Maintaining your routine through the summer months
School's out for the summer. The weather is calling us outdoors. And a wave of vacations leaves offices quieter than usual. This seasonal shift has a way of slowing our motivation and productivity.
What starts as a small, intentional pause each day can quietly stretch from a few minutes to a few hours. Taking breaks is something we preach about here, but the pause is meant to reset and motivate productivity. Allowing ourselves our mindset to shift from taking necessary reset time to frequently playing hooky will throw everything off. The habits we worked so hard to build begin to unravel. And when we let our guard down, anxiety often slips back in.
I'm guilty of falling into this trap myself. It's especially tricky as a full-time real estate professional who often works from home. When my kids are out of school and my husband takes time off, my quiet little workspace suddenly gets a lot more lively.
It's so easy to give in to the lazy temptations. Sleep late. Eat more. Pour one too many adult beverages. And then, come fall, we feel the need to jolt ourselves back into shape.
I need a vacation!
After grinding for months with few days off, I've finally carved out time to step away. A few years ago, I would have looked forward to sleeping in, overindulging in food and drinks, and being as lazy as humanly possible. By the end of the trip, I'd be saying, "I need a vacation from my vacation."
A single week of abandoning my health routine would leave my body and mind spiraling. Heavy stomach, pulsing head, foggy thoughts. I'd need a few days just to reset.
But after spending the past year focused on regaining control of my health, I've become a little addicted to the way my morning routine jump-starts my day. The thought of pausing that feeling while I'm away just isn't something I'm interested in anymore.
The good news? Keeping a simple morning routine doesn't mean sacrificing your summer fun or your extra rest. In fact, a few small habits will help you enjoy your vacation even more.
Three simple morning activities for a healthy vacation
Set a morning alarm. Go ahead and sleep in an extra half hour or so. What really throws off your rhythm is oversleeping. If you normally wake at 6:30 AM, reset your alarm to 7:00 AM. You're giving yourself permission to enjoy a little extra time under the covers without uprooting the routine your body relies on.
Hydrate. I'm a firm believer in rehydrating first thing. Your body is dehydrated after a full night's sleep, so a glass of water is the single best thing you can do to reset each morning. It wakes up your brain, boosts your metabolism, and helps offset the dehydration from caffeine. Reach for that glass of water before your cup of coffee!
Move or stretch with intention. Getting your body going in the morning activates your whole system. If a full workout isn't your thing, plan a simple five-minute routine of stretches and bodyweight exercises you can do right in your bedroom, still in your pajamas.
A consistent morning routine, even a simple one, keeps your body aligned and your mind in control. Once you've finished your 5–10 minutes, you're free to enjoy the good stuff: a quiet cup of coffee, some sun, a little adventure, and all those delicious vacation meals.
If you need some extra support in designing a morning routine that works for you, I built a product to help you clarify how you want your mornings to feel, choose a handful of small anchor habits, arrange them into a sequence, and track it gently until it becomes second nature. Download Instantly to get started: The Morning Routine Builder