I usually wake up at 4 a.m., hit the gym by 5 a.m., then rush home to eat breakfast and get ready for work, all before 8 a.m. To some, that might sound intense. To others, it’s just another Wednesday. But every now and then, I like to shake things up. This time, I took that shake-up a step further: I let my Instagram followers take control of my day in Toronto.
The plan was simple; I would share a few polls via Instagram stories that would let my followers vote on what I should do. I gave two options, and they would vote for either A or B.
Since it was my first time doing something like this, I gave some easy options. Here’s how my day went:
First part of the day
Since I usually start my morning with a workout, I figured my day should start with movement. Try a new workout class or go for a walk along a nearby trail.
Per the poll, my followers thought trying a new workout class would be a great idea, and I thought so too.
Thankfully, my gym offers a ton of classes throughout the day, many of which I hadn’t tried. In an effort to save some money, I picked one of the classes offered. Unfortunately, I missed the class I had signed up for, mostly because I read the time wrong. Thankfully, I had a backup: 50/50 Yoga & Pilates for Athletes.
Though I wouldn’t consider myself an athlete, I do lift weights, so I figured a class like this in the Hot Yoga room would be beneficial for muscle recovery. So off I went.
Let’s just say the class was exactly what I needed.
Compared to my usual fast-paced mornings, this felt like a full-body exhale. It was slow, intentional, and peaceful. For once, I wasn’t rushing. I wasn’t thinking about deadlines or what I had to do next. I was just breathing.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in our grind that we forget the power of slowing down. Of tuning in. Of taking a quiet moment to simply exist in our bodies and be grateful for all they carry us through. That 50/50 class reminded me that rest isn’t a reward, it’s part of the work.
Now, after a peaceful morning, I needed to get my energy up. And that means caffeine.
Second part of the day
My followers clearly know me and my love for caffeinated beverages. That being said, they voted for me to fuel up on coffee and try a new spot.
I made sure to plan accordingly so that the final step of my day was nearby. That meant I made my way downtown to College Park.
Steps away from the intersection of Yonge St and Gerrard St is where you’ll find Fusettes, a recent addition to the Toronto neighbourhood. The moment you step into this coffee shop, you feel like you’re in a different part of the city. It’s warm, welcoming. and cozy — especially when compared to the world outside.
It was a hot day, so I decided to opt for something cold. Their Vanilla Latte caught my eye, so I ordered it iced and also grabbed a cookie.
I took a moment to enjoy the AC before embarking on the last part of my day.
The third part of the day
I asked my followers whether I should grab some groceries from a local vendor or check out a local farmers’ market. They went for the latter.
So, I headed over to the farmers market to enjoy my iced coffee in the sun.
To my surprise, the green space at College Park was taken over by more than just a few tents. The annual Play the Parks has returned from now until September 2025. There’s a lineup of free weekly concerts taking place at several downtown locations, including this spot.
If you’re coming in from Yonge Street, make your way past the colourful Muskoka chairs and activations to the mini farmers market in the back. This market only happens once a month. Luckily for me, I attended the first day of the market and checked out the selection.
From fresh lemonade to cured meats and even freshly baked butter tarts, I had to hold myself back from buying everything.
Would I do this again?
I’ll be honest, the day didn’t go exactly as I planned, considering I missed my first class and the farmers market opened in the afternoon, so I had to wait around a bit. I’m not surprised, but I’m also not upset by it. This gave me the opportunity to take a step back from my day-to-day, try new things, and enjoy the sun.
There was something freeing about giving up control, even just for a few hours. As someone who thrives on routine and structure, this unexpected shift reminded me that life doesn’t always have to be so scheduled to feel fulfilling.
What surprised me more wasn’t what I did, but how it made me feel. I felt lighter. That’s not because I had a nice day, but because I gave myself permission to be a little spontaneous and a little more human. Sometimes that’s all we need — especially living in a busy city like Toronto.
In the end, it wasn’t about the choices my followers made for me. It was about choosing to say yes to a different rhythm, to a slower morning, to a moment of calmness I didn’t know I needed.
And in all honesty, I think I’ll be chasing more days like that.
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Karen Doradea
Senior Staff Writer, Toronto – Karen is a multimedia journalist based in Toronto. With a strong knowledge of reporting and editing through all forms of media, she has a true passion for storytelling. She carries several years of journalistic experience and has covered the Toronto scene from local stories to national news. When Karen isn’t publishing fire content, you can find her binge-watching sitcoms on Crave, at a must-try restaurant, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok looking for the next best thing – News never sleeps.
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