82. Why I like mornings

Boy do I really like automatic coffee makers. They make my life a heckuva a lot easier. I bought one from Target for about 20 bucks last week and I’m beginning to make good use of it. I’ve set the clock for about 6:30 and I’m waking up around 7 a.m. It’s kind of suprising that I’ve adjusted to this. I’m just trying to write before going to work instead of after.

I really like slow mornings. There are times I thought I could work out or do something big before heading to work, but I know that’s not going to happen. I like just taking things slow and enjoying my coffee as I wake up. More people should do that. The destruction of breakfast is happening. People don’t eat breakfast anymore (especially breakfast cereal.) Everyone “has no time” in the morning. And lots of times people are just flying out of bed and throwing whatever sustenance within arms reach into a bag before they head out the door. I don’t think that’s healthy.

Before getting this place, I’d rush out the door about 30 minutes after waking up in order to catch the bus. I sometimes didn’t mind the long bus drive because I could listen to podcasts or read, but I didn’t really write on the bus.

I think I’m one of the few people I know who has always been a morning person. I used to get up at about 7 a.m. in elementary school. I’d take the dog out for a walk and then I’d read the newspaper and eat breakfast before heading to school. I had a friend who sometimes watched TV before heading to school. I didn’t understand that. I still don’t really enjoy having the TV on before I’ve had my coffee. (Sorry, Today Show watchers.)

I think I also like mornings because I know that a significant number of people around me are not quite “going” yet. They’re probably still sleeping or not really enjoying themselves. It’s torture to get up and get out of bed.

On the opposite side of this, I’m not really an evening person. I go to bed between 10:30 and 11 p.m. This had been significantly altered the past two years when I was working for newspapers and I was on the clock till at least 11 p.m. most nights. I didn’t enjoy that because all I wanted to do when I got home was drink a beer and eat a grilled cheese sandwich (or a box of triscuits.) At least I can be productive when I wake up early. Also, I don’t feel overly terrible when I drink six cups of coffee, as opposed to six beers. (Well, I do make a number of trips to the bathroom, but that’s nothing compared to a hangover.)

Mornings are a good thing. I like being productive for an hour or two before I head into work. You don’t only need to be productive at work. I think you also need to be productive in your own life, whether that’s writing, or acting, or just working on stuff at home.