What are you like in the mornings?
Discussion
I'm rubbish. Getting up in the morning makes me feel like a teenager being dragged out of bed by his Mum.....and I'm 39.
The thing that baffles me is that it doesn't seem to matter how much sleep I get, it's the time I'm getting up that causes the struggle. I can be asleep by 10pm, but 8am still feels bloody early.
But I can go to bed at 3am, but getting up at 10am isn't really too tough.
I wish I could be the sort of person who bounces out of bed at 6am to go to the gym, or actually be helpful to Mrs UTH by dealing with the baby at the weekend, but I just can't.
Hopefully I'm not alone, but turning 40 this year I really do think I need to get out of this teenage way of being!
The thing that baffles me is that it doesn't seem to matter how much sleep I get, it's the time I'm getting up that causes the struggle. I can be asleep by 10pm, but 8am still feels bloody early.
But I can go to bed at 3am, but getting up at 10am isn't really too tough.
I wish I could be the sort of person who bounces out of bed at 6am to go to the gym, or actually be helpful to Mrs UTH by dealing with the baby at the weekend, but I just can't.
Hopefully I'm not alone, but turning 40 this year I really do think I need to get out of this teenage way of being!
blueST said:
Maybe look into sleep quality? Just because you are in bed doesn't mean you are recuperating. Health, lifestyle, work, stress, the bed itself can all contribute and small changes mike make a huge difference for you.
Yeah, might be worth a look. I do think my health is pretty good though, I'm very much not a stressed person, lifestyle generally pretty good/healthy and it does feel like I sleep 'well' when I do sleep! But maybe I'm wrong about all of that? On the one hand, making sure you're getting enough quality sleep and going to bed at the right time is important but on the other hand, some people are night birds.
I do find it funny when you get some dumb t
tter twitting about getting up at 4am to do their exercise, meditation, write a 50 year strategic marketing plan and make their 500 vegetable smoothie. Nobody talks about how they went to bed at 6pm so they miss out on things like... the evening tennis club (or whatever) session which starts at 6pm or 7pm (no, the 11am tennis session doesn't count because that's for pensioners - if you want to play proper tennis not pittypatty tennis, you play with the adults who get off work and get to the club after 6pm!) or the evening restaurant meal with your friends.
Also, they make out they're so hard working but then they stop working at 4pm while I'm working at 1am. The slackers.
Yeah, it's a bugbear of mine.
I do find it funny when you get some dumb t
tter twitting about getting up at 4am to do their exercise, meditation, write a 50 year strategic marketing plan and make their 500 vegetable smoothie. Nobody talks about how they went to bed at 6pm so they miss out on things like... the evening tennis club (or whatever) session which starts at 6pm or 7pm (no, the 11am tennis session doesn't count because that's for pensioners - if you want to play proper tennis not pittypatty tennis, you play with the adults who get off work and get to the club after 6pm!) or the evening restaurant meal with your friends.Also, they make out they're so hard working but then they stop working at 4pm while I'm working at 1am. The slackers.
Yeah, it's a bugbear of mine.
I'm guessing you haven't got any kids, as you have no choice but to get up with kids in the house 
I've always been pretty good at getting up, maybe I don't work hard enough, who knows.
People are different though, I'm just the other side of 40 now, and I'd much rather an early morning to enjoy than staying up late at night. I get 8 hours sleep most nights, works for me.
I've always been pretty good at getting up, maybe I don't work hard enough, who knows.
People are different though, I'm just the other side of 40 now, and I'd much rather an early morning to enjoy than staying up late at night. I get 8 hours sleep most nights, works for me.
I'm at my best on a morning. My head is clearer, I think more creatively and, if I listen to music very early, it's a profoundly rich experience. I probably get 80% of my work done before lunchtime. As the day progresses my brain becomes more fogged by all the noise of the day and my cognition heads down a slippery slope.
I guess I must be more of a morning person but I find it also helps to get to bed early enough and follow basic guidelines about hydration, alcohol, fresh air and screen use. Also, I have a Lumie light in the bedroom which gradually gets brighter over the course of half an hour, rather than an alarm clock that shocks me awake. I have an alarm clock as a safety net but I'm usually awake before it goes off.
I guess I must be more of a morning person but I find it also helps to get to bed early enough and follow basic guidelines about hydration, alcohol, fresh air and screen use. Also, I have a Lumie light in the bedroom which gradually gets brighter over the course of half an hour, rather than an alarm clock that shocks me awake. I have an alarm clock as a safety net but I'm usually awake before it goes off.
I'm normally a morning person as long as I get my normal amount of sleep - asleep by 10pm ish. (I'm 43 if that makes any difference)
Most days up at 6.15am. (Lie in until 8am on a weekend)
Today I had a swim session to do so up at 5am for a 6am swim.
Early mornings are best part of the day. I would much rather get up early than stay up very late.
Most days up at 6.15am. (Lie in until 8am on a weekend)
Today I had a swim session to do so up at 5am for a 6am swim.
Early mornings are best part of the day. I would much rather get up early than stay up very late.
MitchT said:
I'm at my best on a morning. My head is clearer, I think more creatively and, if I listen to music very early, it's a profoundly rich experience. I probably get 80% of my work done before lunchtime. As the day progresses my brain becomes more fogged by all the noise of the day and my cognition heads down a slippery slope.
This is same for me...Nearly always up before my alarm. Instantly up and on anything that needs to be done. Love the fact that I'm been shopping, run errands etc before most people are up. If it's summer I will have washed and waxed 2 cars by 8am with the hosepipe. Then after 8am it's fair game to turn on the pressure washer or vac.
OP you've also described me to a T there, even down to the age!
I am not and have never been a morning person, despite my career meaning I've needed to be at my desk at 8am for the past nearly 20 years (currently involving a 45 minute commute so requirement to leave the house at 7.15, and aiming therefore to be up at 6.15). I always find it a struggle to get up and far to easy to get into the constant snooze cycle, I have never understood people who can be up and at 'em just like that. I have often tried to get to the bottom of it and sort my sleep pattern out, and while it's never been 'great', I have found that consistency of sleep/wake time is the most helpful factor, but I have never managed to make it consisent enough for long enough to get me over the line. Oh yeah alcohol is the other big sleep killer.
I have decided, also in my 40th year, to get this sorted once and for all and I am now making a real effort to get up between 6 and 6.30 every day, including weekends. I don't think I'll ever be an early bird, as I think it's part of our genetic make up to be more early or late focused, but if I can make it less of a chore to get up and actually start enjoying my morning routine then, that's the dream.
I am not and have never been a morning person, despite my career meaning I've needed to be at my desk at 8am for the past nearly 20 years (currently involving a 45 minute commute so requirement to leave the house at 7.15, and aiming therefore to be up at 6.15). I always find it a struggle to get up and far to easy to get into the constant snooze cycle, I have never understood people who can be up and at 'em just like that. I have often tried to get to the bottom of it and sort my sleep pattern out, and while it's never been 'great', I have found that consistency of sleep/wake time is the most helpful factor, but I have never managed to make it consisent enough for long enough to get me over the line. Oh yeah alcohol is the other big sleep killer.
I have decided, also in my 40th year, to get this sorted once and for all and I am now making a real effort to get up between 6 and 6.30 every day, including weekends. I don't think I'll ever be an early bird, as I think it's part of our genetic make up to be more early or late focused, but if I can make it less of a chore to get up and actually start enjoying my morning routine then, that's the dream.
Ah, my favourite subject....
TLDR: we're fairly hardwired to our sleep/wake cycle preferences and should embrace and not fight them.
First, have a look at Matthew Walker's book Why We Sleep. He's a scientist who studies sleep. There is an excellent interview with him by Rich Roll you can find on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTvxa0Rlhpg
The reason why this is my favourite subject is this: I too am a natural nightowl. I hate getting up in the mornings and am at my best later in the day. And I despise early risers - or bedwetters as anyone who knows me will hear me describe them.
In fact, Walker explains that research currently shows that the world roughly splits into thirds between larks (early risers) / those in the middle / nightowls (best later on) and that there appears to be some genetic support for these "chronotypes", i.e. you're already wired that way.
The reason I can't stand bedwetters is simple: they've tricked everyone that there is a moral correctness to their natural inclination. Ever hear anyone describe people who stay in bed until 10am as lazy? Sure, but no-one says that going to bed at 9pm is lazy.
I've got old enough and senior enough at work that I no longer seek to try to fit in with the bedwetters. Sure, if we have 9am meetings I'll be in the office for then (though don;t expect me to be at my best). Otherwise I arrive at 9.30-10am. But I leave at 8pm or later as I do my best work from 5pm onwards.
Carey Nieuwhof's book At Your Best (summary here: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/at-your-best-en leans in to the idea that you have periods of the day that are good for you and bad for you when it comes to doing good work. For me, I do admin in the mornings (sending emails), meetings in the afternoons and real work in the evenings.
OP - don't give in to the bedwetters..!
TLDR: we're fairly hardwired to our sleep/wake cycle preferences and should embrace and not fight them.
First, have a look at Matthew Walker's book Why We Sleep. He's a scientist who studies sleep. There is an excellent interview with him by Rich Roll you can find on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTvxa0Rlhpg
The reason why this is my favourite subject is this: I too am a natural nightowl. I hate getting up in the mornings and am at my best later in the day. And I despise early risers - or bedwetters as anyone who knows me will hear me describe them.
In fact, Walker explains that research currently shows that the world roughly splits into thirds between larks (early risers) / those in the middle / nightowls (best later on) and that there appears to be some genetic support for these "chronotypes", i.e. you're already wired that way.
The reason I can't stand bedwetters is simple: they've tricked everyone that there is a moral correctness to their natural inclination. Ever hear anyone describe people who stay in bed until 10am as lazy? Sure, but no-one says that going to bed at 9pm is lazy.
I've got old enough and senior enough at work that I no longer seek to try to fit in with the bedwetters. Sure, if we have 9am meetings I'll be in the office for then (though don;t expect me to be at my best). Otherwise I arrive at 9.30-10am. But I leave at 8pm or later as I do my best work from 5pm onwards.
Carey Nieuwhof's book At Your Best (summary here: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/at-your-best-en leans in to the idea that you have periods of the day that are good for you and bad for you when it comes to doing good work. For me, I do admin in the mornings (sending emails), meetings in the afternoons and real work in the evenings.
OP - don't give in to the bedwetters..!
OMITN said:
The reason I can't stand bedwetters is simple: they've tricked everyone that there is a moral correctness to their natural inclination. Ever hear anyone describe people who stay in bed until 10am as lazy? Sure, but no-one says that going to bed at 9pm is lazy.
OP - don't give in to the bedwetters..!
According to you I'm a "bedwetter" I do rise early; 05:50, however I don't go to bed at 21:00, more like 22:30 - 23:00, put my tablet down about 20 minutes later.OP - don't give in to the bedwetters..!
When I am at home I have an alarm set for 0830. I am retired but thats about as late as I can justify. I am normally up at 8 though. However, I dont spring into action. Far from it. I like an hour or so to just mooch about and have breakfast and take a shower. I am normally ready for the day closer to 930am. After that I am fine.
On the other end of the scale is my wife who once she is awake she is go go go from about 5 seconds after she is up.
On the other end of the scale is my wife who once she is awake she is go go go from about 5 seconds after she is up.
I've been lucky I do not need much sleep so 0500hrs for all my working life and always wake just before Alarm. Never quite understood how that works. Rarely in bed before midnight. Actually now i'm late 60s I need a bit more sleep so in winter rise about 0730 but much earlier in summer. Still late to bed.
Dr Michael Mosley has done a couple of interesting programmes re sleep one recently and whether a person is a morning person or night owl and various lifestyle and habitual impacts.
Well worth a listen on BBC sounds.
For good sleep, do not eat late. Leave the computer phone and TV alone i think about an hour before. Keep bedroom cool. 18c. I have mine as cool as i can get it and sleep with a sheet or 4.5tog duvet if the room is close to single figures.
The body temperature needs to drop to allow sleep to kick in. Even if you need to wear bed socks if you have circulation issues.
Light helps to get awake.
The body clock can be reset.
OMITN said:
Ah, my favourite subject....
TLDR: we're fairly hardwired to our sleep/wake cycle preferences and should embrace and not fight them.
First, have a look at Matthew Walker's book Why We Sleep. He's a scientist who studies sleep. There is an excellent interview with him by Rich Roll you can find on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTvxa0Rlhpg
The reason why this is my favourite subject is this: I too am a natural nightowl. I hate getting up in the mornings and am at my best later in the day. And I despise early risers - or bedwetters as anyone who knows me will hear me describe them.
In fact, Walker explains that research currently shows that the world roughly splits into thirds between larks (early risers) / those in the middle / nightowls (best later on) and that there appears to be some genetic support for these "chronotypes", i.e. you're already wired that way.
The reason I can't stand bedwetters is simple: they've tricked everyone that there is a moral correctness to their natural inclination. Ever hear anyone describe people who stay in bed until 10am as lazy? Sure, but no-one says that going to bed at 9pm is lazy.
I've got old enough and senior enough at work that I no longer seek to try to fit in with the bedwetters. Sure, if we have 9am meetings I'll be in the office for then (though don;t expect me to be at my best). Otherwise I arrive at 9.30-10am. But I leave at 8pm or later as I do my best work from 5pm onwards.
Carey Nieuwhof's book At Your Best (summary here: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/at-your-best-en leans in to the idea that you have periods of the day that are good for you and bad for you when it comes to doing good work. For me, I do admin in the mornings (sending emails), meetings in the afternoons and real work in the evenings.
OP - don't give in to the bedwetters..!
You are the complete opposite to me. Up at 0500 breakfast exercise and in office by 0800 latest. That first hour was great as before most of the staff came in. I admit by brain shuts down after 1930 so rarely in the office after 1830.TLDR: we're fairly hardwired to our sleep/wake cycle preferences and should embrace and not fight them.
First, have a look at Matthew Walker's book Why We Sleep. He's a scientist who studies sleep. There is an excellent interview with him by Rich Roll you can find on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTvxa0Rlhpg
The reason why this is my favourite subject is this: I too am a natural nightowl. I hate getting up in the mornings and am at my best later in the day. And I despise early risers - or bedwetters as anyone who knows me will hear me describe them.
In fact, Walker explains that research currently shows that the world roughly splits into thirds between larks (early risers) / those in the middle / nightowls (best later on) and that there appears to be some genetic support for these "chronotypes", i.e. you're already wired that way.
The reason I can't stand bedwetters is simple: they've tricked everyone that there is a moral correctness to their natural inclination. Ever hear anyone describe people who stay in bed until 10am as lazy? Sure, but no-one says that going to bed at 9pm is lazy.
I've got old enough and senior enough at work that I no longer seek to try to fit in with the bedwetters. Sure, if we have 9am meetings I'll be in the office for then (though don;t expect me to be at my best). Otherwise I arrive at 9.30-10am. But I leave at 8pm or later as I do my best work from 5pm onwards.
Carey Nieuwhof's book At Your Best (summary here: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/at-your-best-en leans in to the idea that you have periods of the day that are good for you and bad for you when it comes to doing good work. For me, I do admin in the mornings (sending emails), meetings in the afternoons and real work in the evenings.
OP - don't give in to the bedwetters..!
I agree we are not all the same. Even as a child I was first out of bed. I've no idea why my body clock works that way.
I've been waking up at 7 am all my life. From school through work. Haven't needed an alarm clock for many years. No matter what time I go to sleep I'm awake at 7, even on holidays. It does take me a while to get going though, I need a coffee and an hour to be firing on all cylinders.
Getting up is a different thing all together in the winter when its' cold and dark. Come the summer it's a piece of cake.
Getting up is a different thing all together in the winter when its' cold and dark. Come the summer it's a piece of cake.
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