Scenario 1: I wake up, make coffee, and while the coffee brews, I meditate. Post meditation, I prioritize my workflow. Then I put my full attention on the first task: I use my alert morning energy for an hour, focusing on what's most important; working from intention. After an hour, if I choose, I check email or social media, but I return to what's most important. And at the end of the day, I feel satisfaction and ease.
Scenario 2: I wake up, make coffee, and turn on the computer. I check email and look at social media. I'm distracted into an activity that may or may not be important; I put out a fire that probably isn't urgent; I lose touch with my intention. (Email can be a rabbit hole.) Later in the day, I meditate, and I notice I'm off track, lost in trance.
Morning routine sets a tone for the day. Our morning habits create conditions that either support or deplete our intentions. It's always possible to begin again (like when I enter through Scenario 2, realize I'm off track, and start anew), but it's most helpful when I meet the day with awareness and intention. This needn't be grandiose. It can be a 5-minute pause as the coffee brews, deciding what projects are most important. It can be a 3-breath pause as I sip my coffee, even in front of the computer. It can be a short walk around the block, noticing the sights and sounds of nature.
What do you most need in your life? Reflection, focus, ease, quiet, connection, or meaning? Try to bring that intention into your morning routine. Start small. Think of one small change you can make to your mornings. If you forget one day, try again the next. And know this: I'm right beside you in the practice—trying to remember to remember; trying to bring presence and mindfulness to more moments.