Getting set for the day

Morning rituals help focus our minds

Stephanie Whittaker, The Montreal Gazette

Published: Saturday, May 19, 2007

We all have one. A special morning ritual or even a series of them that propels us into the day and makes us better at our jobs.

For some people, the morning begins with a double espresso that fires up the brain and nerves. For others, a yoga practice, a visit to the gym or early morning run. And some people cannot start their day without carefully reviewing everything that must be done during the coming hours.

If you find yourself dragging your body out of bed in the morning but have no particular rituals that help you fire up your engines, consider what Jean Cloutier does to get himself into high gear.

Jean Cloutier, vice-president of operations and finance at OGC Canada, has a physical ritual that allows him to get his daily exercise.

After taking his daughters to day care and school, he hops on his

bicycle and rides 15 kilometres from his home to his job in an industrial park. The trip takes about 40 minutes; after it, he showers at work.

"From April to October, I put my daughters in the buggy that I pull behind my bike and ride the two kilometres to drop of the little one at day care and the older one at school." he said. "Then, I go home, remove the buggy and ride to work."

Mr. Cloutier cycles to work all year round save for a week or two during the winter when road conditions make it treacherous.

"Even when it's cold, I wear a balaclava, ski helmet and boot heaters," he said. "The pavement is dry about 70 per cent of the time in the winter."

The result?

"I feel so awake and am energized for the day."

© The Ottawa Citizen 2007

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