Wake Up Early or Sleep In Late?
This is something that I have to contemplate everyday.
It's So Early!
My wife wakes up at 5:30 and I get up to see her off at 6am every Monday through Friday. Once she is out the door I am left with a choice to make. Do I get back into bed for a few hours or just stay up and do something?
At first I was hopping back in bed and dreaming about who knows what for the next few hours. This was when I was working at a local restaurant in town. Now I am doing the opposite. I am staying up, and wow does my day seem longer!
I spend the first half hour eating breakfast and making my coffee, followed by playing some games. I have been playing video games since I was very young, thanks to my parents and the original GameBoy. Now I have a computer, the WII U, and the Nintendo 3ds.
Studies Show...
The reason I play video games in the morning is attributed to an article I read about a study. It mentions that people who wake up and instantly start checking their email or begin working on tasks are statistically not as happy as those who do the opposite.
People who do something they enjoy and have fun with first thing they do in the day, tend to be happier and often get more work done throughout the day. Not to mention how fun it is playing games instead of going to work right after you wake up!
All the eating and game play happens before 9am and when that time comes I start working on the day's tasks. I currently do freelance work, so I get to stay home and complete the assignments. I love being able to work from home and I am so glad I don't have to work at that restaurant anymore (it was killing my soul).
My Advice
If you have to get up early for a reason and then have the option of getting back in bed shortly after, just stay up. Do something you love to do, either player a game, do some crafts, or watch tv. Make the first few hours for you and not your work.
If you don't have to get up early I suggest you try it for a week and see what you think. There are only so many hours in the day and this feels like it makes the day much longer even though it is not.
I have been doing this for about a week and a half now and I am going to continue to do so. You should too, as long as you are getting a full 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night there is no reason to sleep your day away.
Get up and have some fun before the work has to start!
Recent Comments
23
I totally agree with you,when I wake,I stay up,only difference being that I start the washing or cleaning or gardening,whatever needs doing first,sometimes I only get to WA at night but at least I get to do what I want most of the time.I don't think too much sleep is really good for you!
I might try this, although I work 3rd watch 12:00 pm- 10:00 pm ( sometimes I have to stay and its 1:30 am) . I try to get my 8 hours in but the later I work the later I get to bed and the less time I have to sleep... it's an adjustment from my last schedule of a regular 8:00 am to 4:00 pm schedule. I do try and get at least an hour before work and a couple of hours after work in working on my WA stuff. Working 10 plus hours a day cuts into the "me" time a little bit lol, but on the up side I usually have a 3 day weekend. I may try to fit in a game or two at night:- ) thanks for the post.
I think you are really honing in on the key to greater fulfillment * Toiling in the mud (metaphor) for a survival mode paycheck may very well be killing the collective soul of our society. The secret (i believe) is in our creative instincts* our ability to create what ever we choose, create our own roadshow if you will* Well Stated My friend***
me....I'm usually up till about 1am wake up at 7 ish....have coffee, catch up on happenings and get to work about 9 ish
LoL - I think you have to do what works for you. Actually my day is much better if I start work from the moment I get up.. It's peaceful at 3am in the morning and I'm incredibly productive for those first three hours in the day and I do consider that fun time!
I'm terrible here. Sleeping at about 5am(like it is now here :P), and waking up at about 3pm is common for me. Still trying hard to be disciplined enough to change that unhealthy lifestyle.
take it one step at a time; maybe tomorrow go to bed at 4am and get up at 11am. That is a good 7 hours. Then the next move it up to 3am and 10am, followed by 2am and 9am. It will help you in the long run.
Nope, hitting the mark dead on :D If I sleep longer than 7.5 hours I feel more sleepy throughout the day.
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That´s a great idea, I´m doing the opposit last 3-4 weeks, because I have soomuch work during Days so I have to do my WA from 10 evening to 1 or 2 in the night ;)
But soon my works is over and I shall just do this WA everyday and ofc I will do it from the Mornings :)
Have a great time
Thomas
Thanks for the input! :D best of luck