The Magic of Mornings

Do you know what’s good about getting up at 5am?  Absolutely nothing.  At least that’s what I would have argued three months ago.

As part of my ‘Thriving in my forties’ campaign, I decided that my current morning routine needed a massive overhaul.  You see I was one of those people that would time my alarm clock to the minute.  I needed exactly 27 minutes to complete my morning routine (have a shower, get dressed, do my hair and make-up, make a takeaway coffee and get out the door).  Mornings were frantic, I didn’t have a single minute to spare, let alone wake up properly, eat breakfast or God-forbid have two minutes to myself to prepare for the day.  Mornings were something that happened to me, not something that I participated in.

I thought that I was being smart with my time, optimising as much sleep as possible and giving myself the best opportunity to start my day energised.  But it was doing the exact opposite.

Enter getting up early.

I began setting my alarm for 5am, just to see what all the fuss was about.  And although I initially dreaded the early wake-up call, I quickly discovered something shocking - getting up early can actually change your life.  Here’s the thing, mornings are like an exclusive club for grown-ups.  There’s something weirdly empowering about being awake when the rest of the world isn’t.  It’s as if you’ve hacked adulthood. You suddenly have time to make a cup of coffee, stretch, go for a walk and (most importantly) wake up properly.  Suddenly, you’re functioning like a responsible human before sunrise. It’s both deeply unsettling and oddly satisfying.

I’m not going to lie, at first, I hated it.  But after a few weeks, I noticed something miraculous, I wasn’t just getting more done, I was calmer, clearer, and started to feel more energised.  When you’re up early, the world is blissfully quiet. No emails. No demands. No one asking where their school uniform is or why there’s no milk left. It’s just you, the sunrise, and the smug feeling that you’ve beaten the chaos to the punch.  I started using that time to exercise and walk my dog, Frankie (believe me, she was initially just as shocked by the sudden early morning rising!).  I had time to think and plan the day ahead. By the time everyone else woke up, I felt like I’d already won the morning.

Getting up early also gave me something I didn’t know I was missing, time for me.  In the rush of work, kids, relationships, and trying to remember what’s on my to-do list, those quiet morning hours have become my sanctuary.  I walk and I breathe.

I’m suddenly more present. I notice things now, the way the light hits the trees, the taste of my coffee, the sound of my own thoughts before the day crowds them out.  It’s like I finally caught up with myself after years of running late.

Of all the things I’ve tried so far to start winning in my forties, this has been the most surprising.  Because somewhere between the yawns and the sunrise, I’ve found a version of myself that’s calmer, stronger, and ready to take on the world, all before 7 a.m.

Lauren x