In a world where we could have just about everything we want at a moment’s notice, we have to pick and choose where we allocate our energy and always remember that while good things are fleeting,

Great Things Take Time

No, RBP is not a sweet new car, but it has been currently driving my life so to speak. Perhaps I am not alone in this?

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Here's what's in today's email

• RBP and a Performance Review

• Moments with Maurice

• What's Got Me Smilin'

RBP and a Performance Review

From the desk of Adrian at 4 AM:

Anyone else love that saying “we all have the same hours in the day?” Anyone else “love” the saying in a sarcastic sense? 

Whether it motivates you or drives you up a wall, it’s still 100% true at its baseline; we do all have the same number of hours in the day, literally, but individual circumstances keep us from using them in the same way. 

Why touch on this? Because before I share what RBP is, which includes what my daily schedule looks like, I want to remind you that so much of our lives are different, and to take what I say with a grain of salt. Like anyone’s opinions or processes, take what serves you and leave what doesn’t.  

RBP

Revenge Bedtime Procrastination (RBP) is exactly what it sounds like. When I don’t make time to do something for myself during the day, I find myself exercising my God-Given adult right to stay up as long as I want to. It doesn’t matter how tired I am or when I should go to bed; I am in control! 

This means you can find me at 10:30 PM, falling asleep to true crime documentaries, but groggily telling anyone asking that “no, I’m fine, I don’t need to go to bed, I’m not sleepy.”

Bro, your eyes are closed… You got MetaEyelids? AppleVisionCorneas? Nice try

Because I haven’t taken the initiative to take control of my day and set aside time for myself (again, I’m a grown-up; this is in my control), I take control at the end of the day by doing something that feels good in the moment, but doesn’t necessarily feel good in the long term. I’m all about a couch potato situation, but when the other 98% of my day feels off because of it, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate.

I’m now currently on the Road to 42, as my next birthday is in the near future. If I’m going to make some changes, cure myself of RBP, and level up with this new year, now is the time to do it. But where to start? Let me take you through my day, and we’ll see where there is space to improve:

Morning Routine:

My alarm goes off on the other side of the room. If I put it next to me, it’s so easy to snooze it. Now, I keep it on the dresser, which means as soon as I am forced to get out of bed, I’m awake and will stay awake. Granted, guests in other areas of the house have mentioned they hear it as well…

What's Cooler Than Being Cool? Ice cold!

Teeth brushed (not going to catch my hygiene slippin), then I head down to the kitchen to fill a bowl of water with ice and let it sit to get it freezing cold. Then it’s some carnival fun as I go bobbing for apples without the apples and dunk my face straight in. I swear I’m not trying to be trendy; the cold to my face helps my brain lock in. It’s a straight shock to the system that has me alert and ready to go devour my breakfast: goat cheese spread on toast, yogurt with fruit and granola, eggs and toast, or eggs, steak, and avocado. 

But what about everyone’s real favorite? Frankie? What’s he up to at this moment?

Frankie’s Morning Routine

Well, this bougie little freeloader is most certainly not a morning person. He is grumpily awakened when my alarm goes off, and then carried downstairs to the living room like the royal being he is (also because I’m worried about his little dachshund back) and wrapped in a blanket on a window chair to watch as the sun rises on his kingdom. But really, he’s just napping for another several hours.

His paws don’t touch the floor for the first hours I’m awake. Then it’s playtime, breakfast, and a walk before I have to buckle down to earn the kibble for this little dude.

Getting Down To Business

From here, my days are filled with work, and no two days are the same. Some days this means I’m up at 3:45 to get to the studio for a 5 AM class, others don’t have me coming in until the late afternoon. Either I start at home to get some admin work done to plan those classes that make you curse my name, or I’m headed into the studio to teach said classes. There are also marketing and social shoots where I have to jump in place or hold my pose and get a little taste of my own medicine. Nothing is more humbling than sweating buckets in a room full of people while you perform a simple lunge. Hope my work has flood insurance…

If I’m working from home, I’ll try to remember to cook food for lunch, which I can also have for dinner later, but I can easily get hyper-focused on work. The next thing you know, it’s the evening, I haven’t eaten all day, and I’m growling more than Frankie at the delivery person. Clearly, I am the peak example of health and wellness, and you should all follow my lead (that was sarcasm; take care of yourself).

Low Power Mode

By now, it’s hopefully not too late, and I have time to cook dinner. MY FAVORITE PART OF THE DAY! (yes, I am yelling)

Food was a big part of my family and how we connected. This is a no phones time where we can talk about our day, and if I’m cooking, I’m loving doing something with my hands that doesn’t require devices. Dinner time has always been the time for conversations, sometimes real and uncomfortable. It’s one of my favorite times of the day.

Next, it’s OFF TO THE COUCH! Where I wind down (or fall asleep) with something totally chill and soothing like Monster: The Ed Gein Story and RBP hits me like a ton of bricks. Finally, I relent that it is, in fact, my bedtime, so I take a 20-30 minute scalding shower, complete with 10 minutes of lying on the shower floor and some loofah magic with Mickey Mouse gloves. Flaky skin won’t catch me!

By now, it’s 11:30 PM/midnight, which means it’s bedtime, and that’s my day.

Performance Review

After hearing my schedule, can you see where I’ve got some improvement to make? Let’s pick it apart:

The first thing I’ll call out is that I haven’t been scheduling workouts for myself. This isn’t mandatory, because my job is literally to work out, but I’m not always doing the plans that serve me and moving my body in the way it’s craving. I can’t help but think about all my coworkers who have personal goals that have them in the gym or out on the streets training for something that fulfills them. What are my goals for 42? What do I need to change?

Then, let’s talk about the bedtime and the lack of time set aside for myself. There is ALWAYS going to be something that has to get done. I’m an adult; if I ever complete my task list, I’m probably dead. But that seems to be something I can’t wrap my head around. Just put it down, Adrian, it’ll be there when you come back! Why am I sacrificing time for myself that might make me more efficient and enjoy everything when I’ll never truly get ahead? 

I seem to be trying to take control of my schedule by staying up late, claiming victory over my to-do list by doing nothing. Every night, Revenge Bedtime Procrastination rears its ugly head, and I’m left unfulfilled and facing the consequences.

That’s no way to enter my 42nd year. So I’m making some changes.

In the next few weeks I’ll lay out for you what my Road to 42 is going to look like. Over the coming months, I’ll share my progress and be honest if I fall short. Are my goals too ambitious? Can I stick with it? Is it time for a colonoscopy?

But this first week has seen success with my new wake time: 4 AM. I realized that I find it harder to ignore the to-do list during the day, so the only way to take back my time and make it mine is to wake up early. This also forces me to go to bed earlier. Do I want a heavy lift in the morning? Or another episode of a creepy-ass show? Should I even have to ask this question?

The world is asleep (especially Frankie), and I have no choice but to get a workout in for myself, some meditation, or anything else that sets me up for my day. So if you’re up early this week putting in work, just know I’m right beside you 😉 

Moments with Maurice

If you only pause to reflect on your life for one moment today, do it now.

If you’ve been journaling along with me, take the time to pause on the reflection and write down your answer to the prompt. Even if it feels silly in the moment, looking back on what you’ve written down can be eye-opening when you start to see patterns form.

Because no matter what, there is always something to smile about.

I Am Not A Packers Fan

Let it go on the record that the Packers are not my team, but I will dress in green to match my family to celebrate my Cousin Jamie’s birthday (he’s the tallest in the picture below). Clearly, my brother and I had no fun during his time on the East Coast (including our night shoot).

The Downshift

Heeeeeey gorgeous! Had to snap a picture of this sleek E30 BMW wago on the street.

Uncle Bob

Reminiscing about Uncle Bob and the joy he brought our family. If you didn’t catch it last week, you can read more about him in the newsletter.

Remember:

-Adrian