The Morning Routine

My alarm goes off at six thirty every morning. I am not a morning person. I am definitely a night owl. I usually stay up late reading or watching television, and then I find it very hard to get up in the morning. Today is Monday and I have to go to work. I reach for my phone and snooze the alarm. Five more minutes. But five minutes turns into fifteen, and suddenly it is six forty-five. I need to get up now or I will be late. I throw off the blanket and sit on the edge of the bed. I feel tired. I think I need more sleep. Maybe I should go to bed earlier tonight. I stand up, stretch my arms above my head, and walk to the bathroom. The floor is cold under my feet. I turn on the shower and wait for the water to get hot.

I take a shower every morning. It helps me wake up. The hot water feels good on my shoulders and back. I use shampoo to wash my hair and soap to wash my body. After five minutes, I turn off the water and grab a towel. I dry myself quickly because I am already running late. I brush my teeth for two minutes, just like the dentist told me. Then I look in the mirror and comb my hair. I get dressed quickly. Today I choose my new white shirt with blue dots and dark trousers. I look professional. I check my phone while I get dressed. I have three new emails and a message from my colleague asking if I can bring coffee to the meeting this morning. I reply, "Yes, I will stop at the café on the way."

I go downstairs to the kitchen. I do not have time for a big breakfast today, so I make something quick. I put bread in the toaster and turn on the kettle for tea. While I wait, I check the weather on my phone. It says it is fifteen degrees and cloudy with a chance of rain later. I think I should take my umbrella. The toast pops up and I spread butter and jam on it. I eat it standing up in the kitchen while I drink my tea. It is not the most relaxing breakfast, but it will give me energy until lunchtime. I also eat a banana because I know I need fruit. My mother always tells me, "You should eat more fruit and vegetables." She is right, but I often forget when I am busy with work.

It is now seven fifteen. I need to leave the house by seven thirty to catch the bus at seven forty. I have fifteen minutes. I find my bag and check that I have everything: wallet, keys, phone, laptop, umbrella, and the documents I need for today's meeting. I put on my shoes and my jacket. I look at myself in the hall mirror one last time. I look presentable. I lock the front door and walk to the bus stop. It is a five-minute walk from my house. The air is cool and fresh. I can see my breath in the morning air. There are other people walking to work too. A man with a dog passes me. The dog wants to come and say hello but the man pulls him away. I smile. I like dogs but I do not have time for one.

I arrive at the bus stop at seven thirty-eight. There are four other people waiting. I recognise one of them. She works in the building next to mine. We nod at each other but do not talk. It is too early for conversation. The bus arrives at seven forty-two, two minutes late. I get on and tap my transport card on the reader. I find a seat near the window and sit down. I put in my headphones and listen to a podcast about language learning. The journey to work takes about twenty-five minutes. I look out of the window and watch the city wake up. Shops are opening, people are walking their dogs, and children are going to school. The bus crosses the bridge over the river and I can see the office buildings in the distance.

I get off the bus at eight ten and walk to my office. But first, I stop at the café on the corner, as I promised my colleague. There is a short queue. When it is my turn, I say, "Good morning. Can I have two large coffees to go, please? One black and one with milk." The barista says, "Of course. That is seven euros." I pay with my card and wait for the coffees. The café smells wonderful, like fresh bread and roasted coffee beans. I think about how much I use this café. I come here almost every day. I should probably make coffee at home to save money, but the coffee here is so much better. The barista gives me the two cups in a cardboard carrier and I walk the last two minutes to my office building.

I arrive at the office at eight twenty. I work in an office on the fourth floor. I take the elevator up and walk to my desk. My colleague James is already there. He looks up and says, "Good morning! You brought the coffee! You are a lifesaver." I give him the black coffee and keep the one with milk for myself. He says, "The meeting starts at nine. Have you prepared your presentation?" I say, "Yes, I finished it last night. I worked late on it." He says, "Great. The boss wants us to present the new project plan to the whole team." I turn on my computer and check my emails while I drink my coffee. There are twelve new messages since last night. I read through them quickly and reply to the urgent ones.

At nine o'clock, we go to the meeting room. There are ten people around the big table. The boss comes in and says, "Good morning, everyone. Let us start. James and Sophie, please tell us about the new project." James stands up first and explains the background. Then it is my turn. I connect my laptop to the screen and show my presentation. I talk about the timeline, the budget, and what each person needs to do. I feel a little nervous but I try to speak clearly and confidently. When I finish, the boss says, "Excellent work, both of you. Very clear and well-organised." I feel proud. My colleagues ask some questions and I answer them. The meeting finishes at ten thirty. James says, "That went really well. Good job!" I say, "Thank you. You too!"

The rest of the morning passes quickly. I work on emails, make phone calls, and update some documents. At twelve thirty, I go to the staff kitchen to eat my lunch. I brought a sandwich from home: cheese and tomato on brown bread. I also have an apple and a bottle of water. I sit with two colleagues and we talk about our weekends. One of them tells us about a new restaurant she found. She says, "The food is amazing and it is not expensive. We should all go there one evening." I think that sounds like a good idea. I ask her for the name and address so I can look it up later. After lunch, I go back to my desk and work until five thirty. The afternoon is busy but productive.

At five thirty, I turn off my computer and pack my bag. I say goodbye to James and my other colleagues. "See you tomorrow!" I walk to the bus stop and catch the five forty-five bus home. The bus is more crowded in the evening than in the morning. I stand for the first ten minutes until a seat becomes free. I listen to my podcast again. When I get home at six fifteen, I am tired. I take off my shoes, change into comfortable clothes, and sit on the sofa. I think about what to have for dinner. I do not feel like cooking anything complicated. I decide to make a simple omelette with cheese and salad. After dinner, I watch some television, read my book for thirty minutes, and then go to bed at eleven. Tomorrow I will do it all again. But tonight, I set my alarm for six fifteen instead of six thirty. Maybe those extra fifteen minutes will help me feel less rushed in the morning.