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Waking up at 4.30 am on a Sunday morning sucks big time. Non-morning brothers and sisters of internet land I hear your collective groan and thank you!
So this morning I did what any sensible non-morning person would do at that hour of the morning… I snuggled back down under the doona… only to wake again at 5.50am.
5.50am!!!
ON A SUNDAY MORNING???
Why are there not capitals for numbers so I can “SHOUTY CAP” how horrid that is for emphasis? Bold italics will have to suffice.
At 5.55am my bladder decided it needed emptying. Quick dash to the living area to hit that heater button and throw heat pack in the microwave and a quicker dash after the loo to collect heat pack and trusty laptop on the way back to snuggly bed.
It was damn cold.
Consequently, here I am tapping away at the keyboard talking to you, putting my wide awake-ness to good use. I hear morning people applauding but I feel like a traitor.
I won’t post this on my blog until later though just in case you have email notifications enabled on your phone… I don’t want to be responsible for waking you from heavenly slumber by harsh pinging. There would endeth the friendship I’m sure!
This ‘rousing early’ business has been happening quite often.
It’s very quiet that time of the morning. Did you know that?
I will admit the calm silence is quite lovely. Great for writing. No distractions. I think someone is trying to tell me something… Last week I questioned what I would need to be doing differently to integrate some important things into my life… this, this is what I need to be doing differently to make space in my day for writing, exercise and mental health. I hereby admit that early mornings can be useful (the night owl within me just gasped and fainted).
Heart disease and diabetes run in my family and I’m on the other side of fifty when a lot of these health issues that have been lying in wait tend to pounce if you’re not looking after yourself.
Throw in a previous cancer diagnoses and there’s a somewhat recipe for a ‘pounce pie’ to smack me in the face if I don’t be more mindful.
Plus I’m getting puffed way too easy – out of shape much.
Routines and plans often overwhelm me. Every time I’ve tried to put together a plan of attack to make good use of this early morning waking ritual that has snuck its’ way into my life, the pangs of anxiety creep in to my tightening chest; building in intensity every second to unleash his sinister sorcery.
He can bugger off!
After much thought I have settled on one thing.
One. Rule. Only.
Upon waking earlier, I allow myself to choose one, just one of the three things that I have identified as important to me.
Write something,
Or…
Move my body,
Or…
Research or prepare something nutritional.
That’s it! I’m going to keep it as simple as possible.
Writing can be done from bed. Winning!
Moving my body will also help tick off efforts towards my mental health and well-being.
We all know that spending additional time in the kitchen shall be a struggle all of its’ own, but hey… let’s not burst my early rising bubble just yet!
And of course, no bake Bliss Balls are a healthy any meal food, right?
And afternoon naps are acceptable too, right?
In Sandra-land anything that works for living a meaningful life is acceptable, right? *winks*.
The magpies have broken the silence of the morning chorusing in the rising sun.
I wonder if they really like mornings as much as their song suggests? Maybe they’re just too polite to squark like ravens or crow like roosters? Maybe in a past life they were night owls and understand the importance of greeting non-morning people gently?
If that’s a perk of this new ritual than I suppose I can handle it.
Could you? Do you?
How would doing one thing different a day change your life?
Stay safe now,
Sandra 😊 Xx
PS. Did you miss last weeks post? Never fear, click here! Your welcome 🙂
I am a morning person and my sleep-in sometimes is 7 am! 🙂 Every now and then I am able to fall back asleep on the weekend after my body clock wakes me up by 5-530. But I do like those early hours for the quiet around me. I live by myself and it’s quiet at home anyway but there is something special about the solitude outside, when the sun hasn’t risen yet. I wish I could make time for writing in the morning but I’m more of a have-coffee-get-to-gym person. I do like your concept of doing one thing differently and you’ve got me thinking now
Oh Gosh I wish I was keen to hit the gym at that hour of the morning! Would cure my ’roundness’ 😉
I do agree that there is something special about the solitude in the mornings before the sun has risen. It’s a very calm and grounding time.
Hope that contemplating doing one thing different pays off for you in whatever way that may be.
Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
I hear you Sandra! That is way too early but good for you on deciding you can choose one of 3 ways to handle it. I’d go with the writing (or reading) in bed while we are in the winter months but come spring and summer I’ll be aiming to get up and at ’em. Please tell the magpies that I’m a nice person and don’t being swooped come spring time!! #lifethisweek
I’m siding with you on the writing or reading in bed during the winter months. When I choose to exercise in the morning it’s definitely an inside job! I’m not going outside first thing anywhere below 12 degrees 😉
I’ll do my best to pass your request down the ‘warble grapevine’ to offending Magpies!
Thanks for stopping by Debbie! 🙂 Xx
I’m definitely NOT a morning person. Since stopping work last year, my mornings are from 7.30 or 8am – earlier than that is still nighttime! Glad you’ve found a use for your extra couple of hours – I find I have enough time in the day now I’m retired to fit in a decent walk, to eat reasonably healthy meals, and now I just need to get my blogging mojo back up and running!
My mornings used to be of a similar time frame until this earlier morning caper sneaked its’ way in! I’m pleased to hear you are enjoying your days and fitting in all that you’d like to be doing often. I hope all our blogging mojo’s are having a ball together, wherever it is they disappear too! Must be one hell of a get-a-away because sometimes their gone for a long while. Hopefully he’ll return soon, sun-kissed, refreshed and rejuvenated! 😉
Thanks so much for stopping by Leanne! 🙂 Xx
My alarm goes off at 4.50 every morning and I wake hubby – who can always sleep through it – we dress quickly and drive the 15 minutes to the beach. We walk for 5kms. The waking is hard – especially at the moment in winter when it’s pitch dark, but my reward is seeing the sun rise. On Saturdays I get to sleep in until 6 – we’re at the farmer’s market before 7…and then on Sundays if I’m lucky I’ll be able to roll over and go back to sleep until 7. If I’m lucky. But then I take my laptop back to bed & catch up on blogging or writing. Bliss.
Now that sounds like a lovely Sunday morning ritual. Especially in the cooler months. How divine watching the sun come up on your early morning beach walk. I reckon even I would be tempted to brave the dark and cold in the wee hours for that pleasure.
You certainly are an early bird Joanne. Sounds like you make the most of it in lovely ways.
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂 Xx
I hate it when I wake up early because I really struggle with insomnia. But I find I’m really productive then as well. I love staying in bed and writing on my laptop, where there’s less distraction.
Insomnia is mean… even if you are a night owl! I also think that laptops were possibly invented by a night owl with a waking early dilemma – didn’t want to get out of bed to a desk top but also didn’t want to waste the quiet time for writing – tadah… the laptop was born. 😉
Thanks so much for stopping by Christina! 🙂 Xx
I love the mornings. I’m up every week day before 6 to get into the gym. It’s tough in winter but worth the effort. Now you have me thinking about what one change I would make. There are so many to choose from.
Up every week day before 6 to get to the gym is an admirable commitment – that’s a fantastic effort I’d be proud of.
Thanks so much for stopping by Jennifer!
Sandra 🙂 Xx
Haha. The morning people would indeed be cheering. Gleeful that another joins the fold. I’ve found my routine in the mornings at my desk. Before emails start flooding in and the kitchen sink of dishes starts calling. It’s not all bad. That said, my early looks a little morning like 6:30-7, if it’s in the fives, forget it. 😉 Haha.
Waking in the fives and STAYING wide awake in the fives can be so annoying – I might as well use the time I guess *insert me shrugging shoulders*. I’m glad you’ve found your rhythm in the mornings to sit at your desk before ‘the crazy’ of the day starts. It can be hard to find time for our own stuff amongst the busy norm.
Thanks so much for stopping by Melissa.
Sandra 🙂 Xx
Now we are fully retired AND over 70, we relish being able to stay in bed…we sleep separately anyway and get up between 8 and 9. I tend to be on-line or just using an app or listening to a story late at night. I enjoy this ‘freedom’.
As for warming you up…you have to invest in a sunbeam heated pad. No more rushing to the microwave. Mine is behind my back in bed, has an auto turn off and I can reach over and switch it on in the early hours. Sublime.
Take care my friend…you are going well… and be kind to yourself.
Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek and next week the optional prompt is 35/51 Share Your Snaps #7 31.8.2020 and I hope to see you there too. Denyse.
There is one of those heated pads somewhere in this house that I bought for my Mum – she prefers the wheat bags in the micro. I’ll have to mount a search party for it. 😉
Thanks for stopping by Denyse!
Sandra 🙂 Xx