My magic wands are beginning to wave their magic:
Becoming an early morning riser
I am contemplating doing a 30 day Writing Challenge where I will write my novel in 30 days. Sounds too good to be true. Given that I have been writing this novel with you for the last two and a half years and have only really just got the characters on the road. I am a bit dubious as to whether in fact this can be achieved. But I will let you know.
Also today (2/1/25) is Day 2 of becoming an early morning riser. Now for some of you, a 6.30am rise is not what you might call an early morning rise, but for me who loves to sleep in, this is early FOR ME.
I’m creating 12 magic wands that will help me towards my Mauri Ora goals for 2025. Wand 1 is to exercise daily. I started bringing this magic wand to fruition on 27th December, 2024. Wand no 2 is ‘become an early morning riser.’ So 1st Jan, my alarm went off. With only 6 hours of sleep, I got my ass up with the Mel Robins 5,4,3,2,1 mantra. Yes, I was dusty as I had seen the new year in drinking beers at home alone. I am contemplating not doing that this year. Either go out and party, but stop this drinking at home alone on New Years Eve. It was a bit sad. Not that I was sad. But IT was sad.
Anyhow, I got up and drank big glass of water. Had some Panadol as a precautionary move (after all 9 beers is now quite a lot for me). I cleaned my teeth – whilst telling myself that I am a bad ass bitch (another Mel Robins tactic). And then went and hopped back into bed. Telling myself, I still got up early. And that I am building the habit of becoming an early morning riser and no where did it state what I needed to be doing when I got up and how long I needed to stay up.
I remember reading James Clear’s Atomic Habits. He wrote that it was more about doing something that was a version of the bigger vision. So for example- for a person who wanted to build the habit of going to the gym regularly – all that was required for the first week that the person put on their gym clothes and drive to the gym. I don’t think the person even had to go into the gym. But that was level 1 of building the habit. Level 2 was then going into the gym for 10 minutes. And so on as it progressed. That’s what I told myself when I went back to bed AFTER getting up at 6.30am.
Day 2 (which is today). I got up (before alarm went off), and got a glass of water. I had a shit sleep – didn’t get to sleep till after 12 and kept waking every two hours. Cleaned teeth. Put on the fairy lights in my room. Hopped back into bed under the covers and waited for alarm to go off. It did at 6.30am as I listened to it. 5,4,3,2,1 – Go. I got up out of bed and grabbed the phone, turned the alarm off. Put on a jumper cause I was cold and hopped on the noisy as fuck exercycle bike I had put back in my room. I then allowed myself to look on FB and Tiktok. Also read a email post about how to stop your dog jumping up on you (which basically was enroll in the course). And next minute it was 20 mins done. I had taken off my sweatshirt because I was now warm which meant even though I wasn’t cycling hard out I had obviously done enough to warm up. My mind had been telling me when I lay back in bed before alarm went off, that sitting on the exercycle was the last thing I wanted to do. But I did it anyway and slowly woke up. So since I was more awake then I was before, I decided well – I am going to do 5 minutes on novel. Typing in some of my hand written notes. Next minute, it’s an hour later. And this is the magic of winning your morning. I have taken two concrete steps towards my dreams. Being a healthier fitter lighter version and getting my writing done.
And yes, its 8.00am. I am thinking I could go for an actual walk now. But I am going to dive back under the covers. Because there was no rule about NOT going back to bed. Of course when I am back in work mode, this won’t be an option. But today it is.
My magic wands are beginning to wave their magic. I can feel it.
Post script: I am on Day 5 of a 6.30 am rise. Still not easy. It was raining hard this morning and I contemplated having a ‘oh you are allowed a day off.” But I tell ya, once I have gotten up, and done my ‘non-negotiables’ (glass of water, clean teeth, on the exercycle (at least 10 mins) and at least 10 mins on the Novel (which usually turns into an hour) I feel amazing. I feel like I’ve won the day. But that hasn’t stopped the voice EVERY morning trying to negotiate with me to not do the 6.30am rise. Little fucker.
What might be your magic wands?
Arohanui
Lisa
After reading the thread one more whakaaro. Our relationship with sleep is a biggie, and early rising activates a lot of unconscious resistance from my experience. A lot of tupuna korero and indigenous korero would suggest sleep is not what we think it is, that while sleep can be restorative, in a modern life it can also be a bit of a coping thing. Best summary of this I’ve found was ‘Restful Sleep’ from Depak Chopra. Turned to this about 20 years ago because of insomnia - changed my mindset and my experience of sleep and more importantly rest - they are not the same thing. We need far less sleep than the Western world view suggests. Trick is how do we rest, both when we are concious at night time but also, how do we rest in action ie be able to make our way through the day and not tire the mind so much. Because thats what tired is - you can lie quietly all night and be close to fully restored but of course our ego rages against this possibility Anyway, read if of interest. Happy to loan my copy.
Ōku rakau whakakā, Whakaora. Karakia
Up early
first up ki Te Wahi Ngaro.
Water ae.
Exercise routines - I strickly schedule & organise to make this as easy as possible. However I don’t get too goal based - to the extent that I know sometimes I just need to rest & am OK with that. My puku chakra doesn’t lie to me on this - mind is a kiore though so don’t make my decision at an intellectual kevel, more a body decision.
I was big on the Morning Pages discipline for years. Not so much now but it was transformative, especially in building a new relationship with writing.
Have a circle and a mentor - 25 years now. My primary way of working through my history and the opportunity to develop intimate growth relationships over time. Growing with others alongside magnifies everything.
And yes a huge focus on whānau and relationship. Not getting too fused with eachothers sovereign pathways in life. Trying to see regularly from anew and avoid negative patterns becoming entrenched.
Making committed time to create is also important for me and this is very fluid. In that I don’t seem to be warmed up to more than specific whanau projects or writing a poem or gift giving. I’ve not really completedlike a poetry book or a significant essay. But I do incorporate a lot of Hine Rehia & Tane Rore in my life. So I aim to make everything a creative process as much as possible i.e. not ‘work’ including my professional role. The fruits can be meaningful from a material role-based assessment but often the process which others don’t see, is more like writing poetry.
Maramataka also - there are periods in a month that creative ideas come, and others where the rational mind, organising / structuring text / hard conversations / public presentations etc seem to flow easier and other times I’ll need to call on support.
That might be a useful last one - I historically would not ask others gor help - thats my history playing out - and I’m now clearer on this. I ask earlier and frame this teally clearly and to people whose character & standards are high - and important, who see me and not just the mahi.
Heoi anō ko ēnei ētahi o aku pou tikanga pou ora.
Kia kaha tātou.