Much is said about the importance of routines, whether in eating, in sports, in meditation, even in watering the plants at home… The truth is that the topic is so vast, with so many possibilities and so personal that the likelihood of us wanting to do everything at once is enormous and somewhat subjective when it comes to defining what a routine is and what we think is important to include in that routine. What if I skip a day, what if that’s not what I want, what if I have to rush through it, what if I’m not a routine person after all, what if, what if, what if? But… Calm down! Uncomplicate it and let it flow, everything will fall into place in its own time. Very cliché, I know, but it is the purest of truths. For a long time I tried to understand what a routine is for me, I changed and changed again, I tried to understand what others were doing and if they were the right one, and you know what? The comparison just helped me to realize that we are all different and that the others are the others and I will always be me. That’s the only certainty I’ve been left with when it comes to this whole routines thing. After that I let it flow and slowly realized that I am much more than what I do or don’t do in a morning routine, and so are you!

I realized something else, that I need a routine to be more productiveI believe that I need some time for myself before I am available for others and that depends on what I have planned for the day, if it is a quiet day, if I am sleepy, or if it is a day when I need to not have a routine.

Since I started practicing yoga, my life has been slowly adjusting to this slow living that I identify with these days. Since I stopped eating and cooking meat regularly, my diet has adjusted to new menus and flavors never explored before. And since I assumed that these two areas would complement each other in a harmonious and fluid way in my daily life, I felt beautiful things happening to my mind, my body, and my perspective on this whole healthy thing. So, if I may. Try to realize that routines are something that give you space to

Caring and dedicating yourself to you, with the certainty that you love yourself and that you are the main priority in your life.

regardless of how long it takes or what time you do it!

This is a generalized and summarized view of my opinion about routines. But how do we start a routine? Well, the theories and studies say that we create a habit after 21 days of repeating a certain action. But let’s simplify that too for now, shall we? Start with your quieter mornings when you can schedule breakfast, sit at the table, chat, or just be quiet with yourself for a few minutes longer than usual. For this I bring you a ritual, which will bring you calm and a giant connection to your heart and to this moment alone, especially on these colder winter mornings. And besides, it’s a wonderful treat to start the day with a happy stomach!

Cacau quente

For 1 person, you’ll need:

– 30gr. cocoa mass (or the purest cocoa you can find)

– 50ml. of very hot water

– a pinch of salt

– 1 tablespoon almond butter (optional but will bring more creaminess and an extra layer of flavor)

– honey or other sweetener (if you want comfort, you may consider a generous amount adjusted to your palate)

– optional ingredients: cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom, ginger powder

Start by chopping the cocoa and heating the water.

Put everything in a pot and bring it to the stove with a pinch of salt, the almond butter, and any (or all) of the optional ingredients you’ve decided to use, and in case you use sugar, add it here as well.

Let it come to a light boil and stir until you get a creamy consistency, yes, it will depend on what is creamy for you, we are simple and fluid here, remember?

Use a strainer and pour into a mug, add the honey and enjoy!

Extra points for coziness and flavor if:

You heat a vegetable drink and make a foam, add an extra drizzle of honey and sprinkle with cocoa and cinnamon powder!

Create your ritual

Go to your favorite spot in your house, take a book, enjoy the sun, the view…. Listen to music or write about what this moment represents for you.

If you live in a family and usually have breakfast together on these days, take the opportunity to share, introduce this novelty, and pull up a conversation topic about love.

And remember, each person is unique, and so is their routine!

With affection,

Ana