Take Back the Morning
Sometimes, I have a really hard time getting out of bed in the morning. I wish like hell I were the type to rise and shine, drink fresh-squeezed orange juice, and head out for a run shortly after the sun rises, but truth be told, I need a bucket of caffeine to even look alive. If I were able to haul my bum out of bed just a bit earlier on weekdays, I could pack some much-needed pleasure into the working day: take in the sunshine, buy organic produce, and stop to smell the tulips. In this Elastic Waist video, I'm giving a morning adventure a whirl and remembering why Thoreau called the morning the heroic hour. That Thoreau. Such a smartie.
How do you take back the morning? And how do you motivate yourself to hop out of bed? I need all the help I can get.
Comments
Don't watch the news in the AM-it will just stress you out. I swapped early morning news shows for the jazz radio stations on i-tunes radio. I don't have time to hit-up a coffee shop in the AM, so my room house totally sounds like a Starbucks when I turn on the jazz jams. By the way, I don't mean smooth jazz-you need the real stuff!
Posted by: Lauren | May 8, 2007 7:33 AM
Oops Sarah - I think I made a mess of my first comment - sorry! I just wanted to say that your routine looks so restful. I have an 11-year old and a 13-year old to get ready, so I use egg timers to make sure that they are up and fed, dressed, teeth brushed etc. This also gives me time to read news and blogs online while keeping to the deadlines for buses etc. Sure, there are lots of pinging noises every 15 minutes, but at least we are not in a rush. By the way, love the Elastic Waist site! Patricia
Posted by: Patricia | May 8, 2007 12:54 PM
Lauren, I think you are totally right about jazz in the morning. My sister used to listen to Antonio Carlos Jobim exclusively in the AM.
Patricia, Egg timers are a great idea -- anything to keep you from rushing. Unfortunately, what you see in this video is definitely not my routine. I usually press snooze too many times and spill coffee down my arm as a hustle down the sidewalk. :)
Posted by: Sarah | May 8, 2007 2:29 PM
PS I'm so glad you like Elastic Waist!
Posted by: Sarah | May 8, 2007 2:30 PM
I loved the segment. I would say that my daughter has successfully taken back the night, so I have no mornings to take back because I am so exhausted :) A baby that is teething will do that to you!
I used to enjoy getting up early and getting a head start on my work for the day. It was nice to have a couple of things done before the kids got up and made me feel more productive!
Posted by: Amy | May 9, 2007 12:12 AM
Goodness, your videos are always so cute. What a way to start a Monday! You seem so calm and relaxed. Where do you live?
On days when I don't need to make purchases (or can't, as the case may be), making pancakes is super relaxing. They feel like a special occasion breakfast, but take less than ten minutes start to finish. There's something about having the time to enjoy a tasty breakfast that really wakes me up. I hope it works for you, too!
Posted by: Ellen | May 11, 2007 12:35 AM
I say that if you aren't a morning person- you need to let that whole dream go. Figure out what you can do at night (while you are happily awake and those morning people are fast asleep) to make the morning smoother(put out your clothes, do your laundry, put all the things you'll need in one spot, get one of those timed coffee makers that includes a travel cup) and then just keep hitting that snooze as long as you can.
ps: congrats on the engagement and the awards!
Posted by: cz | May 11, 2007 6:09 AM
Amy, I agree that getting a couple of things done in the morning can really make you feel so on top of things.
Ellen, Homemade pancakes? I'd say that's a pretty stellar way to start the day. I live in South Park Slope in Brooklyn. Where do you live?
CZ, Thanks for the reality check. I think, despite my fantasies, that you might be right. Problem is, at night I just want to laze around and eat eggrolls. Maybe I just have a laziness problem!
Posted by: Sarah | May 11, 2007 11:03 AM
What a great video! I've found that if I give myself just a little AM quiet time that I feel more relaxed during the day. I drink my coffee (coffee maker with an auto timer), listen to nothing but the birds and open all the windows for the cool air. Wish I had flower stands around! I would take advantage of them.
I'll have to try the no radio news in the AM, but that's how how I keep up and have my time checks. I'll work on that.
Love the site!
Posted by: LeAnn | May 12, 2007 10:18 AM