Let’s be honest: most mornings as a tatay feel like a race against time. You wake up to a crying baby, a hungry dog, and a coffee maker that mysteriously decided to break today of all days. But on the rare mornings when everything aligns just right, I get this magical feeling—parang ang ayos ng buhay ko. Just for a moment. Here’s what I do on those golden mornings that make me feel like I’m actually winning at life (kahit sandali lang).
☕ 1. Wake Up Before Everyone Else (Yes, Even the Cat)
Waking up 30 minutes before the rest of the house gives me the gift of silence. It’s the only time I can sip coffee without someone asking “Nasaan ‘yung charger?” or “Anong breakfast?” I don’t even do anything fancy. I just sit. Breathe. And drink my coffee while it’s still hot—rare dad privilege!
📓 2. Quick Journaling or To-Do Dump
I’m not writing a novel here. Just a short list of things I need to do or things I hope to do. Even if I only tick off two out of ten, at least I had a plan.
Example:
- Make breakfast
- Check emails
- Try not to shout when the dog poops and pees
🧘♂️ 3. Stretch or Do a 5-Minute “Tatay Workout”
I’m not training for a triathlon—I’m just trying to reach my toes again. A few stretches or a quick bodyweight routine (push-ups, jumping jacks, konting lunges) wakes up my body and makes me feel like I’ve already achieved something.
🍳 4. Prepare Breakfast (Without a Panic Attack)
I keep it simple: eggs, toast, or overnight oats if I remembered to prep. Sometimes I go all-in with sinangag and longganisa. Whatever it is, cooking helps center me — and feeding the family is a win I can count early in the day.
🧼 5. Quick Shower = Instant Reset
Alam mo ‘yung feeling na pagkaligo mo, parang panibagong tao ka? Even if my sleep was crap, a shower makes me feel halfway human. Bonus points if I get to use my shampoo before the kids borrow it again.
📵 6. Avoid Social Media First Thing (Try lang)
This one’s hard. But if I can resist the urge to doomscroll or reply to messages before 9am, my mind is clearer. Instead of comparing my life to everyone’s highlight reel, I get to focus on my own actual day.
🎧 Bonus: Play Some Good Vibes Music or a Podcast
A little Eraserheads, or maybe a short podcast about parenting or finance, sets the tone. It’s like background motivation while I move around.
Do I follow this routine every single day? Nope. Sometimes I wake up and everything’s already chaos. But when I do manage to pull off even half of this list, it makes a huge difference. I feel like I’ve got this “dad” thing down—at least for the morning.
So to all the fellow tatays out there: try building your own version of this routine. Hindi kailangan perfect. Just find what works, repeat what feels good, and laugh off the rest.
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