1. Q: How many years young are you and what is your living situation?
1. I am 32 years old. I live with my mom and stepdad.
2. Q: What's the biggest challenge you faced in changing your morning routine? How have you dealt with it/got over it/are still dealing with it?
2. My biggest challenge is not snoozing and trying not to be a perfectionist. It has gotten better slowly. I’m almost done with phase two. It takes a lot of discipline. It helps to get more sleep but that’s not always possible so not being so hard on myself is what has helped me. Re-reading the beginning of the journal and my why helps me stay on track and stay positive and not judge myself. I tell myself it’s ok when I don’t get things done and just try again the next day. I’ve also made my morning routine super simple and that has helped my happiness level a lot because I can get it done most days. I’m hoping in the future to add things to it.
3. Q: What time did you wake up and go to sleep before you started using the Morning Sidekick Journal, and what time do you wake up and sleep now?
3. Before the journal, I went to bed any time between 10 and 12 and got up between 7 and 7:30 and was usually always 30 minutes late to work. Now I’m in bed between 9 and 10:30 and up between 6:30 and 6:45.
4. Q: What did your mornings look like before you started using the Morning Sidekick Journal? What do your mornings look like now?
4. My morning used to be so stressful and I would rush around getting ready and had no time for me or small tasks I wanted to get done. Now I’m relaxed and able to fit in some me time (reading, journaling, exercises) and coffee before work and sometimes even breakfast before work.
5. Q: In one sentence, what's your favorite thing about the Morning Sidekick Journal?
5. My favorite thing about the journal is the positive words (affirmations, quotes, encouragement) throughout the journal because it helps me stay positive and non-judgmental.
6. Q: How long have you been using the Morning Sidekick Journal?
6. I’m on day 31 but I haven’t done it every single day. I started it 1/13/19. Skipping a day or two every once and awhile gives me some time to feel like I don’t have to do anything that day and to reboot and I usually end up being productive anyways even without planning it. If I don’t skip a day, then I start feeling bogged down and after a break, I am ready to plan more days and I appreciate the routine more.
7. Q: How has using the Morning Sidekick Journal and doing your morning routine impacted your life overall?
7. The journal has made a big impact so far in my life. I’ve become such a positive person throughout the day. This takes a lot of positive thinking even when I’m not feeling it. I tell myself constantly that I can do it, I can keep going. It helps to say it even when you don’t really believe it. It gets easier as you keep on pushing yourself. It was a real struggle the first couple of weeks and I wanted to give up but the Facebook group is a great way to get some motivation. I’m only on week 3, and I still have days that I struggle, but something has clicked in my brain and I just keep on going and push through. Having a morning routine really sets my day up for productivity and I can’t wait to see how I feel in a few more weeks.