Recently, I stumbled across this post on Sarah Wilson's blog about how beneficial it is to have a morning routine -- something to get you up-and-at-'em, giving you a good start to your day. Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I'm a creature of routine. I crave the security and structure of a regimented day. My coworkers good-naturedly make fun of me for eating on a schedule: snack at 10:00, lunch at 12:00, snack number two at 3:00, no exceptions. Routines make me happy, until I get bored of them, and then I make up a new routine for myself and repeat ad nauseum until I'm sick of it, too.

Currently my morning routine goes something like this:

6:00 - radio alarm goes off. Nine mornings out of 10 it's "Love the Way You Lie" by Rhianna and Eminem. Seriously, radio, there are other songs to play. Hit snooze and cuddle for nine minutes (YES, we are big cuddlers, NOW YOU KNOW ALL MY SECRETS)
6:09 - alarm #2
6:15 - drag ass out of bed. Put on running clothes, hair in ponytail + headband, find iPod. Hug hubby goodbye 1385729 times. This is absolutely necessary.
6:30 - 7:15 - run around the hood, glare at cars, see cute puppies being walked, suppress puppy jealousy. (Envy is a big part of my morning routine. So is sweat.)
7:15 - 7:25 - stretch, drink water, check the weather and attempt to pick out an outfit that is weather-appropriate, which is impossible, because in Halifax the weather changes at least six times every day. I have an umbrella in my bag every day and mittens in my car year-round. You just never know.
7:25 - 7:50 - shower, blow dry, apply moisturizers and lotions and things, put on makeup and get dressed. I am so proud of myself for having this part of my routine down to 25 minutes. That's pretty impressive. Usually I listen to the radio during this time too, so I get to hear Rhianna and Eminem at least once more, LUCKY ME
7:50-8:05 - Make coffee, pack lunch, scarf breakfast. Usually either a bowl of cereal or instant oatmeal or yogurt. Sometimes if I'm feeling crafty I have peanut butter and banana on something (toast, english muffin. Whatever starchy stuff's in the house)
8:05-8:10 - Brush teeth, assemble my shit for the day, set the alarm and leave.

So that's my morning routine. Exciting? No...but it's comforting. It's a little bit of 'me' time, quite often the only time I have to myself the entire day. And by the time I get to work between 8:30 and 9:00 I already feel like I've accomplished quite a bit with my day, and it hasn't even really begun yet. In the winter, this will change, since I'm not running around the neighbourhood in -20 degree weather and pitch blackness. Will I start going to the gym in the mornings? Or working out after work? Will I start sleeping in until 7:00 every day? STAY TUNED TO FIND OUT!

What's your morning routine? Anything you absolutely must do to get your day started off on the right foot?