WHAT DO YOU DO BEFORE BREAKFAST?
The Morning. The start of a brand new day. A stretch of time full of promise, possibilities and wonder.
You spring out of bed. “Up and at em…” A couple of naked shadow boxing minutes in front of the full-length mirror and you are on your way.
Or not?
Recently I stumbled across a book called What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam.
I have to admit, curiosity got the better of me and I was keen to know, what is it that these successful folk do before they hook into a bowl of fibrous cereal and skim milk?
So I did a little digging and was surprised by what I found. I got particularly stuck on one aspect, which was “Picture the Perfect Morning”. When picturing MY perfect morning, it would look a little something like this.
I would wake up naturally and drink a coffee in bed while reading the paper.
I would then rise up, stretch and pop on the scales to find I had lost 5kg without even trying.
The kids would be in their school uniform, eating breakfast that they had sorted out themselves. The schoolbags would be packed and sitting at the front door along with my car keys and handbag. My husband would then appear from folding a load of laundry and tell me to go back to bed, as he has decided to take the day off work so he can go on the Year One excursion to the Zoo.
It is all very simple. I do not want for much.
But if you were to follow the suggestions outlined in What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, it would look quite different to my version of a Perfect Morning.
So I decided to give it a go.
The author urges you to start your day by reading through a religious text, any religious text that will help you reflect on human nature and history. So this morning I read through my own religious text, that being the Ikea Catalogue and found out that I could not decide between a Fillsta or a Maskros for my bedroom. So much for successful… First part FAIL.
Ok, so the perfect morning continues with training for something big, or getting on a big train. Or something like that. I cannot focus much because the next tip is to bang out some craft with your kids.
Now, I am a bit allergic to doing craft with the kids, let alone on a Tuesday morning so I get them to colour in their homework sheet while I have a coffee and catch up on the news. It counts. I am sure it does.
So I still have not had breakfast because there are some other things I need to do for my professional growth before getting my vegemite toast on.
The first is to Strategise. Use this time to imagine what your career looks like. It is quite difficult for me, as I still do not know what I want to be when I grow up, and I refuse to rule out being a finalist on Australian Idol anytime soon. So I practice a bit of singing in the shower.
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30 Responses to this article
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carmen June 28, 2012
Perfect morning would be one I wake up to without children arguing and completely pain free. The rest is fine as it is.
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Mrs Woog June 28, 2012
A perfectly delightful start to the day x
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Tara @ Our Whirlwind Adventures June 28, 2012
All my first world problem solving takes place in the shower. I simply do not have time to sing Whitney in between answering questions such as, ‘How long are you going to be?’ (well, hubby, I haven’t turned the water on yet!) ‘Muuuum, where are you?’ (well, you’re looking at me, you tell me where I am!) ‘Mum, what are you doing?’ (trying to shower in peace!) ‘Mum.. So and so hit me!’ (tell dad!) ‘How long are you going to be, so and so hit so and so’ (alright hubby, I’m out! JERK!)
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Mrs Woog June 28, 2012
Taking a shower in the morning without a full blown conversation with someone is a far fetched dream of mine x
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Valerie Parv June 28, 2012
What part of “breaking your fast” don’t these authors understand? There must be all kinds of nutritional reasons why starting your career before breakfast is a bad idea. Likewise crafting with kids – unless cooking breakfast counts. I have two versions of morning – the one where I lie in bed dreaming; and the one where I get up and write before I do anything else. If I don’t, the words disappear and then you wouldn’t want to know me. Some people feel that way anyway. Off to breakfast now.
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Danielle June 28, 2012
God, I feel more successful just reading those tips. I’ve always been a corner cutterer though- I’m headin’ straight for the Tim Tam!
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Shari June 28, 2012
I could never meet their criteria. Ever. Happy to fail, actually. One question though, do you think me screaming “Oh. My. Lord!!!!!” (plus a few other words) counts as the early morning religious experience??? Before breakfast time this morning we had a poo-painting clean-up-party and then of course breakfast was kind of obsolete.
And today’s been one of our better days.
I’m pretty sure I don’t want to read that book. -
Margaret June 28, 2012
Read religious text: I read my children their final rites every morning.
Train for something big: Sorry Woog, but I am the next Aussie Idol winner (despite being one of 3 people knocked back for the school choir when I was 8 – still feel that pain).
Do craft with the kids: Does getting your kids to brush their teeth count as craft with the kids? The amazing things they do with the toothpaste surely counts.
Read articles: Woogsworld.
Online class: Facebook.
DONE! I am a successful person!
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Ingi June 28, 2012
Craft? Before breakfast or even a cup of tea? I homeschool, and there’s no freaking way I craft that early (or anything else much, actually). Religious text? Does checking Facebook count?
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airdre grant June 28, 2012
could someone please advise publishers we dont want any more books instrcuting us on how to be successful? We are quite happy muddling through and those how to be successful books only serve to undermine us by letting us know wwe are not good enouhg as is. They are a pest and an abomination. Craft before breakfast. How idiotic.
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veggie mama June 28, 2012
Do not get between me and my food. Ever.
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bigwords June 28, 2012
I am thinking you must be waking up at about 2.30am to do all the things on that list!!
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The Huntress June 28, 2012
Haha, at least now I KNOW I will never be successful
Excellent! -
Glynnis Henderson June 28, 2012
Who could possibly do all this stuff on an empty stomach!
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Benison O'Reilly June 28, 2012
Oh FFS! Seeing it’s rather cold in Australia right now, before breakfast tomorrow I suggest we all start a huge bonfire and burn all idiotic self-help books in the country. The world would be a much better place.
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The Huntress June 28, 2012
@ Benison
I can’t help but feel you are one of the most sensible people I’ve ever had the good fortune to come across on a comments forum. Just thought I’d share.
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RedHotMamma June 28, 2012
What do I do? Breastfeed the baby. Dress the baby. Put on my uggies and dressing gown.
All before breakfast!
Then we have weetbix together. Such high achievers, we are. -
boomerangjane June 28, 2012
Go the Maskros from Ikea. She’s a beauty. You’re welcome
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Catherine Rodie Blagg June 28, 2012
I spend the first five mins of my day hiding under the covers trying to ignore the yells of “mummmmmy” coming from the toddlers room. Then I insert matches into my eyes because I’ve been up most of the night with the baby. After saying good morning to all 15 of toddlers teddies we head downstairs. I drink at least 3 cups of tea back to back and only then am I ready for the day! Xx
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Mum of Adult Kids June 28, 2012
If I were doing craft with my kids (roll back 15 years) before breakfast, or any time of day really, I would certainly be still asleep… having a nightmare! Which incidentally could be my perfect morning, sleeping through it. All of it.
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Lynne @ Mumma Funk June 28, 2012
I loved that you made me laugh lots through this post and I only recently read an article that talked about what people do before breakfast which I found really interesting in that a lot of the comments centered around waiting for your bowels to kick into action!! My first thought when I read the advice from the book you referred to and the recent article was … what time do these people get up??? I’m happy with my morning routine. I need to wake up in the shower before I do anything so make a bee line for it first up. If I can get through that without the toddler having a meltdown cause they’ve woken up and Mummy’s not made it to his side within 10 secs of the first whinge, my day’s off to a great start
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Heather June 28, 2012
First and foremost… what defines ‘successful people’ Hmm? Thoroughly enjoy reading successful people’s stories, infact just finished a page of Australian women’s comments – yes, see above. We who are the real thing, speaking the truth of the real thing (general thank you, delightful Mrs Woog…) may just be the ointment I and maybe others needed today, and most days. …after all we probably clicked/read because we already ‘know’ we’d like to do it a bit better? I am ripe to review how I start my days… I will consider infusing meditation somewhere in the reality mix. Given Any circumstances, the power lies in our choices, big and small. Realistic ones. Amen.
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Meg June 28, 2012
Oh thank you do much for the laughs (and to the bloggers too). I always thought it was just me who wasn’t tick all the “successful” boxes each morning!
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jackie June 28, 2012
The highlight of my morning is putting on the coffee, drinking the coffee and then having another coffee.
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Toni June 28, 2012
Just worked out this would mean I would need to wake up at 4am just to be able to eat before I pass out, orrrr considering I’d been up for 4 hours I’d already have passed out and would be asleep! Perfect! Also Mrs Woog, fantastic to hear some one else still doesn’t know what to be when they “grow up”!
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AvB June 28, 2012
OMG. That book is so far from reality it ‘ain’t gonna catch on!!
Perfect morning. We leave the house, on time, with clean teeth and the children having eaten. Anything else -and I mean ANYTHING- is a total bonus. -
Sere July 18, 2012
Benison,
Your comment made me laugh out loud.
That is how I would like to start my day everyday, before breakfast, while eating my breakfast or after breakfast OR IF I DIDN”T HAVE ANY BREAKFAST because I was full.
THANKS
