Shadowing Practice: the morning routine getting me through winter ☁️ as an anxious girlie - Learn English Speaking with Video

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So Let's

go.

Let's go.

there may not be much in bloom right now from a foliage perspective

but I can always count on the birds look at them all i know parakeets are like technically a pest

but i love them they're so cute wait let me get my phone

good morning

i've been working on my winter morning routine for honestly years

and years at this point

and i feel like it just keeps getting better every year i have very intentionally curated this routine specifically for

when your external environment makes jumping out of bed seating the day having a super perky morning

when life is making doing that just feel extra hard mornings at the moment are cold

and dark and it's the time of year

that i really start to feel the most anxious

and weirdly I feel like I've only truly pinpointed

that it's exactly now

when my anxiety spikes probably the most in the entire year

like this year I've only really realized it now last week

I was like oh it's happening again even though literally two weeks ago I was feeling

so good I think I just really believe

that the last two weeks of Jan are sent straight from the seventh circle of hell

and I find

that the best way to fight is honestly just to cut

off those down blue anxiety feelings right at the knees first thing in the morning

so you don't carry any of that energy any of those vibes with you throughout the rest of your day.

So I'm going to show you the morning routine

that is going to get me through the next couple of

weeks it's going to get me through the rest of midwinter and help make sure that my days are good.

So step one you've kind of already seen I wake up open the curtains

and even in the depths of winter even if it's raining I open the windows and breathe in the fresh air.

I wish I was lucky enough to either wake up at

nine o 'clock once the sun is already fully up

or I guess live in the southern hemisphere where January is delightful

but for those of us

that are in the northern hemisphere even though it's dark outside

I promise you just having your first properly deep breath of

the day be fresh air from outside in a way it

being cold makes it honestly somehow I'm romanticizing it I know

but that's what you got to do makes it somehow even nicer

so I get up open my curtains open the windows and I take three deep breaths of fresh air.

I then quickly close the window because otherwise I'd freeze the whole house.

Then once I've done my tongue scrape, brush my teeth, splash my face with water, then start step two.

I set a mental timer for 30 minutes and this is 30 minutes that is just for you.

I like to think that no matter how busy my morning is, this 30 minutes, like I can always do this 30 minutes even

if some of the rest of the morning routine might get

sacrificed during this 30 minutes we have no phone no scroll

no phone whatsoever make a tea i like wake up the rest of the house by opening the curtains

and the blinds and everything everywhere else in the house i light a couple of candles

because we are romanticizing the darkness

and i sit down with my book this realistically once you've

done kind of all the rest of the pottering becomes like

a 15 minute stint you're not much of a reader it

doesn't have to be sitting down with a book any hobby

or any activity

that gets you kind of in the zone of whatever the hobby is just to really delay

or slow down your brain from like diving into the rest of the day

and getting really carried away with your to -do lists

and your worries so if you're not much of a reader

that could be 15 minutes of scrapbooking 15 minutes of a puzzle 15 minutes of crocheting

or knitting i am such a strong advocate of like the

good old -fashioned hobby i brought hobbies back in 2025

but i'm bringing them back for me again in 2026 even

stronger 15 minutes however much of the 30 minutes you can have to sit down

and do something just calm and slow with your tea

and a candle i promise gets your brain in just like

such a nice place oh i should have also said actually

if you're a journaler this is also the perfect time to journal okay

and then on to step three we finally need to get out of our pjs

so next on the list is getting outside for some movement

and just honestly getting outside in general i am doing like a new workout plan thing

which i'm actually really enjoying and i know everybody always says

that the trick to staying consistent with like fitness and working out

and stuff is finding something that you actually enjoy i mean i honestly thought

that i was just one of those people that i was like yeah

but i don't enjoy any of it so

that just maybe it'll just never be me but this new routine

that i'm doing i'm really kind of vibing with i'm running twice a week

and then amongst

that i'm doing some strength training to basically let's support my

runs i'm doing like a couch to 5k thing i've done couch to 5k a couple of times now

but i think i said this in another video

but basically i've just learned

that as soon as you start running you basically have to start again again i'm doing couch 5k again

but i'm actually doing it on runner this time

and i'm really enjoying it so i'm gonna go do my run i'm

so glad the sun has come out oh before i go actually i need to put some deodorant on

and how cute is my new deodorant case honestly you know you're doing your life right

when even your deodorant case gives you like a little boost

of like dopamine serotonin first thing in the morning hot for

valentine's day i love it i am working with wild on this part of the video you guys know

if you've been around here before i've been working with wild for years it's the only deodorant

that i use it was one of the first swaps

that i made

when i really wanted to start becoming more sustainable the amount

of single use plastic waste in your bathroom products is kind of crazy

when you think about it and wild's main mission is to try

and reduce that so we are throwing away less all of wild's products are refillable

and compostable so you know you're doing your bit

when you use wild deodorant the scents are also always

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so nice like you smell so good

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when you got this stuff on this new one this new

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limited edition valentine's collection is called peachy kisses i am such

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a sucker for peach in every single one of its forms

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anything is ever peach flavored i'll show you how easy it is to swap out your little compostable refills

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because honestly it's the simplest thing.

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You wind it all the way down to the bottom, pop the base out, pop your insert on top and then stick it back in and wind it up.

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This has honestly come at a perfect time for me because I just finished my old scent. So nice.

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I think

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if we're all being honest one of the main things we

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worry about with natural deodorant is like wild has no nasties in it whatsoever.

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It has no aluminium, no sulfates, no parabens.

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One of the main things that you worry about

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or maybe it's the main thing you worry about is whether it actually works

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because we don't want to smell like we use deodorant so

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that we don't have to smell and

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if you're a sweaty gal like i'm quite a sweaty person it really matters

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that the deodorant actually works when it comes to wild i obviously can personally endorse it

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but it's also been scientifically proven to give you 24 hours protection

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so you know

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that it works also just in case you didn't know they also have other refillable products

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that aren't deodorant

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and i have to say in this house we are madly

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obsessed with the world body wash i don't know what it

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is there is something about I guess to be fair it's also in the wild deodorant formula

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but there is something in both the deodorant formula

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and the body wash formula that is so hydrating it makes my skin feel

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so soft exactly the same as the deodorant packaging

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that the refills come in is compostable you literally just pop it in like

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that stick in the pump twist it round there you go

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and I'm sorry but how cute is

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that in the shelf of your shower during February I love it anyway

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if you'd like to give wild a try you can use my code ellen2026

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which will get you 20 off you can also scan the

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qr code on the screen i'll pop a link in the description box

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and as always thank you

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so much to wild for working with me on this part of the video i love supporting brands

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that i just use naturally every single day okay got my

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deodorant on i'm prepped for my run this is like the pre -run fear the the pre -run scaries

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but i know how good it makes me feel

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when i do it

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so let's get outside let's get some fresh air let's see

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what nature's got to say for itself i think sun was out for the span of those three minutes

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when i was getting dressed

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because i fear it may be gone again already already excited for my coffee

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and my breakfast which comes on the other side of it let's go

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We'll be right back.

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Thank you.

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okay time for breakfast I am a three meals a day

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kind of a person I'm a foodie kind of a person

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so i want all of my meals to be delicious i mean

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that probably sounds obvious but i know there are some people

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that are just honestly not that fast me though i really every meal to be great

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and i need to start my day with something

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that tastes great especially during these miserable months like food brings me

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so much joy so really it's not the time to be overly restricting yourself

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and eating miserable food like no no no no however i am prioritizing i should shop this.

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I am prioritizing nourishing my body at this time of year.

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I feel like this is when our body needs like all the goodness

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and any foods that risk making us feel like more sluggish

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and more slow and just like adding to that kind of slumpy feeling is like not good.

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So I am prioritizing on giving my body all the nutrition it needs

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and kind of just as part of

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that having really high protein meals like my meals are all now protein

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and fiber first because those are things that are gonna keep me feeling energized.

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They're gonna sustain me for a long period of time to lunch

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so on the days i'm in a rush i've got my overnight oats

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which i am trying to meal prep every single sunday you

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can't necessarily meal prep them for the week i kind of eat mine within three days

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but for example right now when i'm like deep in my luteal phase

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and i'm just i'm just

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so hungry i'll probably eat my overnight oats as like either a snack a little bit later

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or as my lunch when i'm feeling lazy whatever because i do have the time today we're gonna have eggs.

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I'm loving this combo that I'm doing at the moment.

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It's eggs and cottage cheese and there's fruit and oh it's just so good so let's make some breakfast.

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Let's go.

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Yum, that was so good now finally if you are somebody

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that is prone to feeling anxious or jittery

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or just you know the whole theme of this entire video

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if you cannot tell you I've actually been pretty good at it

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and I've been good at it because it's easy to be good at it now

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that I've noticed how much of a difference it makes

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but I now only have my coffee after I've had my food

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so once I've had my high protein breakfast okay it turns

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out I can't do this with my hand once I've had

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my high protein breakfast then i can have my coffee

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and it's made the biggest difference i know none of the stuff is rocket science But this is me just personally endorsing.

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All of these small things add up so much.

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It also just makes so much sense to like finally make my coffee

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when I'm going to sit down and start getting organized.

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And like that's when I need the next burst of energy because I'm starting to feel myself like, oh, I'm more like comfy.

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I've had my warm shower.

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I've had some breakfast.

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I'm feeling like cozy, you know, but now's the time to pick it up.

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It's time for a coffee.

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Yum.

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I fast a sip of coffee.

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okay

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so now I am officially sitting down to start my day

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this is definitely the time in the morning for me where like my stress can spike a little bit especially

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if I just had like a really lovely like gentle peaceful morning

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and then all of a sudden I open my emails I look at my to -do list

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and all of a sudden all of

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that like rush rush rush you're not productive unless you're stressed

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out of your mind kind of energy starts to get to me

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but my setup i've got my coffee i've got my laptop

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i've got my three notebooks i actually don't really need all

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three of them to get through my day i pretty much only need the black one

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which has my to -do list in it

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but i've got my notebook i've got my notion

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which is like the digital organizer that just controls my whole life

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and the first thing that i do is

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if i've done my evening routine right

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if i did yesterday correctly then I already have a to -do list of the most important things

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that maybe I didn't get done yesterday or kind of new things

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that cropped up towards the end of the day

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that I knew I wanted to get done today I should have

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which today I do thank you yesterday Ellen I have a list of three things

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that yesterday I decided was going to be really important for me to get done today

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so I can review my short to -do list have a look at my calendar

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and then I will start reviewing my emails before I open my emails

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and before I have like all the notifications hit me I really am trying to remind myself during winter

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but like that being in a rush is not a sign of productivity

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and i can be ambitious without being anxious i can want things without

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that having to create stress in my body

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and the whole year does not take place in january however

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much you get done in a day in january is not

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how much you'll get done in a day in may

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or in any other week of the entire year it's just

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today i'm really trying to take my signals from nature slow down not rush not rush not rush like

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that is what i want to do this year i don't want to be considered like a rushy busy person

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and i think you can still to be honest get just

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as much done you can probably get done more done

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if you don't have that like rush rush rush energy

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so i'm trying to start my day really gentle i've been loving listening to classic fm for anyone

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that saw the vlog where we went to the pig back in kind of november time

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and they constantly have classic fm playing like

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when you go into your room it was so nice

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so i have been having that on whilst i start my work

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if i want something a little bit more um like

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if you want to feel like as somebody

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that kind of like works alone at home not to feel like you have co -workers

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but if you want that feeling of like being with people around obviously on the radio

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that people are talking to you then i'll put on the zone focus i'll pop a link to the playlist

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that i listen to it's called something like lo -fi beats to study

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and relax to sometimes i find classical music like almost a bit too fun

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which might sound ridiculous lo -fi beats i think it's called it's just like soft music

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that really helps me get in the zone and get focused

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but in a way

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that is like calming they're like sooth it's like soothing music

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i put my music on i go to my notion calendar

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and then i will get the three things

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that i wrote out yesterday for me to today scheduled

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and planned into my calendar so i know exactly

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when i'm doing them and making sure

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that like my time blocks are accurate for

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when those things are actually going to happen

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and then i get going honestly i cannot recommend enough using

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the winter as an opportunity to revisit your routine the way

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you start your day is the way you'll probably spend the rest of your day

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and i think just knowing that you're investing in yourself

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and you're like putting things in place to take care of yourself I think

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that boosts your confidence it boosts your sense of accomplishment

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and I don't know just like boosts your self -worth like it's a lovely feeling to be looked after

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and when you're looking after yourself that's kind of like the nicest feeling of all

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and yeah for me intense productivity is out in 2026

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and gentle productivity is in there's still loads of things I want I still want to be achieving my goals

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but in this darkness, in this cold, in this wet.

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We just have to revisit

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and get a little bit more creative about how we make the most of our days

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because a lot of our days is spent in the dark

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and for me that means taking things slow and being gentle

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and discovering new hobbies and listening to classical music

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and nourishing my body

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and we'll all emerge in spring like all the better for it i'm 100 sure anyway

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that is it from me thank you

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so much for watching i hope you've enjoyed spending the morning with me let me know

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if you want to see the evening routine version of this

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otherwise i'll see you next week for another vlog thank you

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so much for watching as always have such a lovely week and I can't wait to see you in the next one.

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Bye guys!

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Why Practice Speaking with This Video?

This video is a goldmine for english speaking practice—it’s packed with relatable, conversational language that mirrors real-life interactions. The speaker shares her winter morning routine with warmth and vulnerability, creating a natural context for learning how to talk about daily habits, emotions, and challenges. Whether you’re prepping for IELTS speaking practice or just want to sound more fluent, the casual tone makes it perfect for shadow speech (repeating phrases aloud as you listen). By mimicking her pace and intonation, you’ll build confidence in expressing personal experiences—key for both exams and everyday conversations.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The video is full of practical structures to add to your toolkit. Here are 3 standouts:

“I’ve been working on my winter morning routine for honestly years” – The present perfect continuous (“have been working”) shows an action that started in the past and continues now. Use this to talk about long-term habits or projects.
“even though it’s dark outside, I promise you just having your first deep breath…” – “Even though” introduces a contrast, making your speech more dynamic. It’s great for balancing ideas (e.g., “Even though it’s cold, I love winter mornings”).
“this 30 minutes is just for you” – Using “this + time period + is” simplifies explaining dedicated moments. Try it: “This 10 minutes is for practicing shadowing.”

Common Pronunciation Traps

Watch out for these tricky sounds! The speaker often shortens words in casual speech, like “I’ve” (vs. “I have”) and “it’s” (vs. “it is”)—listen closely to how she links these to the next word. Another trap is “parakeets” (pronounced /ˈpærəkiːts/)—the “ee” sound can be easy to miss. For shadowing technique practice, slow the video down first, then match her rhythm. If you’re using a shadowing app, focus on copying her natural pauses (like after “So let's go”) to sound more like a native.

Remember: The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Keep repeating, and soon these phrases will feel like second nature!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on	i've been working · i've been loving · have been having
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	I've only really realized · I've done · i've just learned
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	are sent · is called · be considered

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: the morning routine getting me through winter ☁️ as an anxious girlie - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Common Pronunciation Traps

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