Describe a routine that you follow in the morning

I'm an early bird, and I have a morning routine that I follow pretty strictly, even on weekends. I get up at six o'clock, which many of my friends find shocking, but I've been doing it for around three years and now I don't even need an alarm.

The first thing I do is drink a large glass of water and open the window to let in some fresh air. Then I spend fifteen minutes doing simple stretching exercises on the living room floor, nothing complicated, just to wake my body up. After that, I take a shower and prepare breakfast, which is usually porridge with fruit and nuts, along with a cup of green tea. While I eat, I look at my to-do list for the day and decide on my three main priorities. I avoid checking social media until I've left the house, because otherwise I tend to get distracted. By seven thirty I'm ready to leave for work.

This routine is important to me for several reasons. Most importantly, it sets the tone for the whole day. When I start calmly and without rushing around, I feel in control, whereas on the rare days when I oversleep, everything seems to go wrong. I also have a hectic schedule, with long hours at work and evening classes, so my morning hour is the only time I can look after myself. Finally, having a routine means I don't need to waste energy making small decisions. It lets me get off to a good start and stay productive.