These creamy, protein-packed Almond Butter Cup Overnight Oats will have even the night owls excited to wake up for breakfas

My hope for this ‘lil blog is that most of you come for the healthy recipes and stay for the stories, inspiration or references to early 2000’s pop culture (aka the golden era). The goal when I started this space was just to have some kind of tracking tool for my running progress, but obviously things have changed a lot since 2013. This little plot of internet acreage became a way to connect with women (and a couple dudes) who were tired of ‘one-size-fits-all’ generic health advice and wanted to create their unique healthy lifestyle that would be sustainable (wait for it…..) 4 the long run.

As time goes on I’m more and more comfortable sharing the messy process that is constantly working on trying to live a life that makes you feel good. Because it doesn’t take long to realize that health isn’t a set it and forget it kinda deal. It’s a gotta work on this thang erryday kinda deal.

So in true In it 4 the Long Run fashion I’m using this space and the amazing connection I feel to everyone who reads ze blog, to talk about something that I’m looking to change and using errybody (as well as my own guilt) to create some accountability. That thing I’m trying to change?

It’s my morning routine.

Right now it looks like this:

• 5:40 am – Alarm goes off (snooze gets hit until…)
• 6:05 am – Check email, scroll Instagram, check snapchat, fall asleep again
• 6:20 am – Roll outta bed *semi-panicked* throw on my work tee-shirt, slap on some makeup
• 6:30 am – Grab a bar and sometimes a hard boiled egg
• 6:45 am – Start work at the coffee shop – eat in the down times

Luckily, when I get to work I have a pretty decent supply of caffeine to make up for my less than energized start. But my uninspiring morning routine has trickle effect throughout the day which include:

• A base level of what I call “app-anxiety” which manifests itself in over checking every social media when I know I’m not missing anything
• Often not having time to pack a lunch, which means skipping, over-snacking or spending unnecessary money on lunch
• Being exhausted when I get home and dragging through my workout and sometimes skipping it
• Not feeling focused or productive when I get home so projects take at least 3 times longer, which often trickles into a later bed time aaaaand repeat cycle.

Even on the days I go in at 9am, I have a more leisurely breakfast, but I still essentially repeat the same initial mediocre launch to my day.

I just know it could be so much better. I don’t think I’m a early bird or night owl which means I have a lot of power to set whatever schedule I need to.

So I’m creating a new game plan starting today.

And it goes a little something like this (Aarron’s Party… anyone?)

• Packing a delicious non-bar breakfast, aka these overnight oats AND veggie filled lunch the night before
• Laying out my outfit the night before
• Setting a night time alarm for 9:30 so I’m sleeping by 10 (this will for sure be the hardest part because I like to go to sleep at midnight)
• Putting my phone on airplane mode until 7am
• Setting an alarm 5:15 am
• Going for a run or walk from 5:30-6:00 am (getting much needed fresh air)
• Ready for work by 6:30 am

Wish me luck my friends. If anyone has good strategies for switching up their AM routine especially if you have an early start let me know! I need all the motivation/inspiration/advice/sympathy I can get.

On the bright side these oats are 1000% worth jumping out of bed for especially when you top them with a hefty drizzle of almond butter, so maybe I’ll be just fine.

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Your Turn:

• What’s your favorite part of your AM routine?
• What’s something you would like to work on about your AM routine?

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