Rita Reviews

living my best possible southern life

8 Before 8

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I love how a good blog post can make you rethink things. The other day I was reading this post and realized that I have a huge list of things I too attempt to get done. Most days I’m going be honest with you and tell you I run around like a chicken with her head cut off.

In fact there are some days that I don’t even bother getting dressed.  I do have depression and that is part of it but not all of the reasons. I decided it was time to come up with my own 8 before 8 things I need to get done. Those eight little things that I can take care of every morning before the house wakes up. I love getting up early and do most days. I don’t have to get up at 4 am though. I wake up at 5 am and then go through my list below. One of the big things that helps me is that Ma and my Uncle get the kids up, off to school and such. It helps them have more movement throughout their day and gives them something to do whereas they normally wouldn’t.

1. Meditate

I take this time early in the morning to say my rosary and just spend a little time reflecting. I make a point of not focusing on the day ahead or any problems. Instead I focus on the things I am grateful for and the ways I can make life a little better.

2. Exercise

I sit a computer most of the day. I try to get up and walk around but lets be honest it doesn’t always happen. So I have working at getting up and working out more. You all know I am focusing more on my own health and fitness. I have some challenges that I am doing along with several other things. No matter what I make a point of doing my squats (cause I need a better butt) and walk on my treadmill.

3. Drink Water (32 oz)

I suck at this! I do, I have all sorts of good intentions but I totally suck at this. i do have an awesome water bottle though that is making things a little easier. I have discovered if I drink 30 oz in the morning after working out I feel better, less bloated, and more ready to take on the day. Not to mention my skin looks a hundred times better now.

4. Social Media Check In

I have so many different groups, pages, and other things that I take part in and/or belong to that I have to schedule out when to check in or I would end up spending the whole day on social media. I take about 30 minutes each morning to run through everything and do a quick check in.

5. Daily To Do List

I make a quick list of things that I must get done for the day like articles to post, laundry or other house cleaning, important phones calls, etc. It just helps me stay on track. I use Trello for this.

6. Article Ideas/Notes

I take a few minutes to jot down any article ideas or notes about articles in Trello. This just allows me to focus a little bit on coming up with new articles. I don’t worry about spelling or if I need to write it or anything like that. It is simple brainstorming.

7. News/ Morning Tea

I have a cup or two of tea each morning while watching the news. I don’t spend a lot of time on the news because Ma has it playing on and off all day so I can hear it in the background.

8. Breakfast

This is something I don’t do enough. I try to sit with the kids but I don’t always eat breakfast. It is one of those little things though now I do early enough. I feel much more able to handle the day and I have been snacking less.

Those eight things help make my day a little more productive and make me feel better about everything. On the days I manage to do everything (cause there are some days I don’t) I feel as though I have conquered the world.

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Comments

  4. I need to make my own 8 before 8 list and stick to it. It may be hard but I’m gonna give it a try.

    • It is hard at first but you will find that the more you do it the easier it will be. Not to mention it really helps me get ready to face the day.

  6. For a long time I was getting up early and doing a little cooking before leaving, making prep for dinner, etc. But then an elderly lady moved in under me, who said her icemaker on the refrigerator kept her awake, and didn’t want me to make any noise at all until …. she wouldn’t say. She complained about everyone and everything for two years and just moved out. I’m wondering if I can get back to doing a few things early again, try hard to be very quiet, but some people can hear if you run the water, etc.

    • I understand the need to be quiet. In a household of 7, myself included, I do try to be quiet when I am moving around. Sometimes there is just no help for it. Hopefully you can get back into the habit.

  7. Great list, I get so much done before 8 than at any other time of the day. I enjoy doing cleaning and walking early in the morning especially when it’s hot out.

    • So do I! There is just something about early morning that I manage to get so much done. Things that if I don’t do my 8 by 8 I never get done for the day.

  8. A great list. I exercise and drink plenty of water, but could set aside time for meditation every morning.

  9. I can’t even imagine doing all this early in the morning! I am not a morning person AT ALL. i DO WELL TO WAKE ON TIME—5AM, BUT NOT BY CHOICE—GET COFFEE AND READ THE NEWS. tHEN…DO SOMETHING WITH THE DAY.

  10. My list would have many of these items on it, but it would be more like ten before ten. Lol.

    I also try to meditate every morning. It sets the tone for the day and makes a world oF difference in my thought patterns throughout the day.

  11. This is an excellent list. I don’t meditate, but I do workout and use that time to reflect.

  13. I’ve been meaning to try meditation. I’ll look into the Trello app as well. I make to do lists on notepads but I use so many that I lose track of them.

  15. I really need to make sure I add exercise and drinking water to my routine. those are two that I neglect most often.

  18. These all sound like healthy, goal-oriented things to be focusing on, and I have a bit of envy for the bit of structure that is suggested here.
    I spend more days than I’d care to admit at home, with virtually no structure. …It’s maddening. …I have lists upon lists of things that need to be done. From “move out of this house” (I don’t think that one’s written down) to “reply to So-And-So,” I’ve got all of these List Items just floating around– EVERY DAY.
    …I don’t know quite where I was headed with all of this. Routine and structure, that might have been it.
    But I know what you meant, how a good blog post can help you to rethink things. I’d count this one as one of those– thank you.