The Magic of Waking Up Early
Before I get on my soapbox, I will preface that I am specifically referring to waking up early for work. I like sleeping in on the weekends, I swear! I’d argue that it makes you appreciate that much more. Now that we established that, please allow me to climb up on my soapbox and proclaim my love for waking up early.
One thing during lockdown that constantly fascinated me was seeing how people who worked from home loved to wake up minutes before they started work and practically rolled out of bed and into their office chair. In theory, amazing. You get more sleep and don’t have to waste time commuting, you just move a few inches and get to work. It looked so easy that I tried it. I had to start work at 9A and I woke up at 8:55A, with enough time to pee and sit down at my desk. If I had to describe that experiment in one word, it would be rushed. Though I had no hustle and bustle of rush hour, I still felt unfinished and half asleep when I sat down at my desk. Sure, I slept more, but at what cost?
In my opinion, what makes waking up early for work unpleasant is how required and mundane it feels. No freedom to have a leisure breakfast, watch TikTok in bed, even snooze without fear. What I value is freedom - even if its just perceived but not really there. There is a workaround though, a hack, a freedom dupe, if you will. Waking up earlier will allow you that freedom with none of the consequences - hear me out.
I technically could get up at 8A and be at the office by 9A showered and presentable. Instead, I choose to wake up at 6:45A. I do lose an hour of sleep, but I gain much more. I gain the freedom to wake up after a few snoozes, I find time to toss in a load of laundry, I can make myself a matcha latte and enjoy it on the couch while I cuddle with Nico and scroll through TikTok. I have even cooked my lunch in the morning - you’d be surprised how much you can do if you wake up early.
While I get ready for work, it often doesn’t feel like it - the lack of urgency is a welcome refresher on an otherwise typical workday. That being said, I do prioritize going to bed at a decent hour weeknights, to make sure that even though I’m waking up early, I get enough sleep. Its all about balance! Here’s what a typical morning looks like for me time-wise.
6:30A - Alarm goes off, I snooze without hesitation
6:45A - I finally get up and head to take a shower (while I watch a show)
7:15A - I get out of the shower and take Nico on a walk (if I don’t wash my hair, I can shower in half the time)
7:30A - I feed Nico breakfast, make myself a matcha latte, pack my lunch and make my bed
7:45A - Once I finish drinking my matcha, I start getting ready
8:30A - Head out the door
Every morning is different, but thats the most common rotation. Waking up earlier than I need to allows me the flexibility to not rush, to use my time as I see fit. For example, if I need to get to work early to prep for a big presentation, I’ll skip the leisure activities and get there before the coffee’s even been made. I never worry about getting there late, not having time to buy a breakfast treat or getting a parking spot.
In a world where so many things feel out of control, the time you start your day is up to you. I still enjoy (and very much cherish) those mornings I can sleep in with no snoozing necessary, but those are a treat in my universe. You are in control of more than you know, it just starts with your alarm clock.
