thoughts on trying to be a better morning person

Any morning people out there? Because I'm not. I'm the kind of person that walks around like a zombie before my cup of coffee. I need a solid hour before I can think clearly and am most definitely a night owl. I would much rather sleep in than go to bed early. 

Although these days my sleep schedule has changed a bit. After traveling for so long and on top of that, struggling with jetlag, our normal rhythms are a bit off. The seven hour time adjustment was rough, but has meant that we've been getting up earlier than normal. I'm actually awake and ready to go in the morning. It's weird. (or maybe it's because on the inside I'm still in Paris and it's the middle of the afternoon) One morning this week we were all up at 5am and decided to make a big breakfast before Jordan went into work. It was such a sweet time together and all before the day even started! 

All of this has inspired me, and I really would love to be a better morning person. To accomplish daily tasks first thing. Or really just enjoying a nice breakfast instead of what I can grab from the pantry. 

I like change and preparing for the colder seasons seems like a good time to try and switch it up. It can be so dark in the winter, so I like the idea of waking up with the sun.

Before my morning energy fades, I would love to hear from you. What routines do you do every morning? Any recovering non-morning people out there? 

What do morning people do? Teach me your ways. 

Recently, I left my journal at our church for most of the week and I really missed it. I do journal more frequently now, but not every day. There's something about having it around and the ability to put down words to paper. 

So, if you journal, what do your journal about? 

I often find myself doodling more than journaling sometimes. But, if you were to read my journal (eek, please don't!) you'd find mostly prayers, ramblings, notes, ideas, and things I don't want to forget. 

I would love to journal daily, it's so therapeutic for me. I can't leave my thoughts in my head, I need to process them through writing, art, or my favorite, talking to someone. 

Do you ever decorate your journal? 

Do you remember the days of composition notebooks and covering them in magazine clippings? 

I still love personalizing my journal. I've had this one for two years and finally decided to write part of this poem by Mary Oliver last fall. I think I needed a little encouragement to stop being a loaf on the couch. I'm so glad I had English teachers as roommates to show me good poetry. (Thanks Britt and Steph) 

On the back of this journal I have another part of this poem,

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean- 

Do you have a go to journal? 

I've stuck with my favorite notebook of all time, the classic moleskine for years. Sometimes switching out different colors like the green above. And, I always, always regret using any different kind. I almost switched to these journals, because they're beautiful, but it wasn't the same. 

I would love to hear your answers to these questions. 

Do you have any other thoughts on journaling?

*Apparently we're having some trouble with the comments over here. I think I've fixed it. If the comments thread isn't showing up, you're welcome to leave your thoughts over on instagram or facebook  sorry about that!