Becoming an Early Riser 007
Beached but not ditched.
So, on the first Monday of summer vacation, I woke up at 5:30 a.m., thanks to the glow of the lamp I installed in my bedroom with a timer switch last Wednesday. When it clicked on this past Thursday morning, I woke very easily as the light is a soft golden color, much like a slow sunrise.
You see, I went to the beach this weekend, so rising early today was not my intention and I could have forced myself to go back to sleep but that would defeat the purpose of this transformation and when I do that, I generally feel sluggish the rest of the day anyway, so I'm up and at it. I do have a patio to install after all, which is my main motivation for rising early in the summer. But, once that's done, then what? We shall see.
At the beach this weekend, I woke Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. without an alarm! There was light streaming in through the windows, so it was inevitable. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I am sensitive to light, which is why I installed that lamp with a timer. My friends were surprised, as they know I'm a late sleeper, and they teased me about it in an admiring way. They know I am in the throws of transformation.
Saturday, I woke a little later, 7:15 or so. We were up late the night before, the light was muted by early morning fog and my roommate was less active (bathroom visits) so I slept harder. Saturday evening, we made a plan to rise at 6:15 a.m. on Sunday morning so we could walk five miles to the jetty to see the sea turtles before going to meet the German friends of our German friend and host at a local German bakery. All good incentives for rising early, but not so sure about the five mile walk. While it was beautiful, and much cooler than the 9 a.m. strolls the last two days, it was exhausting. Walking barefoot on the beach is great for a couple of miles, but not for five...at least not for me. My feet hurt today.
Although we were up late Saturday evening, on Sunday we woke to three alarms tingling at 6:15 as planned. Tingling alarms are much easier to rise to than a jarring or blaring sound. We were out the door by 7 a.m. and back in the cottage barely in time to shower and dress to go to the bakery.
Suffice it to say, after insufficient sleep, walking five miles or more, driving 3 1/2 hours home...by 10 p.m. Sunday evening, I was wiped out and ready to sleep, and sleep I did, and well.
Sufficient sleep is a crucial component, I dare say, even a requirement, to being able to rise early in the morning. It takes discipline to remain consistent about one's bedtime so one is adequately rested when that alarm tingles, or that morning light comes shining through the cracks around the curtains or blinds, or in my case, when the soft golden glow from this beautiful tulip lamp gently brings me to an awakened state.
So, on the first Monday of summer vacation, I woke up at 5:30 a.m., thanks to the glow of the lamp I installed in my bedroom with a timer switch last Wednesday. When it clicked on this past Thursday morning, I woke very easily as the light is a soft golden color, much like a slow sunrise.
You see, I went to the beach this weekend, so rising early today was not my intention and I could have forced myself to go back to sleep but that would defeat the purpose of this transformation and when I do that, I generally feel sluggish the rest of the day anyway, so I'm up and at it. I do have a patio to install after all, which is my main motivation for rising early in the summer. But, once that's done, then what? We shall see.
At the beach this weekend, I woke Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. without an alarm! There was light streaming in through the windows, so it was inevitable. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I am sensitive to light, which is why I installed that lamp with a timer. My friends were surprised, as they know I'm a late sleeper, and they teased me about it in an admiring way. They know I am in the throws of transformation.
Saturday, I woke a little later, 7:15 or so. We were up late the night before, the light was muted by early morning fog and my roommate was less active (bathroom visits) so I slept harder. Saturday evening, we made a plan to rise at 6:15 a.m. on Sunday morning so we could walk five miles to the jetty to see the sea turtles before going to meet the German friends of our German friend and host at a local German bakery. All good incentives for rising early, but not so sure about the five mile walk. While it was beautiful, and much cooler than the 9 a.m. strolls the last two days, it was exhausting. Walking barefoot on the beach is great for a couple of miles, but not for five...at least not for me. My feet hurt today.
Although we were up late Saturday evening, on Sunday we woke to three alarms tingling at 6:15 as planned. Tingling alarms are much easier to rise to than a jarring or blaring sound. We were out the door by 7 a.m. and back in the cottage barely in time to shower and dress to go to the bakery.
Suffice it to say, after insufficient sleep, walking five miles or more, driving 3 1/2 hours home...by 10 p.m. Sunday evening, I was wiped out and ready to sleep, and sleep I did, and well.
Sufficient sleep is a crucial component, I dare say, even a requirement, to being able to rise early in the morning. It takes discipline to remain consistent about one's bedtime so one is adequately rested when that alarm tingles, or that morning light comes shining through the cracks around the curtains or blinds, or in my case, when the soft golden glow from this beautiful tulip lamp gently brings me to an awakened state.
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