, and it doesn't work the way you wanted it to work, pick a different routine. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's, it's really, it's really individual for that person. Yeah.

Ellen Gustafson:

It's true. I mean, we have heard a lot of research that, you know, it could be up to four or five activities that really stimulate you inspire you, you know, emotionally whether it's spiritually or intellectually.

Tish Woods:

Well, I would love for us to get into really specifics like what are we talking about, you know, and I know, we've kind of looked into, there's really 10 Very comprehensive things on the list that you might want to include in your morning routine. And as opposed to boring all of our listeners with the 10 we're gonna put them on our show notes that I say we talk about our top two for each of us.

Ellen Gustafson:

Okay, well, I'm gonna volunteer to go first. Um, as the morning person here, I'm gonna give a funny one, but I make my bed every day. And there's something about making a bed. It, it really is like you have woken up. And it's a discipline, making your bed every day is a discipline. But you walk by that bed all day, back and forth. If you're working from home, and it looks nice, and it's organized. And you've really set your day off. Right.

Tish Woods:

And I think to the making your bed one. You're not tempted to get back in.

Ellen Gustafson:

Yes, we know some people that work from bed sometimes. So

Tish Woods:

no, no, no, never, never, never done that.

Ellen Gustafson:

No, no, no. Okay. And my second one is really avoiding technology. Before you go to bed, I try and read a book and physical book, right? Or first thing in the morning. We all know that a lot of these things around technology, increase anxiety, and depression. And that is not the way you want to end your day or start your day.

Tish Woods:

Yeah, I can agree with that. The social media stuff will be there throughout your day. You know, when you're in between meetings, you can glance at it when you're you're waiting for your coffee to percolate. You can glance at it, but just don't Don't end your day and don't start your day with it. I would agree. Agreed.

Ellen Gustafson:

Agreed. Alright, Tish give me two for

Tish Woods:

Okay. So mine has to do with reducing drowsiness. And

Ellen Gustafson:

a try. That's right, start small, as we said, me. so for me, you know, it's been the light therapy, but just getting up getting yourself moving. And there's nothing better than the sunlight. So if it's a nice day, take your coffee outside. If it's not a nice day, get yourself one of those light therapy boxes. But again, it's that it just really build on it, and keep the ones that work for you. Right. And if helps reduce that drowsiness. So that first off is just going to start your morning out so much better. And I've got to say it's that gratitude journaling It reminds you it grounds you into this mentality of being grateful for things and people and whatever it is you're grateful for. It reminds you to be grateful for those things. It sets your your mindset in a direction of thinking about grateful things. So, so yeah. So again, I think all of the ones that we mentioned, it's really goes down to setting that that really good mindset for the day. Again, I know this stuff sounds hokey, but I just want to challenge everyone to really just give it it doesn't work, start again, and move forward. And I think we should check back in in a couple of months, Tish, and see how we're each doing. What do you think about that?

Tish Woods:

I'd love that. And I would also love to hear from our listeners, like, you know, what is your favorite thing, your part of your morning routine? Or if you've not had one, and you're going to start one, you know, what's the one piece that really has impacted you going forward? And again, remember, try something out for a week before you decide if it's something that you want as part of your routine. Yes, that's

Ellen Gustafson:

great. We'll check back in and we know here at midlife is just a great time for us to refocus on self care on health on wellness. And there's no better way than trying this out trying trying to start your day with a morning routine. Just throwing it out there for everybody.

Tish Woods:

I love that. So we want to tell everyone, you know that we're so glad and we're so grateful to have you along. So you all are on my gratitude journal every day. Please remember to you know, update us on your progress and how it's going with your morning routines. And remember, the positively midlife podcast will drop every Wednesday, become part of our tribe. And follow in like the podcasts wherever you listen and share our you know, episodes with somebody who you think would really brighten their day, you know, help us spread the word to other women at midlife. And we're we're talking about our endless possibilities. So until next week, mid lifers

Ellen Gustafson:

until next week