How I Broke The Eat/Sleep/Work Cycle

Maybe the path we're taught to take isn't the one we're supposed to follow.

The first time I thought about this I was 22, fresh out of college, and about 3 months into my first corporate job.

My mornings looked like setting my alarm for 6:00 a.m. for work, hitting snooze exactly 9 times, and rolling over to scroll social media until the very last minute that I needed to get up.

I would then proceed to rush around to get ready, grab my coffee, and hop in the car to start my dark 30 minute commute to work.

30 minutes was usually enough time for the caffeine to kick in, get to my desk, and let out that deep exhale of relief after the last hour and a half of rushing I just did.

I would then work my 9 hours, drive home, eat, sleep, and do it all over again the next day.

And the next day and the next day and the next day.

I don't know about you, but —

In college I was taught “get the job, get the job, get the job” and not much else was the focus. I don’t blame them as the goal IS to get a job when you graduate.

Not to mention, older generations had passed down the idea that work was everything.

Well mama I made it! Work was everything and only thing I was doing.

I couldn't help but think,

“I think there is more than this.”

I think there is more than this eat/sleep/work cycle.

It wasn't in an “is the grass greener somewhere else” type of way or not being thankful for the job I had. I loved my job and was so thankful for it!

But I wondered IF I could break the eat/sleep/work cycle.

IF I could do something outside of work.

IF my happiness, my identity, my purpose could come from something else.

So from then on, my dark 30 minute commutes to work became the time to think about what this something else could be.

I wanted to be an interesting, healthy, well-rounded person with good habits and cool hobbies.

I had so many ideas that when I was getting to my desk, I started writing all of these sticky notes of things I wanted to do and things I wanted to become. Stacks upon stacks of sticky notes everywhere because of course, I was a perfectionist and goody 2 shoes who couldn't be seen on my phone during work, no way!

Even though I had all of these ideas and sticky notes, I thought

“how the heck am I going to have time for this?!”

I was always so tired at the end of the work day. How am I going to have time for this?!

I wondered if I could wake up just a little bit earlier to do these things as part of my morning routine before going to work.

Over the next 6 years, those sticky notes and early mornings became:

  • Starting new habits like daily journaling and daily walks

  • Pursuing my interests like getting my yoga teacher certification and becoming an entrepreneur and writer

  • A space to make intentional decisions for my life like reevaluating my relationship with alcohol and prioritizing monthly dinner with my 84 year old Grammy

Mornings became a space to build the life I wanted.

But I wasn't the only one.

I know:

  • Financial analysts who have become bloggers as part of their morning routine

  • IT professionals who have become morning meal preppers to stay healthy

  • HR managers who became morning workout people when they never thought they'd become morning workout people

All because of making space in the morning. Breaking the eat/sleep/work cycle and finding their version of work life balance.

I know you can find that for yourself too!

I know the morning isn't for everyone.

As you explore the many resources for morning routines, I want you to take what you need and leave the rest for someone else.

Maybe you're in a spot where evenings are a better time to make time for yourself.

Maybe you're in a spot where work needs to be 110% the focus right now. Maybe you can consider how a 2 minute morning routine could make it work better because ultimately morning routines do make our work better…

Morning routines help us develop

  • Creativity and curiosity

  • Self-awareness

  • Time management

  • Focus

  • Mental clarity

  • Adaptability

  • Confidence

  • Consistency

  • Become a more thoughtful, trusted leader in the workplace

If you’re trying to break the eat/sleep/work cycle, consider:

  1. Who do I want to become? What does that person do?

  2. How can I make time to make it happen?

Because you’re more than your work; you just have to believe it.


If breaking the eat/sleep/work cycle is something you’ve been thinking about, direct message me so I can cheer you on because you don’t have to do this alone :)