It’s 3:50 am. I receive at text. It reads: ”Write on, girl!”
I smile and text back, “Run, Lou. Run.” And then I start the coffee. I have one of those Keurig machines that brews one cup at a time. Best. Invention. Ever. Green Mountain Hazelnut is my current flavor of choice. By the time I have a glass of water and the machine produces the last gurgle and spit into my cup, I am awake.
Even if you love your morning cup of Joe as much as I do, you may be wondering, “Why were you swapping texts at that hour? Why are you even up?”
In the comment thread yesterday, Lou said he heads to the gym every morning at 4am. (Even on weekends? I’m not 100% clear on that. But my guess is yes.) He added, “I wish I had a workout partner sometimes to keep me company, but that would imply there is another CWAZZY person around here that likes to work out at 4 am.”
I don’t like to work out that early in the day, but I do like to write. And from Lou’s comment sprouted a cwazzy idea (mine) to swap texts as we’re beginning our morning routines. A virtual wave. A mutual display of good vibes and encouragement.
I’ve tried it many ways, but I keep coming back to the fact that I love to write in the morning when the house is quiet. Before my day “officially” begins and my brain and energy shift to other things. To support this effort, I Googled “how to write in the morning,” and I found this post by Leo Babauta. (Laugh all you want. A few days ago, I Googled “how to arrange a living room with a fireplace in the middle of the big wall.” Found my answer.) Babauta also writes about the benefits of rising early and offers practical tips on how to make it through the day without falling on your face from fatigue. And I’m always looking for ways to make it through the day without falling on my face.
How do you start your day?
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Loved the text exchange, I wondered if you would actually be awake and now I know…You are a Woman of your Word! The early mornings are great to get things done before the real world collapses on you and the kiddies are running around wanting to be fed…the nerve of the little creatures, can’t they cook their own eggs and waffles??
The answer for the weekend workout is that I sleep in till 4:40 (hour later than the weekdays) and then either do the treadmill at home or just go start the coffee and relax with blogs, Facebook, papers, magazines until the lovely Miss Teresa arises around 8 ish. Then we figure out what the heck is on the agenda.
By the way, Leo Babauta has the morning routine down pat, that is exactly why I get up so early every day. Have a great day!
It should be no surprise to anyone that I like to start my morning with my triumvirate of social media, knitting , and music to ease myself into my day. I feel especially out of sorts otherwise.
Sure gets the day off to a great start, knit one, pearl Facebook, tweet tweet.
I have to resist the urge to sip coffee, check email, Facebook, Twitter and read blogs for an hour or
so before I write. I love doing all of those things, but I’ve had to move those activities to different times of day… when it’s okay to be interrupted.
It’s easy to spend hours on line before realizing what happened.
Like right now, I was supposed to be planning my day for tomorrow, but I just found myself lost on Facebook. I’m not even sure how it happened.
5am gym; 6:30am coffee; and if the kids aren’t up yet, 7:00am bagel by myself. Aaaaah. 7:15am chaos ensues.
7:15 at your house looks like mine.
Seriously, you are so adorable…and honest. I agree, Keurig is the best invention. Ever!
I usually start my am’s with Starbucks’ Kenya (bought new gadget that lets me brew my own coffee
using the K-lady), then some quiet time w/ my guy, Jesus. Then I watch Britt defeat a villain or two before he heads off to school. Happy Charleston morning, friend! As always, thanks for sharing your humor and wisdom.
He defends our family on the wii..of course.
Dillon is a mad man on the wii. I’m glad we are all well-defended. Your mornings sound lovely.
This morning I happened to be up at 4:30 too – my eyes popped open and I was wide awake. That’s pretty unusual for me, but I’ve got a lot buzzing on in my head these days. So I got up and made one very large cup of coffee (with my old-fashioned single brew Melitta cone) did some writing of my own
I love early mornings once I’m up and at ‘em. And with small children around, it’s the absolute best time for a writer. If I happen to be up early tomorrow, I’ll look for you
My eyes popped open this morning as well. I alternate between waking up automatically and cursing the alarm. Want my number? You can text me, too.
I’m glad you are writing. And I’m enjoying reading about the ups and downs and in-betweens of your life transition!
I put my little guy on the bus at 6:05 a.m., go for a walk, and then I go home and do my squats and lundges. (Not as early as you, but let me tell you……IT’S EARLY FOR ME!!!) I love having that time to myself in the mornings. It just seems to put me in a better mood. My favorite part is enjoying a cup of coffee on the screened porch all alone, in peace and quiet
I struggle some with being tired in the early afternoon, but it is well worth it!
I struggle with afternoon fatigue, too. I usually have a little caffeine pick me up. I try to drink water to balance the buzz.
Lou, do NOT text me at 4am. DO. NOT.
Pretty much every day, MTM rubs my bum right shoulder to start the day. The popping and cracking noises it makes prevent me from sleeping any longer, and eventually I stumble from the bed and force myself to be productive.
You asked.
I think your way to start the day is much better. I wish I could write in the morning instead of finding my best voice at midnight. But, it is what it is and it comes when it comes.
Would 4:02 be OK, I can do after curls.
At first, I thought you wrote “MTM rubs your bum…” and I thought, well that’s not a terrible way to start the day.
I hear over and over that the best time for writers is either morning or night. And you’re right… it is what it is and it comes when it comes. Years ago, afternoon was my favorite time to write. Now, I use the time to respond to blogs while simultaneously dreaming of a nap. Then I get a second wind.
So the real question is what time do all of you go to bed?? I try to go to bed by 10, I’m usually in bed by 11 and I’ll sleep until 7am if I can. I know I should wake up earlier, but since my kids don’t go to bed until 7:30 or 8, it’s hard to give up those few adult hours in the evening. Yes, I know I could just take those hours in the morning, but I LOVE to sleep.
For me, usually by 10 pm, occasionally a bit later, try to get about 5 1/2 to 6 hours of sleep.
I LOVE sleep. And I’m a big napper. In college, I had no classes before 9 and then had a break after lunch so I could take a nap before the class at 3:15. In a perfect world, I’d get 8 hours of sleep at night and nap every single day. To answer your question, I shoot for 9pm, but it’s sometimes 10pm. And I don’t get up early on Fridays because both kids are in school on Friday mornings, so I use that time to write instead. I try for at least 7hours, and then when my body rebels, I take a break from the schedule.
Hey Angie,
Love your blog. Been meaning to write for some time to say so. I love the idea of getting up early to write. The hot coffee, the super quiet of my never-quiet house…it’s such a gentle way to start the day!
Jennifer, it’s great to hear from you! I love your website and blog… and I just subscribed. I look forward to staying in touch.
I was soooo feeling like a slouch until I got to Andra’a comment! Thank you. I am a “soon to be” empty nester, whose rising time seems to be getting later and later. I do feel VERY guilty during the week when I sleep till 9am, but it has happened. I still love to get up and see my son off to school in the mornings, but at 17, he is usually fairly grouchy, so I don’t get the rewards from it that I once did. I own my own business, so when things are quiet at work, I take advantage of the mornings to myself.
I am one of those late night owls, and always have been. My next door neighbor and I have fb conversations at 2-3 am in the morning, and my best time to catch my daughter in college for a fb chat is sometime around midnight(only on the weeknights!!). The only rule I give myself is that I really try to allow for at least 6 hours sleep. And, as I am getting older, I think I am going to 7 to 8 hours. To do that though, I must go to bed earlier.
I have been thinking lately that I might “try” to become a morning person. This would make my early bird husband very happy. We will see. I wonder if an old owl can change her habits??
Angie you ARE an inspiration!!!
I’m a big fan of doing what works for you. And I dream of spending a week in a nice hotel, alone. (No offense to the dear, sweet men in my life.) I would sleep for days. Joyce, you’re an inspiration, yourself. Such a strong, independent, liberated woman!
Angie, I too am a morning writer. All my high energy happens early early early. Which is why I’m also a great believer in naps. Email me your number. I want to join in this “mutual display of good vibes and encouragement” texting event. Can’t tell you how delighted I am to meet another morning creative!
It’s the Holy City version of #amwriting on Twitter!
Hmm. 4am. Usually making rounds. 5am, am writing but it’s usually “speed charting” everything that’s happened since 7pm. 6am, making up assignments for day shift. 7am giving report. 8am having dinner and wine. 9am sleeping…..
I can’t write so soon after waking up. I’m a sit and wipe the drool off my chin for a half hour or so, then infuse coffee kind of gal. Nothing productive happens until I’ve been conscious for at least an hour.
Wine at 8am sounds nice.
I have to think about what I want to write throughout the day and before bed. If I wake up with no clue where to start, I end up surfing the internet.
What a fun bunch of comments on what works for those “quiet” moments and the “thinking” times we all need. Surprised a bit at how many early risers weighed in today, kinda thought I was in a really small minority. Glad to see I’m not a total wacko…maybe??
You’re in good company, at least.
Well, you are all way too chirpy for me at 4 a.m. in the morning! I feel the need to redress the balance and confess right out “I am a night owl!” Always have been, even as a young child. Which doesn’t mean that I haven’t had plenty of occasion to get up early as I spent the majority of my professional life in the airline and hospitality industries, working all sorts of irregular hours, including many many 5 a.m. early shifts. I actually really like the morning quiet, too, but unless I have a good reason to get out bed before dawn, my body – which is still in a coma at that time – much prefers to stay snug and asleep. One thing I have observed though over the years is that morning birds are generally more efficient and seem to get more done than night owls, and reading the comments on this post I can kind of see why. Maybe I should just try it for a while and see what happens?
I prefer to stay snug and asleep, too.
But even in high school, if I had a lot of homework to do, I’d just close the book, set the alarm for 5am and go to bed. At the end of the day, I just want to loaf around. I tried to write one night and literally fell asleep sitting up! I was typing on my bed, so that was probably my first problem. I think it’s important to stay in tune to our natural rhythms…. sounds like you have yours down pat!
Hey Angie,
You are some warrior to get up that early. (Am a night writer.)
Prefer to get up around 8:00. My body just feels rested. Early morning and I feel exhausted for the rest of the day. I wanted to grow up as a kid because my bus had a double run to save $$ and I couldn’t stand it. First picked up in the morning. Had to drag myself up to the bus stop around 6:30/7:00, can’t remember but it was way too early. Work became an issue until I just told prospective bosses up front I wouldn’t be in before 9/9:30/10. Most agreed!
When I do get up, I go outside and get the paper. Then I read it with whatever I have for breakfast. Really like turning the pages and reading all the stuff I’d miss on-line. I find it relaxing. Sometimes in the warmer weather I may take a walk to start the day.
Neat question … G.
Right now, I’m on vacation and my eyes popped open at 7am. But I’ve enjoyed easing into the day!
I’m a very early riser. I often see 4 a.m. arrive. I’m most productive in the morning, but by mid afternoon, my entire body slows down (even my mind). I can still accomplish things, but it’s more of a struggle. I can breeze through any task in the morning.
Glad to hear you’re drinking a glass of water before your coffee.
Bella
I think that’s why I’ve allowed this writing schedule… I feel that way in the afternoon, no matter when I get up! By day’s end, I’m ready to unwind. My mind is not as crisp.
Aha! So that’s why I’m not a writer. I’m still fast asleep when those I envy are up creating masterpieces.
Love the 4AM texts! Too sweet! I envy morning people. You, Lou, and Andra inspire me. I might have to bookmark this one for inspiration next time I am in one of my “I want to be a morning person” phases. Great post, Angie!
Sometimes, it gets really hard to wake up early… and some mornings I sleep in because I’m just too tired. But in general, my brain works better first thing in the morning. It’s always been that way.