Morning Glory

I was always that person whose body clock went off at 5a.m. and within minutes I was dressed and ready to attack the day. By 7a.m. I had exercised, eaten breakfast, drunk my morning tea and was ready for whatever the rest of the day had in store for me.

Over the last 7 months my morning enthusiasm has flown out the window. My zest to get up and go has been drowned by warm cuddles, the snooze button being hit on repeat and an ‘I will do it later’ attitude. What have I become? Where has my ‘oh so annoying’ morning persona gone?

Now that I have lost my morning person edge, the concept of trying to get back into the routine of waking up early and seizing the day is incomprehensible, but with summer fast approaching I really need to get my bum into gear.

In order to fit everything into my day – work, the inklings of a social life, exercise, date nights and the occasional alone time – I have to start getting up earlier and making the most of every minute. I have read countless articles on the internet and a million and one tips on how to become a morning person but let’s be honest, some things work other things do not. Here are some tips and tricks that work for me and hopefully will work for you too.

Plan Ahead

Currently, the more sleep I can get the better. I can sleep for an extra five to ten minutes in the morning (trust me it is worth it)if I pack everything I need for the next day the night before. I prep all my food and pop it in a plastic bag so it is quick and easy to grab. I lay my clothes out  - including work wear and my gym ensemble – literally everything and anything that I will need to get me through the day. My carry bag will also be packed for the day ahead so when I wake, all I have to do is get dressed, grab my food and I am out the door. This is a great way to maximize your time first thing in the morning.   

Routine routine routine  
If you didn't catch what I was trying to say with the above subtitle - routine is key. Staying up late and binge watching on the latest season of Peaky Blinders is not going to make it easier to wake up at 5:30am. Your body responds well to patterns. Going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time every day will make it easier for you body to respond to certain things. Make these patterns a habit, not a matter of willpower. By making it a habit you are taking away the decision making action, and turning it into a process.

The good old snooze button

Don’t hit the snooze button. The night before this sounds like a very easy task but come 5:30am the snooze button is irresistible. The only thing that works for me is moving my phone to the other side of the room so I have to get up.  If I have to get out of bed to turn off my alarm, I am far more likely to actually stay up. In saying that, I have been known to roll over and make the better half get up and turn it off. Whoops - at least I’m trying, right?

Seize the day

I think it is extremely important to acknowledge why you are trying to get up early in the first place. If it is for no reason than why are you forcing yourself to get up?  

If there is a specific reasons you want to start being more of a morning person then get up and do something YOU want to do. If exercising isn’t your thing read a blog, pamper yourself, meditate, and listen to a podcast – whatever it is do something for you.

Trust me, you will feel so much better about yourself when you have had the time to start your morning off right and do something that will benefit you. Whether that is relaxing over a morning coffee and newspaper or getting up and doing a morning salute to the sun – make the most of your time and your life.

XOXO 

Remember December

It was a scattered December and a drawn out January. My heart was holding on so tightly, I knew I should run away, but I kept running back; back to you, back to this, back to a hollow nothing that encompassed us both.

I sipped on tea and stared out the stained glass window. ‘You bore me’, I whispered as you sat there staring emptily through the television screen. You turned to me, your matted mane falling into your face. You always looked at me so deeply, but once admitted to me you saw nothing, that it was just emptiness passing through your mind. 

The rain started to pour heavily, I turned back to my window imagining a day when you might look at me like I was somebody. I heard the door close and you were gone.

You now stood in the pouring rain beckoning me to come out and join you. Yelling, ‘am I boring now?’ As you laid down in the dirt ridden puddles I saw you again as I first saw you. Beautiful, kind, adventurous and playful.

I joined you in the sharp, cold downpour and embraced you with all the strength I had. Leaning in you spoke softly, ‘Race me’ you say. Taking off towards the ocean. I follow, a giggling mess of blonde curls and sodden clothes. I reach the edge of the ocean and you are there waiting. We both take off our clothing piece by piece, tossing them onto the sand that covers the empty beach. Racing into the water I forgot your emotionless thoughts and dark eyes. You were here with me, and I with you. We were one.

You kissed me there, our naked bodies pressed together. You kissed me like I was the only woman you had ever kissed. I for the first time felt valued. We frolicked, just the two of us in and out of the ocean. Our bodies enjoying the freedom no longer trapped in the cotton of our clothing. I was free.

You cleansed me in the waters of this earth and we swam  naked as if a thousand cold hands were washing over our bodies. For a fleeting moment we were one. I loved you wholly and you were looking at me like I was something, instead of nothing.

We wandered out of the ocean. You walked in front and I watched you as I often did. Many times you are clouded by a darkness but I felt in this moment you were finally you, free from the confounds of your own mind.

I ran towards you.

I often felt like I was never close enough, no matter how entwined our bodies were I was never really touching you.

We wandered back.

We got to the path and it was covered by a large pool of water, growing bigger by the second with the heavy downpour. ‘Wait here you said’, as you ran off towards our house. I sat down in the puddle, unabashed of what onlookers might think, absorbed completely in that moment. You returned moments later with a bottle of bubble bath.

You filled my natural bathtub with the syrup and we splashed and squealed making a mound of glistening white bubbles. I had a bubble beard and you a bubble hat. There was no one else but you and I. Free from the glooming dark clouds that fog our minds, free from our realities – this was our moment.

In this moment you fooled me…but I have held onto that moment ever since.

Valentine's Day

I think a lot of people get quite down around Valentine’s Day (V day) especially if they are single or don’t have anyone to share it with. In turn, V Day also tends to apply a lot of pressure on couples to go above and beyond the norm; putting their love on a pedestal for everyone to see. I also believe that as partners we should be spontaneous and express our love for each other regularly, but I also see no harm in celebrating V Day, even if it is just one big marketing scheme. Just gives us yet another excuse to spread dem love vibes ;)

To me, Valentine’s day is a day about celebrating love, not necessarily about romanticism. I will also admit that I have never celebrated or had a partner celebrate V day with me, so I figure this year why not get a little bit lovey dovey. I may not have a man but I have some pretty amazing girlfriends. So ladies put on your sexy lingerie (keep it M rated please you dirty old thangs) come over to my place and we shall wine and dine each other. Now I know this sounds like an episode of The Real L Word, but I think it will be cute to sit around feeling sexy and celebrating all things in the name of love.

In saying that, if the man of my dreams rocked up at my front door with a bunch of sunflowers and was like senorita we are going on a picnic, we shall drink wine and eat cheese, frolic on the beach and swim naked… well I’m not going to say no. So ladies, there isn’t a high chance, but if the above scenario does occur I may have to cancel our slumber party. I’ll keep you updated.

MWA XOXO

Timing is everything