Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- regimen / ˈrɛdʒ ə mən / (n.) – a plan or set of rules that someone follows to stay healthy or improve health
Example:Pia follows a skincare regimen every night, including washing her face and using a face cream.
- bandwidth / ˈbændˌwɪdθ / (n.) – the amount of energy or ability a person has to think about or handle many problems or situations
Example:My manager asked for help, but I told him I didn’t have the bandwidth to take on more tasks this week.
- subconsciously / sʌbˈkɒn ʃəs li / (adv.) – doing something without intentionally thinking about or being aware of it
Example:The child subconsciously moved closer to his mother when he felt scared.
- depletion / dɪˈpliː ʃən / (n.) – the process of something becoming less in amount or size because it is used too much
Example:Playing sports in the heat caused a serious depletion of energy among the players.
- idiosyncratic / ˌɪd i oʊ sɪnˈkræt ɪk / (adj.) – describing something that is unusual or specific to a particular person, thing, or situation, often in a way that is different from what is normal
Example:The artist’s idiosyncratic style of painting with bright colors and strange shapes is what makes his work so special.
Article
Read the text below.
Starting with brushing his teeth before 4 a.m., influencer Ashton Hall says he also swims, meditates, journals, rubs his face with a banana peel, lifts weights, submerges his face in ice water and accomplishes much more every day before breakfast around 9:30.
A video of his morning routine has racked up millions of views on social media, while sparking reactions that range from disbelief to awe. It also jump-started the conversation online about how best to start the day, even if a six-hour regimen is ambitious to say the least.
A professor of workplace psychology at The University of Oklahoma, Shawn McClean, said accomplishing tasks in the same order every morning is helpful because people have limited mental bandwidth before they have to recharge. The brain subconsciously reserves resources for tasks that require higher-level thinking, so routines are a type of mental shortcut.
“We’re cognitive misers,” McClean said. “We don’t like to use our mental energy on things that aren’t important.”
His research has found that employees perform better and are calmer throughout the day when they complete their morning regimen uninterrupted. Conversely, employees with disruptive mornings report higher levels of mental depletion late in the day.
It’s hard to define what a good routine is, and there is no formula that is best for everyone.
“It’s going to be idiosyncratic to each person,” McClean said. “It’s what helps them function. Now, can we have destructive routines? Yes.”
Rushing around in the morning to shower, eat and get out the door just on time is an example of a destructive morning routine, Kamalyn Kaur, a psychotherapist in Cheshire, England, said. The stress of a rushed morning produces extra cortisol. Too much cortisol in the bloodstream, however, creates a feeling of restlessness and anxiety that can be similar to drinking coffee on an empty stomach, Kaur said.
Kaur recommends adding at least two or three quick activities to your morning that have been shown to improve mood. Research shows that completing a task first thing in the morning promotes the secretion of the feel-good hormone dopamine, she said.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Ashton Hall’s morning routine, which includes several self-care activities before breakfast at 9:30 A.M., went viral online. What can you say about Ashton Hall’s morning routine? Do you think influencers like Hall inspire people to be better, or do they just set impossible standards? Why do you say so? Discuss.
- Experts say routines are “idiosyncratic”—they depend on the person. Do you agree that everyone needs a unique routine? Why or why not? What could happen if someone tries to follow a routine that doesn’t suit them or is too extreme for them? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Do you think it’s important to have a morning routine? Why or why not? What’s your usual morning like? What would you change in your routine if you had more time in the morning? Discuss.
- Some people want to “get things done,” while others prefer calm mornings. What kind of morning helps you feel your best during the day (ex. when I’m relaxed, when I’ve accomplished something)? What small habits help you feel good or motivated in the morning? Discuss.
