when sleeping teenagers tested my morning habits

If you have ever wondered what sleeping teenagers and my morning habits have in common I have a little story for you...

It was just past five in the morning ... my usual waking time. I boiled the kettle, drank some water and took a deep breath. So peaceful. I pattered into the family room to start my meditation. As I settled onto the floor I paused.

Weird, I thought. It was like there was someone else in the room with me.

I looked to my left and there, on the sofa, was a big lump of blanket. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was a friend of one of my boys who had stayed over. I had not even noticed he was there when I walked into the room! I felt a brief flash of annoyance and rolled my eyes. Of course, there was a teenager on my sofa. Even the nocturnal boys fall asleep eventually.

I was determined not to let the interruption derail my morning so I gathered my things and moved out of the room to do my meditation in another part of the house. Problem solved. Calm mind activated to start the day.

After I had drunk my tea, written in my journal and mapped out my day, I headed downstairs to do my morning workout. Down the stairs I went, lights on, thump thumping away, and bam ... a lump on the sofa. Seriously, guys?! I thought to myself. First the family room, now the basement. 

Is there any space in the house that isn't occupied right now?

Like all transitions in life, this particular week had been an adjustment. You see, the kids were home for a mid-term break from university and, as I quickly discovered, on a completely different clock than the rest of us. They were like vampires ... only roaming at night. 

When they were away at school the house had settled into a calm, quiet routine. The kitchen stayed tidy for longer than an hour, the lights were turned out each evening and there weren't middle-of-the-night comings and goings.

There was room to spread out. Room to breathe. Room to think.

Part of me liked the quiet of the house. The other part of me was missing the giggles, the banter, the chaos. Life had shifted into a predictable, dare I say, boring routine.

I was reminded that day of how hard I had worked hard to optimize my morning habits when things were quiet and "boring". When the house wasn't chaotic, I had the time and space to build my meditation habit. When I didn't have to share my home gym space with sleeping teenagers I could count on getting my morning workout done before the busy of the day.

Habits are built when times are stable and tested when the inevitable chaos of life happens.

That day, I was able to get my workout in after all ... I just had to shift locations so the sleeping darling in the basement wasn't disturbed. I had made daily movement one of my top priorities and was determined not to let things slip. Getting my sweat on might have looked different that day than originally planned but I still did it.

The house won't always be calm and quiet. And, that's a good thing! I love the buzz and energy of the teenagers when they are around. But just because they are home doesn't mean I stop doing the things that are important to me. I move my body every day because it makes me a better human. I meditate each morning because it helps me focus and readies my mind for the day. 

Having this clarity meant that I was able to adjust my plans when the spaces I usually use were occupied.

My habits might have been tested but instead of throwing in the towel and giving up, I was able to pivot and keep moving forward.

Tell me, how have you had to adapt your daily habits when life gets chaotic?

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