Mornings are special in summer. Experiencing the dawn, or simply making the most of the quiet at this time to stretch or catch up on a book, starts your day on a positive note.
There’s something quite exciting about creeping out of bed and padding quietly about the house, guarding your precious time before anyone or anything can disturb you. Kerry Sutton is co-founder of Into the Wilds (intothewilds.co.uk) which organises group microadventures in the early morning and evening around the Bath area. “There’s something about being in the outside world when it’s waking up that’s really special,” she says. “All your senses are heightened because you haven’t yet been exposed to noise and stimulation – the grass and trees looks greener in the dew, the birdsong sounds louder and clearer, and you notice animals that you might not see at other times of the day.” Of course, you don’t need to go outside to enjoy the stillness and opportunity of the early morning. You could curl up in a chair and read a few chapters of a book by an open window, do some yoga or writing as the day slowly awakens. “By getting up early and having this time for yourself, you’re coming into the world and starting the day calmly and on your terms rather than launching straight into the demands of the day,” says Kerry.
How to get out of bed earlier
Gradually bring your waking up time and going to bed time back by 15 minutes a day.
Plan to do something you really enjoy and that you’ll want to wake up for.
Sleep with your curtains open and allow the daylight to wake you naturally.
Spend a night under canvas or in a hammock and wake up with the sunrise and dawn chorus.
If you’re really tired, go back to sleep – no pressure!
These ideas are part of our feature ‘The Joy of the 5-9’ by Rebecca Frank, in our June issue. It’s all about making more of the daylight hours at the beginning and end of the day (5-9am and 5-9pm).
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