Getting Rid of the Old Way
So, I finally did it. Pitched out that old way of handling my morning routine. For years, man, years, I stuck to this super rigid schedule I read about somewhere. Get up at 5 AM sharp, meditate for 30 mins, journal for another 30, workout for an hour… sounded great on paper, right? Like those fancy self-help gurus preach.
Why I kept it so long? Honestly, part of it was stubbornness. I’d told people about it, felt like I had to stick with it. Plus, sometimes it did feel productive, in a weird, stressful way. It was like this old pitcher, you know? Maybe a bit chipped, maybe it didn’t pour quite right anymore, but it was familiar. It was mine. And throwing it out felt like admitting defeat or something.
Then things started piling up. Work got crazy, family needed more time, and sleep? Sleep was becoming a joke. That rigid 5 AM start, followed by the checklist, it just wasn’t working. I was getting tired, stressed, and honestly, pretty grumpy. The journaling felt forced, the meditation was just me thinking about my to-do list. The whole thing became another chore, another source of pressure.
The breaking point came a few weeks back. Woke up at 5 AM, dragged myself through the motions, and by 10 AM, I felt completely drained. Snapped at a coworker over something silly. That evening, sitting there, totally exhausted, I just thought, “This is stupid. This isn’t helping me, it’s hurting me.” That was the moment I decided the old pitcher had to go.
The Actual ‘Pitching Out’
It wasn’t like flipping a switch, though. First, I just stopped. Slept in a bit the next day. Felt guilty as hell, like I was slacking off. But you know what? I felt rested.
Then I started thinking about what actually mattered in the morning. What made me feel good, not just “productive”?
- Needed some quiet time, but maybe not 30 mins of forced meditation.
- Liked moving my body, but an hour-long intense workout before dawn? Maybe not daily.
- Journaling? Useful sometimes, but not as a strict requirement.
So, I started experimenting. Some days I’d wake up naturally, have a cup of coffee in peace, read a bit. Other days, if I felt like it, I’d go for a walk or do a quick stretch. Sometimes I’d jot down a few thoughts, sometimes not. No pressure. Just listening to what my body and mind needed that day.
Letting go wasn’t easy. That little voice kept saying I was being lazy, undisciplined. Had to keep reminding myself that the old way wasn’t serving its purpose anymore. It was just an empty container, that old pitcher.
Life After the Pitcher
It’s been a few weeks now. And honestly? It’s so much better. I feel more flexible, less stressed. Mornings are calmer. My energy levels are actually more consistent throughout the day because I’m not starting in a deficit from forcing myself awake and through a rigid routine.
Funny thing is, I still sometimes meditate or journal or workout in the morning. But it’s because I want to, not because a schedule tells me I have to. It comes from a place of wanting to feel good, not a place of obligation.
Pitching out that old routine felt like a big deal, like letting go of a part of my identity almost. But it just cleared space for something more… well, more me. Sometimes you gotta recognize when something, even something you built yourself, just isn’t working anymore. You just gotta pitch it out.
