Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Getting Up On The Right Side Of The Bed



I get up every day now at 6AM and run into the rising sun. Getting up early for me has been a gradual work in progress. From my early days of 6:30AM paper route starts to my early years of adulthood I've constantly struggled with the idea and the execution of getting out of bed.

I have been experimenting now seriously with waking up for more than half a year, see posts: "Waking Up To A Marathon" and "Are You A Sloth?" and am gradually perfecting the art form of being an early riser.

The intent of this post is to share the positive results I have received from rising early.  

From my own personal experience getting up early has changed my life in the following ways: 
  • I now have 17-18 hours of awake time, I often get to 6PM and feel like I've been awake for two days. My days are loooong, and I can fill them with however I feel fit. An 8 hour working day takes less than half of my day now, so instead of saying "Oh, I work today so I can't do that" I now say "Oh, I work today, so I'll do that before or after work."
  • I eat a big breakfast every morning at 7AM and super hydrate myself. My body loves this treatment and thanks me by giving me plenty of energy and clarity throughout the day. 
  • I feel empowered and full of life. Waking up early gives me a feeling that I'm in charge and that I'm getting the most out of life. The opposite of this feeling to me has been felt in waking up late - I get down on myself for sleeping so long. I think some of you can relate to that?
  • Continuing on the above point, I ride my good feeling and it gains momentum - carrying me throughout the day smiling. I find the same true for getting up late and the negative momentum I used to get from that.
  • Instead of subscribing to my old accepted "I can only be a night owl" theory I now am finding out that I can be either a night owl or a morning bird, or an afternoon fluff eared mountain goat - it's completely up to me and the decisions I make.
  • It's good bonding time with my wife!
  • I exercise every morning, either running or walking (on a rest day). I run/walk into the sunrise on a bridge over the ocean. It fills me with universal energy and leaves me feeling fresh. 
  • Every morning as I run or walk I go over my plan for the day, do affirmations and visualize my day the way I'd like it to be. 
I make weekly goals and the number one goal is always to get up early. When I get up early it is like everything else just comes naturally. 

Do you make weekly goals? What does your number one goal tend to be? Why is it so important to you?


PS. For anyone counting this is my 50th post! =)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Question is what time do you go to bed?!?!

Ou.yang. said...

Good question! The time varies, but usually anywhere from 10:30 to 12:00 midnight.

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