Lily asks
If you could change one thing about your daily routine, what would it be?
How to build your answer
What if: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Pick oneChoose quickly. “I'd go for…”
- 2Why that oneThe reason it wins.
- 3Picture itWhat it would look like. “I'd probably…”
- 4The catchWhat could go wrong, or what you'd miss.
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
Easy. My mornings. I'm always rushing. I wake up late, grab a coffee and run for the bus, and I hate starting the day like that. If I could change one thing, I'd get up half an hour earlier and have a proper breakfast, sitting down, no phone. I think that'd make the whole day feel calmer. The problem is, I love my bed too much. Every night I say 'tomorrow', and every morning I hit snooze again. So yeah, maybe one day.
Phrases to borrow
start the day
/stɑːt ðə ˈdeɪ/
begin your morning
I like starting the day with a cup of tea.
hit snooze
/hɪt ˈsnuːz/
press the button on your alarm to sleep a bit longer
I hit snooze three times this morning.
Natural
Lily's voice note
I'd change my mornings. Right now I'm always rushing. I wake up late, grab a coffee and run for the bus, and it puts me in a bad mood before the day's even started. If I could change one thing, I'd get up half an hour earlier and ease into the day instead. A proper breakfast, sitting down, no phone. I tried it a couple of times last month, and it really made a difference. The whole day felt calmer. The problem is, I love my bed too much, and I keep hitting snooze.
Phrases to borrow
put someone in a bad mood
/pʊt ˈsʌmwʌn ɪn ə ˈbæd ˈmuːd/
make someone feel grumpy or unhappy
Rainy Mondays always put me in a bad mood.
ease into something
/iːz ˈɪntə ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
start something slowly and gently
I like to ease into the week with an easy Monday.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
My mornings, without a doubt. At the moment they're pure chaos. I wake up late, gulp down a coffee standing at the counter and sprint for the bus with my hair still wet. If I could change one thing, I'd carve out an extra half hour and have a proper breakfast, sitting down, phone in another room. That'd really set me up for the day. My flatmate Mia's brilliant at this, calm as anything at seven, so I'm trying to take a leaf out of her book. The trouble is, I can't resist my bed. Every night I say 'tomorrow', and every morning I hit snooze.
Phrases to borrow
carve out time
/kɑːv aʊt ˈtaɪm/
make time for something, even when you're busy
I try to carve out an hour each Sunday for reading.
set someone up for the day
/set ˈsʌmwʌn ʌp fə ðə ˈdeɪ/
make you feel ready and full of energy for the day ahead
A big breakfast really sets me up for the day.
take a leaf out of someone's book
/teɪk ə ˈliːf aʊt əv ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈbʊk/
copy someone's good habit or behaviour
I should take a leaf out of my brother's book and save more.
can't resist something
/kɑːnt rɪˈzɪst ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
want something so much that you can't stop yourself
I can't resist a warm cookie.
Your turn: answer Lily
If you could change one thing about your daily routine, what would it be?
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Dreams & goals
make a difference
have a good effect
“Opening the window really made a difference.”
heytardy