I'm Maria Konikova.
And I'm Nate Silver.
And our new podcast, Risky Business, is a show about making better decisions.
We're both journalists who moonlight as poker players, and that's the lens we're going to use to approach this entire show.
We're gonna be discussing everything from high -stakes poker to personal questions.
Like whether I should call a plumber or fix my shower myself.
And, of course, we'll be talking about the election, too.
Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio.
Good morning. This is Laura.
Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is to find five minutes in your morning to sit down with your cup of coffee.
You'll start the day feeling calmer and more centered when you don't need to microwave your coffee three times.
I promise it is possible, if you make it a priority.
In my household, and perhaps in yours, too, mornings can be the most frenzied time of the day.
Trying to get yourself and your kids dressed, fed, and ready feels like a lot.
Never mind the bags that need to be packed or various items like instruments and tablets that need to be remembered, the dogs that need to be walked, and the inevitable messes that those kids and dogs create.
You can feel like you have put in an honest day's work by the time you get to your desk.
That's true if you work from home or even if you're a stay -at -home parent.
The bustle is the same, and there never seems to be more than a moment to do anything.
For many people, a cold cup of coffee is a symbol of this busyness.
People fantasize about being able to sit and drink most of a cup of coffee without getting up, and while the coffee is still hot.
I may not have a magic cure for the madness of mornings, but I do have a few ideas for how to avoid having to hit the microwave yet again.
First, if you wake up to an alarm, then you can wake up to a very slightly earlier alarm.
Just an extra 10 minutes will give you a chance to pour your cup and sip it while you do nothing else.
Okay, maybe you can listen to this podcast while you're having your cup of coffee.
I know it is hard to get up earlier, but 10 minutes is not like waking up at 4 a .m.
to run a marathon. It is just 10 minutes, and the promise of an uninterrupted cup might be enticing enough to make it worthwhile.
If that's not going to fly, because you usually wake up to the sound of a toddler screaming mommy or daddy from his crib, then maybe you can enjoy that uninterrupted cup at the end of your morning routine.
If your sitter comes at 8 and you're normally out the door at 8 .10, maybe you could be out the door at 8 .15 or 8 .20, having enjoyed your cup of coffee somewhere quiet in the house, or even in your parked car before you leave if you'd like.
My guess is that starting the workday a few minutes later won't change much, especially if you don't even have an official start time.
But you will feel completely different.
If you've got older kids who don't need to be watched constantly, then you can create more space in your morning routine by eliminating tasks.
Some people feel better when their bed is made every day, but if you are not one of those people, skip making the bed.
Enjoy your uninterrupted cup while sitting in your unmade bed.
It will be great. Maybe other members of your household could do some of the tasks you are currently doing.
Could your preteen walk the dog?
Could your kids pack their own lunches?
Could your high schooler empty the dishwasher?
The elimination of any of these tasks would free up 5 to 10 minutes for an uninterrupted cup.
When you see a spot for your uninterrupted sipping, seize it.
And then don't distract yourself.
Yes, that pillow on the couch is off kilter.
And that bowl of half -eaten popcorn definitely should not be where it is, but it can be moved in 10 minutes.
Just sit. Just enjoy.
Look out the window at the changing light.
Or look at the wall in your closet if that is where you have gone and hid so no one else can find you.
I am not here to judge.
I just don't want you to have to keep reheating your coffee again and again.
Of course, if all else fails and a peaceful morning remains elusive, you can always get a thermos.
Your coffee will still be hot no matter how long it takes you to drink it.
And perhaps, as you finally enjoy a hot cup, this will convince you to rework your morning to be a little less crazy.
Maybe, in a few years, things will be different.
But I am guessing that if you wanted five minutes, you could find them now.
In the meantime, this is Laura.
Thanks for listening.
And here's to making the most of our time.
Hey, everybody. I'd love to hear from you.
You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else.
Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at BeforeBreakfastPod.
That's B -E, the number four, then breakfast, P -O -D.
You can also shoot me an email at beforebreakfastpodcast at iheartmedia .com.
That Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters.
Thanks so much. I look forward to staying in touch.
Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartRadio.
For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
I'm NK, and this is Basket Case.
What is wrong with me?
A show about the ways that mental illness is shaped by not just biology, swaps of different meds, but by culture and society.
By looking closely at the conditions that cause mental distress, I find out why so many of us are struggling to feel sane, what we can do about it, and why we should care.
Listen to Basket Case every Tuesday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
I'm your host, Santa Cescobar, Emperor of Lucha Libre, and a WWE Superstar.
Santa! Listen to Lucha Libre Behind the Mask on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream podcasts.