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I've gotten into this weird habit over the last few months of getting up really early. Surely, this means that I'm old now. Surely, I'm moments away from wondering what's on 60 Minutes tonight and bingo. Except I kind of like bingo.
It boils down to competition for moments.
I allow my friends to compete with my alone time. In fact, I allow everything to compete with my alone time. grocery stores, errands, renewing my passport, phone calls, stupid television shows, listening to other people's conversations, anything that moves or makes a noise pretty much gets my attention before I do.
At 6Am, there is no competition. No one is up, no stores are open, and no one is calling.
6AM can be for making myself a cup of coffee and drinking it with my geraniums.
6AM can be for writing things that no one will ever read.
6AM can be for trying 2 new hairstyles.
6AM can be for staying in bed, but awake, and thinking.
Now, at first I thought, "this isn't productive, just sitting here like this", but then I realized that I've had some really great clarity during that time. I've carried it with me to work and accomplished more. Or I thought out a problem so that I didn't have to solve something important in the line at Target while I was digging in my purse for a credit card and wondering if anything was maxed out or if I should maybe start drinking more water.
6AM definitely makes you a better writer and a better thinker. Both take practice and while I imagine most people know that writing takes practice, I wonder if they know that thinking cannot be done really well while doing a hundred other things as well.
I like the idea of multitasking but it doesn't really work that well with all activities. The only way I can erase all the competition is to get up at a time when there isn't any.
Side note: I guess this doesn't have to occur at 6AM - I used to babysit for a woman that went grocery shopping at 2Am and I thought she was nuts but now I totally get it.
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Comments
05.27.09
I recently started getting up at 7am (which I suppose could be your 6am depending on your schedule) and it has given me time to relax, take my time, cook a full breakfast. I am really enjoying it, I must say. I am finding it really nice to not have to rush, and have some time to catch the news, or just surf the web. So I agree there is time in the AM to have some "You" time and treat yourself, even though you might want to sleep later, its really worth it!
So give it a shot, if you wake up at 8am usually try waking up at 7, take your time, take a longer shower, watch tv, read the paper, do anything you want and make your morning / start of your day more enjoyable! I hope it works out for you as well as it has for Caitlin and I.
05.27.09
Typically, I get up around 5:30 AM and start working immediately. I tend to work about an hour, then get ready for the day, and go into the office and work more. (Yeah, I work a lot.)
05.27.09
It really is true that multitasking, though it's a great skill to have, isn't productive when you're doing it 24/7. Like you, I find that when I get up hours before I actually need to start doing anything, I find myself spending that time in a way that's actually far more psychologically and creatively productive even if I'm not trying to accomplish anything specific. There's definitely a reason so many great writers keep a notebook near the bathtub and in their pocket on long walks.
05.27.09
I actually began getting an early start on the day in college - like 5:30 AM. I found that I am (and remain) a morning person. When I take that distraction free early morning time to write, read, and think I am just that much more productive as the day goes on. Alas, Caitlin, you have let the secret out about the benefits of awakening early in the morning. Hopefully that won't lead to more competition for those pre-dawn hours.
05.27.09
Thumbs up to early risers. I really envy them and wish I could do that. Though there has to be some truth in the saying "Early to bed, early to rise... wealthy and wise", I think different people have different time zones when they are the best. I havent found mine although I know which is my worst (afternoons).
05.27.09
I had always been a night owl up until a few years ago when I came across an article that drew a correlation between CEO's and getting up early. Since then I have begun getting up at 5:30 every day. At this time of the year its great to sit outside on my patio and throw the ball for the dog while eating breakfast. My primary reason for getting up this early though is to get to the gym by 6:30am for a workout before work at 8am.
Even if I didn't do this though, I would much rather wake up in the morning than stay up an extra hour at night. I found that I used to stay up later and later because I was watching TV and the shows seem to blend endlessly together. An extra hour at night seems to be non-productive while that in the morning seems very productive! Just thinking about the days events can help you do more!
05.27.09
I get up at 5:00 every morning, and I'm not a morning person at all. Once I get past the part where my body wants to collapse, I find the quite of the morning a very productive time.
05.28.09
During the weekend I'm finding that I get up pretty early. But early to me is like 8AM, especially on days when sleeping in late is not so taboo. But during the workweek, I always have a hard time not rushing. I've woken up really early and just laid there thinking but I find myself still getting out of the bed too late for me to really chill in an upright position. I have never been a morning person but I imagine, like when my first child was born, that my new addition will change all that; for a while.
12.18.09
Words of wisdom. Thanks for posting this.
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12.21.09
This is just what I needed to read! I've been trying to convinc myself why I need to start waking up earlier. It always seems like a great idea at night, but come 7am, I continue to press sleep or just turn the alarm off all together =)
But I feel the motivation now! Thanks for the post!
12.21.09
For years I got up early and really enjoyed those quiet moments to myself, to exercise, read, eat, etc. Then came kids, work, grad school and I now find that I struggle to drag my butt out of bed early enough to get the kids on the bus before I struggle into my coat and drive (half-asleep) to the office.
I have made a New year's resolution that I want to start really enjoying my mornings again, simply because as you point out - I am much more creative and inspired in those wee hours before the sun makes its appearance.
great post- inspiring. I can't wait to try and get back into the swing of things again!
10.11.10
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11.05.10
I actually started getting up at 6 AM about a month ago. It is productive time for me, and really quiet before everything else starts breaking the silence. It really works for me. And the bonus is I get to finish work a bit earlier for myself
11.18.10
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