I want to let you into a little secret…I really struggle creating routines which stick. I’ve always dreamed of having a morning routine, but struggled to actually stick to one.
However, things have changed and I’ve finally found something that works for me! And that’s the key to a routine, it has to work for you. It has to be driven by what’s important to you and make you feel good.
Having a stoma definitely impacts my morning routine! However, I’ve found that since having a really structured morning, I’ve had more energy, I’ve felt happier and more productive. I’ve also been much better at taking medication and vitamins, and doing things which make me feel good!
What my morning routine looks like with a stoma…
8am : Wake up
I wake up around 8am every morning and the first thing I do is empty my stoma bag. Usually when I get up, my bag looks a little like this – blown up, usually with a lot of air in it and needing to be emptied.
It takes a matter of minutes to sort out, so I then hop back into bed for 5 minutes and drink a cup of coffee and give myself the time and space to wake up properly.
Usually around this time, my dog Arthur will come in and say good morning too!
8:20 : Yoga practice
I never thought I’d be one of those people who practiced yoga as soon as they woke up. But I am now one of those people and really feeling the benefit.
I’m currently doing the 30 day yoga with Adrienne and it’s really helped me get into a routine.
It’s not always easy to show up on the mat, but I manage to drag myself there every day and it sets me up so well for the day.
8:50 : Skincare routine
My skincare routine is something which is really important to my wellbeing. It sometimes seems silly and trivial to say that, but it really calms me and makes me feel good. And like I always say, the core of self care and wellbeing is aligning with what makes you feel good.
This is genuinely one of my non-negotiable because of how good it makes me feel.
9am : Breakfast
aka the most important meal of the day. I’ve found that since having a stoma, and my hiatus hernia, that small meals regularly is important for me.
If I miss breakfast, you can bet that my stoma will be making all sorts of noises and I’ll be getting hangry, looking for any kind of snack.
I’ve started having just a simple bowl of yoghurt, sometimes a pastry and if I’m feeling energetic some kind of eggs. I also use this as a trigger to take my medication and vitamins which are super important.
9:20 : Dog walk
We can’t forget about Mr Arthur Weasley. Having a dog is the best motivation for getting out on a walk and I’ve fond it rounds off my morning routine perfectly.
Once I’m back from our walk, I make a cup of tea and dive straight into work.
Having a routine has helped me massively and being great for both my physical and mental wellbeing. Being able to have a slow morning has been the most important thing, sometimes it takes me longer to get moving.
Also having flexibility with it. If I’m in a lot of pain, I won’t do a full yoga flow and just try and stretch to help get some movement. They key is listening to my body and making sure I fuel it with what it needs right there and then.
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