Everyday starts with you and me. What happens in the first 30 minutes of the day can have significant impact on the rest. You have been reading that for years, but it really is true. There are all kinds of ways to wake up – sunlight streaming in an open window, a vibrating alarm, gradually brightening lights, screaming, the welcoming scent of a programmed coffeemaker. The choices should be broken down into the most reliable method that actually works for you. This is a particularly personal choice and should never employ a snooze button; they are just trickery. But I can tell you the absolute best way to really start the day. Get a system. Get enough sleep.
I am a sleep zealot. I share this fact with only my closest friends because I want everyone to think I am just naturally a burst of sunshine in the morning, and the real me without sleep is not that person. To be my best self, I need eight full hours of good rest every night. It makes a genuine difference in my tolerance for crap, obstacles to happiness, ability to be civil to those who arrive before me at work, and my beloved family members. When I finally knew myself well enough to understand this profound truth, I created a plan to insure I would get into bed early enough to do a little sleep-inducing reading and get the full eight. It became as much a part of my daily habit as showering, brushing, flossing, and eating. It was ridiculously easy once I knew that everything, literally everything, in my world depended on it. Actually, I hoped getting enough sleep would eventually create enough of a ripple effect to change the world. I wanted to do my part. Instead of watching television in the evening, I put on my snuggly jammies and go to bed. Instead of thinking about and then making a snack, I fire up the fan or heating blanket and crawl between those soft sheets. Instead of starting one more load of laundry, I find another time for it and boil water for chamomile tea. I put my most important need above everything else because it is a primary need. In turn, the laundry still gets done, I don’t eat another snack and I miss another show I wouldn’t remember anyway.
My mornings don’t find me dragging myself around pretending to be in a good mood because I am already in a better mood. My face looks better because I am well-rested. I have lost a couple of pounds slowly, but still, that’s always good. I put myself first and everyone benefitted. Strangely, my new habit had ulterior effects on others in my household. They got permission to head to bed earlier. I didn’t preach about my new habit, but it definitely shifted some notions about what we are supposed to do post supper. And really, isn’t your bed the most comfortable place to be at the end of a day? I notice those first few minutes after I slide in and arrange my pillows. They are luxurious. I make the appropriate noises to let those listening that tucking into bed feels right. Maybe I shouldn’t even be telling you this; I am still a little surprised that I am so good to me.
Where could and should you apply this logic in your life? You could start with heading like a princess to your bedroom early and watch the reaction of others. Plus, you could see after a week or so, how one change created a reaction to your physical well-being. After you are better rested, don’t bother to waste time about why this didn’t happen sooner. Think of something else you can reengineer. Move on to the NEXT ordinary system that deserves attention. Goodnight.
