Missing my sunrises...

My start to this beautiful day began with a minor struggle. Sure, I understand that my sleeping and eating patterns have been completely unorganized over the past few weeks. And I also understand that getting back into my routine may take a few days of adjustment. But, regardless, I struggled to open my eyes this morning. And if you know me, you know this is an issue that needs to be addressed. I am a morning person, and I don't enjoy the struggle...so I had to get to the bottom of it. 


First thing's first: I need to let my body restore itself after being exposed to an unusual amount of sugar and carbohydrates. Give me a break, I was on vacation and found it unnecessary to follow my usual meal plan. I'm over it, and have moved on. One thing I have found that makes a difference in the quality of my sleep is the type of food I eat for supper, or when I eat my meal. I find that not eating after 7-ish allows my body to wake up well-rested and refreshed, instead of bogged down and exhausted. I will give my body a break from sweets and carbs for awhile, and make sure to gulp down a ton of water (with lemon of course). This will help.


Another thing that I've yet to master is the amount of sleep I get. I've tried everything: 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours...on a couple occasions 12 hours (which I didn't think was even possible, but apparently it is). I've tried 6.5 hours, 7.5 hours...you get it. I'm still hoping to find the right amount, but my best bet is between 7 and 8 hours. And I've also heard that watching TV is the worst thing you can do before bed...good thing I like to read! 


If all else fails, I found that using a good tune as my wake up call helps me get moving in the morning. Better yet, put your phone (if you use your phone like I do) somewhere away from your bed; this way you physically have to get out of bed to turn it off. And I'm not talking some kind of loud, obnoxious song to wake you up, as this can make you irritated right from the start...something soft, but motivating does the trick for me. 


Finally, once you are out of bed, spend at least 10 minutes giving your body a good stretch! There is nothing better than loosening up those muscles and preparing your body for the day ahead. Now, if I listen to my own advice, the transformation from vacation mode to real-life mode should happen fairly quickly. And I will once again be able to enjoy my early mornings, and watch the sun rise over the skyscrapers. 


Take a look at this article from Zen Habits that highlights the benefits of waking up early (I hope you find it as motivating as I did): http://bit.ly/9ykHpN