Morning Person

Sunrise in Estes Park on December 10, 2020

 

“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a [person] healthy, wealthy, and wise.” I remember my mom using that adage when I was growing up.  I am going with those possibilities as a partial explanation for why I am a morning person.

I cannot wait to get up to start a new day. I am one of those perky people that sometimes drive other non-morning people crazy, but I love seeing the first daylight. Everyone has a time of the day that they function best, and mine is early in the morning. In full disclosure, I also admit that I am a coffee addict and LOVE my first cup of coffee within minutes of getting out of bed so that’s a further morning motivation.

Everyone has different biorhythms and I know people who function best late at night. By early evening, however, I am usually exhausted and just want to sit down and do nothing. The longer the day gets, the more I slow down. When I used to teach, I found I was more productive with research and writing in the morning and did better at teaching in the afternoon when I had decelerated a bit (my students appreciated that!) and got my energy from interactions with learners in the classroom.

I always thought my mom and dad were morning people, but I think that was not necessarily by choice living on a farm. There was always far more to do each day than could get done and an early start was important. Plus, the animals were waiting to be fed shortly after sunrise. It was not until my mom and dad moved off the farm that I realized that my mom did not really like mornings. My dad, on the other hand, still got up early even when he no longer had animals to feed. For him, somewhat like me today, it was an enjoyable pattern.

I have pleasant and vivid memories of early mornings on the farm. Our farmhouse faced the east and seeing the sunrise from the breakfast table was often stunning looking across the rolling Eastern Iowa landscape. I liked the quiet of the morning. I liked seeing the new light.

My mom said that a person learned best in the morning. She told me that I would do better on tests if I studied one last time in the morning. I remember as a second grader crawling into bed with my mom to practice my spelling words on many mornings.

Through most of my life, when I needed to get something important done, I could always accomplish more in the morning than any other time of day. Now that I am retired, I do not have to get up early each day. But I do.

I love the morning mountain light and the quiet of my little town. I still relish writing early when I feel my brain is freshest. I enjoy journaling at the beginning of the day and reflecting on the gratitude I hold and my affirmations for remaining positive in the new day.  I don’t think I am healthier, wealthier, or wiser than other people, but I do know I will likely always be a morning person.

12 thoughts on “Morning Person”

  1. Good morning, Karla

    I, too, am a morning person. Indeed, one of the things I take some comfort in now is that I always looked forward to Monday mornings. In retrospect, that was a reflection of the fact that I truly enjoyed my work. I also am more productive writing in the morning. Like you, my head seems clearer then, and I can put words together in better fashion. Finally, like you, I attribute much of that morning atmosphere being conducive to enhanced productivity to the coffee grinder.

    I enjoy your reflections.

    Dan

    1. I knew you were a morning person based on the emails I used to send you early in the morning from NC. Thanks for your comments. I hope you have a safe and healthy holiday season.

  2. Karla,

    We are alike in many ways, I find — maybe it’s our Midwestern upbringing…and maybe not. I love the solitude of mornings, before everything cranks up. And it’s time for coffee, without which I can’t be trusted to do anything right 😉

    Thanks for letting me know about your blog!

    Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

  5. I share the enjoyment of seeing the sun rise, watching the wildlife start their day, and the quiet. I, however, am definitely not a morning person but I love what the quiet morning offers to start my day. Whether I was the first to arrive in the school building, or at the firm, or now in retirement, that time of day remains special to me. There is nothing finer than a stroll in the forest or on the beach as the sun rises and the world comes alive. Days aren’t quite as nice if I sleep through the sunrise.

    Thank you for sharing yourself with us Karla. The blog is so enjoyable.

  6. Thanks for your comments, Sue. Although I am a mountain person rather than a beach person, I fondly remember some absolutely beautiful beach sunrises!

  7. When I was growing up, my Pop (a pediatric surgeon) was an early riser. He woke every morning around 4 a.m. and got up, went out to the back yard where he had a shed with his study, make a pot of coffee, and he would study his medical texts until around 6:30. Then he would come in and I would be up and he and I would have breakfast together. Then after breakfast, he would be off to start his day and perform his operations. It was one of the best parts of my day and to this very day I miss it! Your good writing brought it back to mind and I floated in those memories. Thanks, Karla. ANNE

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