When I’m about to start something,
there’s always so much to do.
Sometimes I need a little engine to get myself moving —
so first, I choose a nice cup of tea.

There are things I have to do, things I want to do, and things I should probably do.
In the morning, my brain doesn’t work very well, and I often mix up the order of those.
So I set aside the “should probably” tasks for later,
and focus on creating an environment where I can stay motivated until my head clears.

Music helps too — something upbeat, or like background music at a café.
If I put on YouTube, trending songs, or the radio, I end up paying too much attention to them,
so I go for records instead.

I don’t really know much about old music or vinyl,
so I usually pick ones that say “Greatest Hits.”
I’ve made plenty of mistakes buying records just because the jacket was cute,
so now I stick to hit collections.
Even if they’re just one or two dollars,
you can’t really go wrong with jazz.

Now that the music and good tea are ready—
let’s begin.