12 Ounces of Coffee & Punk Rock: Picking a Morning Routine that Works for You

I have a lot of energy. Too much energy if you ask me. My never-ending, often arbitrary enthusiasm is pretty much a hallmark of who I am. I often get the question “Do you ever sleep?” And the answer to that is yes. I sleep roughly 7 hours a night, which – compared to some go-getters – is a pretty good amount. Even in the morning, I’m jacked with energy, and it’s not because I’m overly-caffeinated. It’s because I subscribe to a slightly different morning routine:

I describe it as “12 ounces of Bulletproof Coffee paired with punk rock.”

Let me explain…

Morning routines are “in” these days. Everyone seems to have one, and I 100% agree that having an AM ritual is incredibly beneficial. There are lots of good ones out there. You can read about them here, here, here, here, and here. Oh yeah, and here too (this one is my favorite).

If your yoga mat doesn't say "Rise and Shine!" then you should probably get a new yoga mat...

After you’ve read one or two blog posts on morning routines, you’ll start noticing some patterns. They’ll start blending together. There’s usually some combination of water, coffee, and tea. Making your bed to kick off your day with a bit of order and structure will help you unclutter your otherwise cluttered mind. Breakfast might come in the form of a green smoothie or a scientifically-deconstructed breakfast sandwich with egg white, spinach, and avocado. Of course breathing exercises and exercise in general is included for boosting those endorphin levels. Do you even journal, bro? No? Well, you do now! And if meditation isn’t part of the equation, be gone with that routine! What kind of unenlightened chump doesn’t meditate these days? One that shouldn’t be trusted, that’s who!

So, now that you’ve spent 2 hours since the moment you rolled out of bed, you can finally start your day!

OK, that was fun, but it’s time to pull my tongue out of my cheek and get to the point: with so many options out there, it’s important to find a morning routine that works specifically for you. At the most basic level, find something that gets your energy level up and allows you to FOCUS.

If you're going to journal, please do yourself a favor and invest in a nice journal. I've preferred Paperblanks for years.

Admittedly, I incorporate a lot of the elements I listed above in my morning routine. I make my bed, do some basic exercises, attempt to meditate, make breakfast, and jot down a few thoughts in a gratitude journal. These are great, but my favorite part is a combo that’s unique to me: I brew some Bulletproof Coffee and crank up the punk rock! These last 2 ingredients are what get me PUMPED to conquer my day!

I’ve been riding the Bulletproof Coffee train for about 2 years now. It’s Dave Asprey’s butter-fueled concoction that turned the coffee world on its frothy head. The general recipe is acid-free coffee, grass-fed unsalted butter, and some form of multi-chain triglycerides (MCT), usually coconut oil. The purpose is to provide you with good fats that allow you to focus, while also filling you up to avoid the need for breakfast. The official recipe calls for A LOT of butter and oil, and I for one still love to eat breakfast and get some protein in me, so I stick to 1 tablespoon of butter and no more than a tablespoon of MCT oil. It works for me, and gives me what I need for the extra level of morning concentration.

Breakfast: Special K Protein, Orange Juice, and the essential ingredients for Bulletproof Coffee

While the coffee by itself is great, the quintessential pairing of punk rock is what really gets my day going. I’m not necessarily talking about traditional punk rock like Minor Threat or Social Distortion. I’m partial to the pogo-inducing pop-punk of New Found Glory, Goldfinger, and WSTR that really gets you off your feet, but debating the merits of what is punk and what is not is a different post for a different day. I’ll hop in the car or behind my desk, turn it up to 11, and after 3 or so songs when the caffeine starts to kick in, my mind is in an energized place, and most importantly, I’m in positive mood and ready to take on the most critical tasks of the day.

You’re probably saying to yourself “Nothing about that last paragraph had anything scientific to it!” That’s totally correct. While there is no doubt a placebo effect element to my ritual, I’m not about to build a morning routine around activities that don’t work for me. It’s okay for you to ditch the meditation if a jog brings you clarity of mind. If writing’s not your thing, maybe try out some stoic reading, or try journaling at night before you go to bed instead. There’s no single formula, and I’d rather see everyone find their own pairing of punk rock and coffee.

What morning routine works for you? Do you subscribe to a less-than-tradition AM ritual? What crazy things work for you and give you your clearest focus and biggest energy boost? Please discuss in the comments below. In the meantime, rock on!