The Q-Kids: You Know The Routine

By John R. Nocero & Andrea L. Bordonaro

JRN: I love my routine. consistency is king. I love to workout twice daily, stay on the grind. I don't chase every new circle-jerk trend. I remember talking to a former co-worker, "hey John, do you know anything that is cutting edge?" Yeah. the basics. you need to master them. We were on a call the other day and I said, I was working out. You said, "yep, John is doing, pushups, chinups and dips." Absolutely. Because they work. I don't do anything fancy. I do the basics every day. I am sure I have taken every pill, powder, liquid, tried every routine, and am sure that I have forgotten more about training than anyone ever knew and I still come back to the basics.

As Josh Bryant says and a shout out to you coach - The strongest athletes don’t train only when it’s convenient—they treat every session like a non-negotiable appointment. Sometimes, to be the man, you can’t be one of the guys. That means turning down beers with the boys, skipping a late-night rendezvous with the girl wearing nothing but a smile on that truck stop billboard off I-40 due west of the Indian turnpike, or bailing on your coworker’s birthday celebration. It’s a lifestyle—and sometimes, it’s boring, cold, dark, and lonely. But the body thrives on routine, a foundational Jailhouse Strong pillar."

Give me boring pullups every day. When you are loyal to the bar, she will embrace you like you are her beloved. and someone just said the other day, "your back looks great."

Andrea, how do you stay on point with the basics, rewind that, what are your basics, your non-negotiables and how do you stay consistent with them every day.

ALB: There is a lot to be said for routine and more importantly, consistency. I, too, have a lot of simple routines that I follow that help keep my life organized and flowing without incident where I can avoid it. It's as simple as laying out clothes the night before work, getting morning vitamins right next to my water bottle, lunch packed and in the fridge the night before, weekly meal prepping, setting up my programs needed for the day on the computer in my classroom before students walk through the door in the mornings, and have my lesson plans laid out and ready to walk in and teach the night prior as well...among many other little things every day.

My first graders and my own two daughters thrive with routine. As a matter of fact, when I have to veer off of it, it throws them off and they point it out. They like knowing what's coming next and it makes life run smoother, but "boring" isn't a word that I can even let enter my vocabulary. In fact, that is a forbidden word both in my classroom and in my home. I don't believe in or know what boredom is like and I don't like hearing my kids and students use the expression. There is no reason that we should ever be bored. Make our own fun and keep ourselves busy - playing, organizing, cleaning, reading, writing, drawing, socializing, etc. Learn to cherish down time and just "be" with ourselves...

Brushing my teeth twice a day, showering both in the morning and at night, taking vitamins, making sure the?kitchen counter/sink are?cleared/clean, practicing gratitude, keeping in touch daily with those I love are some of my basic, non-negotiables every day. I also crave and need down/alone time before the day ends. This is why I stay up so late at night. The best time for me to achieve this is after my girls go to bed and all of my "things" are done for the day. If I feel myself feeling frustrated or tired, I remind myself how good I feel when I have "my ducks in a row," per say. It really makes life so much easier when I have things laid out and planned for because there are so many curveballs that life throws at us at any given time. We are better equipped at handling these unplanned events/scenarios when we are prepared in other ways.?

I do think that life isn't meant to ever be boring or lonely though. I like spending time alone with myself, but that doesn't mean to the point where I feel lonely. There is a difference. I thrive on being social at the same time, but I do like to unwind alone. Sometimes, too, I believe in letting all routines and plans go and just go with life where it takes us. Like the time I got on a plane all alone almost two years ago and flew to a city across the US to attend a concert alone. That was SO unlike me but it felt SO good to abandon everything I'd been used to up to that point and go for it. So liberating and it proved to myself that I am capable of being more free and open than what I've always been accustomed to...and it felt really good. There is a time and place for everything and sometimes that means letting go and just enjoying yourself...