time to get my act together

[electricland]

Mornings and I have not been agreeing. There's the dark thing, and the sleeping-until-8-then-walking-the-dog thing, and the sitting-around-aimlessly-instead-of-getting-dressed thing. I am routinely getting to work after 10, sometimes well after, which is No Good. It has got to the point where my boss, the most easygoing of men, has mentioned it. (As a corollary, I've also been staying late, which becomes its own vicious circle.)

This must stop.

I guess getting to bed earlier would help. As would showering in the evening -- showering loses me a lot of time, for some reason. Perhaps picking out my outfit the night before. Anyone have any helpful suggestions?

I have to be at work for an 8:30 conference call tomorrow, anyway. THAT should get me in if nothing else does...

Comments

[raithen.livejournal.com]

definitely showering, picking outfit, or at least having options pressed and ready -- those all help me. Having lunch made and in the fridge ready to grab. Also, pre-prep the coffee press & kettle, so that you have min work there to get the coffee ready.

I find clear goals also help, and just planning a routine. Soon it will be easier for you. {hugs}

[elissa-carey.livejournal.com]

Ditto. Also, sometimes when none of those options have been working for me, I will simply set my clock to get me up earlier. I know part of my problem is that it takes a bit to prime the pump (aka my brain), and I really need to account for that.

[suzannemarie.livejournal.com]

You've hit upon the reason that I shower at night. Sometimes it's inconvenient to other evening plans, but it saves time in the morning--and allows me to stay in bed for a few extra minutes.

I often wish that I were a morning person, but I'm just not.

[jaanquidam.livejournal.com]

Mornings are really hard. Showers are good. I think showering is like meditating: spending more time in the shower saves time elsewhere. Somehow.

What you're describing sounds like a basic biological need to hibernate in the winter (although if it's serious or debilitating, it could be depression or seasonal affective disorder). Since right now is the time that the days get shorter at their fastest rate, this is probably about as slow as you'll be (until this time next year). One thing that really helps me is having all the lights on at home or in the office at sundown and also having all the blinds/curtains shut; that way, I can't tell when the sun sets. Then, once the sun is down, slowly turn off or dim all the lights. Otherwise, your body wants to go to sleep when the sun sets, and then it gets jarred awake when you turn the lights on, and then you're feeling awake when you should be going to sleep at night. If you start dimming the lights at least three hours before you want to sleep, your brain will be able to produce the sleeping chemicals instead of the waking chemicals and you won't feel like staying up too late.

Knowing what to wear, and having all my stuff ready to go the night before (like lunch and stuff) really helps me. Also, I've got an alarm clock with a really bright light on it for those dark mornings.