A few years ago I stopped using an alarm clock to wake
up. Mind you, I am naturally an early
riser - between 5:30 and 6:30 - so there was no danger of oversleeping if I had
to go to work.
I wake up gently and quietly this way. Lay there til I feel fully awake, thinking
about my day . I get up, let the dogs
out and make my coffee. And then - my
favorite time of day - sitting on the porch or in my sitting room drinking my
coffee, reading my devotional and bible and writing in my journal. No rush - no hurry. I have noticed following this natural flow
to my mornings has quieted me as I am prone to anxiety and worry. It gets me centered and allows me to ease
into whatever is ahead. After about an
hour I am ready to get dressed and move forward with my day - whether that is
going to my part time, 3 day a week job, spending the day with my daughter and
granddaughter, cleaning house, doing yardwork or running errands.
I spent many years in the corporate world with my alarm
going off (I have always used music as my alarm versus the alarm sound - that
was just too irritating), jumping up, rushing to get ready and out the door to
fight the traffic into work. And, of
course when my daughter was young - getting her up and going was also part of
it. Now, in semi-retirement - it is so
nice to be able to go with my natural flow and enjoy this chapter of life at a
slower pace.
How do you wake up and start your day? Do you set an alarm or do you wake up on
your body's own time? Do you have a
morning ritual such as reading or exercise?
This picture is from my front flower bed - I found this
little girl figure at a yard sale years ago and fell in love with her peaceful,
sweet expression - a perfect addition to my garden.
My flowers are loving all of the rain we have had in Nashville the past couple of days! They are bursting with blooms!
Enjoy your day!
I threw out my alarm clock 16 years go. Buh bye! I wake up each morning naturally, when my body follows it's own inner clock and arises when it has had enough sleep. I don't make appointments in the morning anymore, either! I like to putter and ramble at will in the mornings. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI hear ya Cindi! I do believe we all have natural rhythms and our minds and bodies function better when we are attuned to and follow them. Thanks for stopping by my new blog! I've been enjoying reading about all of your and DH's adventures!
DeleteI find I sleep so much better when I don't set an alarm! On the days when I do have an early meeting (hate it!) I don't sleep well at all, stressing about the alarm going off. And, like you, I need some ME time in the morning to sit and have a cup of coffee in peace. It just starts the day off right!
ReplyDelete...stressing about the alarm going off -- that is so true!! I used to do that too!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog via Mountain Mama and have added it to my Feedly list. Like you, I am "retired" and living frugally, but I always have lived this way, so it's no big change. Consignment stores and Craigslist are my best friends! I love to garden, read and play with my grandkids and am grateful that I no longer have to work in an office (especially on nice gardening days.). I'm looking forward to reading your blog. Congratulations on starting it!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you found me Gayle! I love Mountain Mama's blog and look forward to her posts as well. You and I sound like we have a lot in common! How many grandkids do you have an how old are they? My granddaughter is two and she is a hoot! I hope you continue to visit and share!
DeleteI'm on my own schedule as well but I have never been an early riser even though I had to be up and going in the corporate world and as a mother. That is all behind me and now I am on a schedule of something like arising at 11:00am and falling asleep at 3:00am. Really strange I know. Maybe I was always meant to be a night owl but didn't know it because I didn't have the chance. My body has settled into this schedule and though I would prefer to wake up before the sun, I find I am feel well and rested on the schedule my body is keeping. I also like to shop the thrift shops for items for my yard. Even if they are not meant for outside life, I use my finds as such until they fall apart. It makes me happy and only costs me a couple of dollars. For me that is more satisfying than nice clothes. Of course, if someone else has other preferences, all that really matters is that you really love what you spend your money on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and commenting! I see that you have a blog as well and I am looking forward to checking it out. Wow - that is some schedule - but, isn't it wonderful to be able to go with the natural flow of your body? I am definitely a morning person and usually in bed by 9pm. I like that you repurpose your thrift store finds in your yard. I agree with you -- paying a smaller price for things like that makes me less afraid to use and enjoy them without worrying about them getting ruined. Besides - if something falls apart -- it makes room for another treasure!
DeleteHi Lyn, it is nice to meet you! Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. That's how I found you! I am now your newest follower and I have also added your blog to my blog roll. I have to laugh though - when I saw the name of your blog, I assumed you were over the age of 65. When I saw you were only 59, I thought, "She's not a senior!" I will be 54 next month and I feel FAR from a "senior". I barely even feel middle-aged! Anyway, I start my mornings rather quietly, too. I left my government job 3-1/2 years ago, so now I'm at home FT. I don't set my alarm unless I have to be somewhere early. I make my coffee, then read my email and check FB. I then hit the shower, get dressed and start my day. Have a good weekend - and I look forward to getting to know you better.
ReplyDeleteHa! So funny you would say that about the name of my blog cause I have totally been re-thinking it since I came up with it. I don't feel like a senior either but have noticed that the term senior is used for those age 50+ in some circles. I wanted to name my blog so I would be seen by people in the 50+ age range but have been wondering if I shouldn't have used the term "middle aged" instead. Can a blog name even be change.... I have a lot to learn about all of this. lol. Oh well -- if my blog keeps going like I hope it will the term senior will just get more and more apropos! I really enjoy your blog and look forward to getting to know you better also! Sounds like we have the same type of morning routine. Thanks for stopping by and for adding me to your blog roll!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have the same routine pretty much. I detest alarms, and since retiring I don't miss them one bit.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing as Melanie, but you're right...you'll 'grow into' the title :). (You can change the name of your blog but you'd have to do a redirect. Trust me. Don't do it.).
Oh ok - thanks for the advice. there is still so much I am figuring out and I am not very techy so don't want to do anything to mess anything up.
ReplyDeleteI detest alarm clocks! All the years I worked (45 to be exact) and raising kids, I had to set the alarm to get up for work... I always hated it. Now that I'm retired, I NEVER set the alarm unless I have to do something early (which I seldom do as I try to make NO morning appointments). Every once in awhile, I do have to get up early for something, or taking a trip (which we seldom do either) and it's really hard for me. I stress all night worrying whether I'll be able to get up, so don't sleep! I'm a night owl like Barbara mentioned.. my body clock has always been that way since I was young.. so all these years it has been against my body clock to get up to go to work! My natural rythmn seems to be stay up until 2 or 3 a.m. and sleep until 10 or 11.. so I go with that flow and enjoy it and love the silence of the dark night hours and early morning hours. I feel funny when I have to get up early (which for me is 8:00 a.m.!). My morning is: lay awake in bed for awhile, get up, get dressed right away (unless I tend to stay in my sloppies all day)... have my tea and talk to hubby over his coffee and my tea, then check my emails and play on the computer for awhile. Most of my days are at home.. I'm a homebody mostly and really enjoy the magic of ordinary days. If I have to go somewhere, I do that early afternoon. I try not to "plan" my days.. just let them fall as they may, though I do keep a "to do" list at the table as we have so many projects in our new (old) home! I'd rather not have any to do lists, but that's just me.. I'm a list maker. :-)
ReplyDeleteHa! We are complete opposites when it comes to our body clocks! I can imagine how hard it was for you all those working years to have to fight against your natural rhythms! Your routine sounds lovely and peaceful. I love your phrase ...enjoy the magic of ordinary days.
DeleteThat wasn't my own phrase, but I love it (the magic of ordinary days). There was an older movie with that title, and I love it and have always remembered that phrase from the movie! It speaks so well of "retirement", although sometimes I think I work harder now than when I was working.. but there are many "ordinary" days now, but I love each and every one. After all the years of rush rush rush when I worked, it's so nice not to have to rush anymore. Hugs..
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