Single Parent Life

Being ambitious and a single parent is its own unique challenge. More often than not, no matter how well balanced your routine is, you will always question yourself if you’re spending enough time with your kids.

I’ve been fortunate enough to spend most of my adult working life working with men old enough to be my father or grandfather. In the break room, in random conversations or even pass-by quips worthy of a Pinterest quote, I picked up that time lost with kids is never gained back, but always remembered.

With all of that in mind, and with the urge to still do more with my life, I developed my morning routine.

Before I dive into it, I want to be clear on a few things. This routine works for ME. This may not work for you. It is also somewhat extreme, and has been developed over the course of 15 years. I began my first business on a steady diet of coffee, fast food, cigarettes’ and rage, and no I do NOT recommend it.

What I hope anyone gains from this is the idea of how one can balance all of the necessities with life, and not forget the important things.

In the book The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, https://amzn.to/4iWQaf6 there is a story of a boy trying to learn the secret of happiness in life and meets the wisest man in the world whom tells him to tour his beautiful palace while holding a spoon filled with Oil. at first the boy is careful not to drop the oil, and when he returns he realized he wasn’t able to see any of the beautiful sights, so he returns through the palace and sees all the wonderful gardens, rooms and sights the Wise man had to offer, but upon returning he realized he had dropped all the oil. The Wise man tells him that the secret to happiness is life is to experiences all the wonders and beauty in the world, but never forget the drops of oil on the spoon.

My Morning Routine

3AM-Rise

3:05AM – Immediately turn on light and allow eyes to adjust to the light. Take morning vitamins (with water left on the counter and ready from night before). Check for emergency messages from night before

3:10AM – Make Coffee, personally I drink BulletProof Coffee https://amzn.to/3VXx2DG

3:15AM – Go to Computer, turn on Sauna to heat up, review schedule made night before (I prep a lot of things the night before so that I don’t have to think too hard first thing in the morning)

3:15AM-4:20AM – Morning work on Computer

4:20AM-5AM – Workout & Sauna

5AM-5:30AM – Shower, shave, Dress and ready for work

5:30-5:45AM – Drive to work, listen to whatever audiobook Im listening at the time

5:45AM-11AM – Work at Regular Job

11AM-11:30AM – First Meal of the day/Lunch Break

11:30AM-3PM – Continue work, meetings, follow up, etc

3PM-3:30PM – Pick up Daughter from school, take her home

3:30PM-4PM – Drive to Martial Arts Studio, again with the audio book, grab a snack on the way or from home

(Monday-Thursday) 4PM-7PM – Work at the Martial Arts Studio

(Friday-Sunday) 4PM-7PM – Time with Kids

7PM – Night wind down. Night Vitamins. Kids Vitamins, spend time with Kids. Bedtime stories

8PM- Kids in bed, tucked in and prayers

8PM-9PM – Prep for next day, clothes laid out, water, notes and schedule gone through, last minute emails.

9PM – Sleep