Rebuilding routine after ETS

I’m mapping a 12-week plan with a sergeant separating on 15 May, and the toughest hurdle isn’t the résumé — it’s what 0600–0900 looks like without formation, chow, or the duty phone. This adjustment trips a lot of folks up, and it’s fixable with small, scheduled anchors. If you’ve separated recently, what single habit or calendar block made your first 30 days feel steady, and what do you wish you’d slotted in sooner?

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I set a 0730 “fake commute” — a 15‑minute walk with coffee — then a 25‑minute “first block” at my desk with the phone on DND until 0900; it gave my mornings the same click as formation without overthinking. If weather derails the walk, I swap it for stairs or a 5‑minute mobility loop and still keep the “no phone until 0900” rule.

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