We’re chatting today with Thomas, bestie of Koko. They are a devoted cat-dad and a Python Software Engineer who works from home.
What time do you usually wake up? Is that a time that feels natural or painfully inconvenient for you?
I wake up around 6:30 – 7 am. It was painful at first. After a month with my parents, my cat’s food schedule was ruined so he expected food at 6 am. He’d wake me up, knocking things off of my nightstand and licking my nose to get my attention. Thankfully he’s an afternoon eater now but I still wake up super early. It’s ingrained in me now.
Walk us through your morning! We want the full timeline; step by step.
Normally I’ll wake up and greet my cat unless he beats me to it. Next I’ll log into work as soon as possible, that way I can get off early – on Fridays I’ll skip that step and watch a movie or episode of a show I missed. I’ll work for a few minutes and start cooking breakfast during a meeting. Post-breakfast I’ll work a bit more, then make up my bed and wash up a bit before the gym at noon.
Do you make time for breakfast? Whatcha eating?
I always always always make time for breakfast. It depends on what I’m obsessing over at the time. This past month has been toast and yogurt but what I put in/on them changes everyday. Today for example, I make toast with cream cheese, a fried egg, and fresh pecorino romano and goat milk yogurt with blueberries, orange and vanilla granola, and honey. Coffee is an everyday must.
What essential products/items are part of your morning routine?
Coffee. Dark roast and oat milk have to be restocked. (Once I get an espresso machine, it’ll be my new morning obsession.)
Share 1-3 things you must throw in your bag before leaving and why.
I rarely leave the house for work but when I leave the house in general I have to have chapstick, my AirPods, and glasses cleaner in my bag. Chapstick because cracked lips are a sin, AirPods to listen to music or a podcast on the go, and glasses cleaner because somehow I manage to smudge my glasses pretty often.
What’s a habit you want to remove from your morning routine?
I don’t think there’s anything I’d want to remove but I would want to incorporate more nature time since the weather’s cooling.
A hack that has improved your routine
Set a routine when working from home and stick to it. You’ll need structure or else you’ll end up sleeping on your couch or worse, stuck at your computer all day long.
Oop, that thing that puts a damper on your mornings every once in a while just happened again. What is it?
I’m out of coffee and I have to rush to Target or HEB to get more. :/ I will skip a morning meeting just to grab coffee if I don’t have anymore.
Your current favorite commute/pre-zoom song
America Has a Problem – Beyoncé
What were you grateful for this morning?
I’m grateful for new opportunities and fresh starts.
