3.31.2010

An Early Riser




I am an early riser. Sometimes it is ridiculously early. Sometimes I am rising when others are just blowing out the lamp for the evening.


I wake naturally. I haven’t had an alarm clock for years. Somehow, I seem to have a built in one.

It wasn’t always this way, in fact, I used to be the complete opposite. When I was at uni the first time they ran evening exams and my housemate and I became completely nocturnal for a period of time! Then.... there was the time I overslept for a maths exam and bolted out the door ( thank goodness I had fallen asleep fully dressed) and was then told that I had the imprint of the electric blanket wires in the side of my face!!!!


But, alas that was almost 20 years ago (gulp!) and somehow I survived the lack of sleep and somehow managed to get a degree or two and somehow pick up a husband and a couple of children on the way to here. ... somehow.....

In between all of that I have lived at both ends of each 24 hour period. I have stayed up very late and I have gotten up very early. For me, the rising early habit really works.


1) I function better, no really.... a LOT better when I have had great sleep. When I don’t get enough sleep I not only lack energy, but my brain fogs over.


2) Quiet, uninterrupted morning time. Whether you use this time for meditation, reading, blogging or just sitting.....the peace and still of the morning really centres you.


3) No rush: getting up early means having enough time to eat a proper breakfast, snuggle with the family, think through your day, get ahead with some housekeeping jobs to free up extra play time etc


4) Seeing the sunrise is a powerful moment. That clear reminder that today is a new day and that everything is fresh and ready to start again. ( contrast this with the buzz of an alarm clock and rush rush rush.....)

Do you want to become an early riser ?

Try these tips.

Go to bed earlier – read if you need to wind down.

Make slow and steady changes, try 15 minutes earlier every second day.

Do something ‘lovely’ with your new time so that getting up early becomes a treat not a punishment.

Read up on the health benefits of getting sufficient sleep

http://www.abc.net.au/health/minutes/stories/2009/04/06/2532293.htm


Are you an early riser ? If you are a night owl, would you say you are productive or have 'quality' time in the evenings ? Have you tried to become an early riser ?

"She rises whilst it is yet night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens" - prov 31:15



7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I always used to go to bed late and therefore wake up tired. For the past five years or so I've surprised myself by becoming an early riser. I love it. Before sunrise, the stillness, the sunrise, the day beginning, the light, the peace and quiet (except for the birds). I feel so much more productive and organised and only wished I'd done it years ago. Linda

Little Messy Missy said...

I have always been an early riser no matter what time I go to bed. I can actually tell myself to wake up at say 5:30 and I will wake up about 3 minutes before 5:30. I think I have a built in alarm clock.

Christy said...

I think I'm lucky that I've always (well except for some teenage years) been an early riser. Lucky, because now my darling little boy wakes every day between 4 and 4:30 - bright eyed and ready to run! Oh the fun we have in those early hours. :) Wouldn't give them up for anything.

Christy said...

I'm back again - Just wanted to let you know that I’ve left a little award for you on my blog today. I hope you’ll stop by and check it out. I always enjoy your posts. -Christy

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FindSavings said...

I am a definite nite owl with the hopes of becoming an early riser. The past 5 days, I have been going to bed a little bit earlier and waking up much earlier than normal. I must admit I love it! I just need to go to bed MUCH earlier so I can get enough sleep and still enjoy the mornings. Thanks for the advice.

xo.sorcha.ox said...

I have tried desperately to become an "early riser". If I was to wake at 6am my mornings would be so much more productive and enjoyable, but as it is I struggle to drag myself out of bed anything earlier than 7am, and even then it's only because any later and I wont make it into work on time. Even with an early start I still dont get tired until around 10pm, then it takes me at least an hour before the brain slows down enough to actually fall asleep. I've found my body-clock likes to sleep between 11pm and 8am. When I am able to do this I feel revived. It's truly amazing how good an extra hours' sleep can be. It's just a shame I cant seem to change my sleeping habits...
~S.

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