What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?

Since the cell phone was created and became a part of my life, I routinely wake up, and the first thing I do is reach for my phone. I don’t even get out of bed. I look for any apps that have a notification mark. Then, I check the emails for important messages and the Microsoft daily calendar reminder.

If there are important reminders, I focus on how I will approach the task and how much time I have before I have to begin preparing for the day’s first task. If I have time, I open my notes file on my phone and write any ideas that may come to my mind. I allow my mind and fingers to have a private moment together to do whatever they want.

Once, I feel that quiet mindfulness moment is complete; I get up, shower, and take my daily medication. I think about what I will eat as I dress for whatever I have to accomplish for the day.

After my morning routine, I will proceed to the tasks of the day. Today includes a trip to the VA dental clinic due to some dental discomfort I’ve been experiencing lately.

As the day wears on, I will gradually wind down. I’ll take my evening medications, and then it’s time for one of the highlights of my day – a phone call with my kids and grandkids. These conversations can range from a brief catch-up to hours of chatting.

Once we say our goodbyes, I jot down any new thoughts or ideas that sprung up during the day in my phone’s notes. This quiet reflection helps me gather my thoughts and plan for the potential challenges or opportunities of the coming day.

Eventually, I set my phone down on the nightstand beside my bed, signifying the end of another productive day. As I drift off to sleep, I know that when I wake, my phone will be right there, ready to assist in kick-starting another day. This marks the end of my day, mirroring how it began, bookending my morning and evening with my trusty cell phone.