Seven hour jet lag, starting last Monday, and a fall back to standard time has messed with my internal clock and I rose with the birds this Sunday morning. Okay, before the birds. I’ve been like this for a week now and had a revelation about waking up early.
Nearly two hours later I got this shot: Sunrise on the snowcapped peaks of Breckenridge.
Do you wake up early? There are some very real benefits. I’m done with dinking around on social media and blog promotion by 8:00 instead of 10:00. By noon, I’ve tackled a writing project or two and by 2:00 or 3:00, I feel like I’ve accomplished a ton! Because I have.
The really strange part is feeling more awake than usual. I feel sharper and more energized. Whoa!
Getting a jump start on the day allows for guilt-free time off. And with it being Nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month, I’m off to a good start. Usually I write in one sitting, but yesterday, I added another thousand words before 3:00.
There is a drawback. I start yawning at 8:00 PM. If I do stay up late like I did on Friday night to watch one of my favorite movies, Love Actually, I sleep like the dead. That is not a drawback. I haven’t been waking up all night which disrupts REM sleep. So far, so good!
It’s been a week. Two more make a habit, so I’m hoping to keep my early morning rising going. Chew on that all of you gerund haters out there. LOL!
So what do I hope to achieve by keeping this up?
I figure, I’ll finish the first draft of my new book by November 20th in time for my husband’s birthday.
A writer’s side note: I’m a pantser and have an inciting incident in mind, a vague notion of a climax and ending but what I write today will be something that will come to mind as I write since it’s stream-of-conscious writing. It’s like reading a book or watching a movie. I have no idea what will happen next. Yesterday, a character appeared in the story and his behavior was very disturbing. My protagonist already had one person to watch out for, and I’m only 5000 words in!
Are you participating in Nanowrimo? Hit me up as a buddy! I’m listed as Susie Lindau…
See? I have way too much energy and am interrupting myself!
Anyway, as you noticed in the photo above, there’s snow on them thar hills! Yep, ski season is upon us. I’m in the last stages of rehabbing a stupidly stiff knee and hope to shake off the last of it by next Saturday when I hit the slopes at Breckenridge. Being an early riser lengthens my day so I have no excuse for avoiding exercise to build muscle.
The CGI is a lacking a bit, don’t you think?
Christmas is around the corner. With this extra time, the house should be decorated by Thanksgiving, cookies should be in the freezer, and the shopping and wrapping will be all done.
Sorry if that gives you a headache. It’s giving me a headache! I’ll add a photo so your eyes can rest…
This photo says it all. I do go overboard for Christmas and decorate inside and out. If I keep stretching out my days, I should write another book in December!
It will be a Christmas miracle if I keep up this pace and don’t crash and burn. I might sleep through the holidays and wake up next spring…
Did you remember to set your clocks back an hour? Are you an early riser? Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? Do you drink too much coffee in the morning? Do you have more energy if you wake up early? Can someone please pour my coffee into the sink?
Click for more adventure on the Wild Ride!
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
I love waking up early in the morning and enjoying coffee while watching the sunrise. Unfortunately, I don’t get nearly as much accomplished as I should. I need to work on that! So when do you start working on those Christmas cards?
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Hello, Ingrid! Great to see you.
That’s a very good question. I better add them to my November list and while I’m still an early riser with waaay too much energy. 😂 I usually put them off until after Thanksgiving. Usually, I use the early morning to goof off and then get work done. Today, I was motivated after taking that photograph.
Note to self: Go with impulses when you can get something accomplished, like this blog post.
Okay! Okay. 😉
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I’ve always been an early riser. Once in a long while I sleep in and I’m annoyed with myself for wasting so much of the best part of the day.
Your house looks beautiful at Christmas time, but right now it gives me a feeling of dread for all the hype that lies ahead. But good for you for having the kind of enthusiasm needed for this festive season.
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Thank you, Anneli!
I used to be an early riser and drove my college roommates nuts. After surgeries, I developed a problem sleeping. For some reason, going to bed early has helped a lot. I agree that mornings are the best.
Last year, I dreaded all the work that comes with the holidays, but I’m stoked this year. It could be the coffee talking. 😂😂
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Naww. I think that’s your unbridled enthusiasm for festivities, coffee or no coffee.
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Thank you! (((Hug)))
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Ditto 😉
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Good luck with NaNoWriMo.
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Thank you! I’m 1400 words in today, so far. Are you participating?
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Good luck with your new routine!
I am doing NaNoWriMo (but with short stories) for the first time ever! I am definitely an early bird and have been getting up even earlier to try to get my word count in before the rest of my daily activities hijack me. Three days in, it’s still working. Full report available on Dec.1.
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Thanks for reaching out and being my NaNoWriMo Buddy, Audrey! Good luck to you and your short stories. 🙂
So far, so good. *Crosses fingers* I agree that it helps to get up early. If I can only keep this up! LOL! We’ll see…
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My Bed is as huge as it is cozy and at just about five feet at top of mattress, and topped with a corn blue European goose down comforter. lots of cozy pillows and a soft lovely woman. And sometimes to the Delicious fragrance of coffee. How she loves to be awoken, well now that’s a secret. but usually sometimes its by the scent of toast, and awaiting is her unique favorite mug filled with hot fragrant Early Gray tea topped with cream, is that a French word cream, oh I am sure that it is. Big warm hands caressing upon her lovely curves, that’s speaking here upon her tea mug. 🙂 Morning is my favored time of the day.
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Sounds like you have the Hygge thing down, Brock! A warm and cozy feeling, for sure. I’ve been downing coffee like crazy now that I’m waking up earlier, but switch to decaf to keep from bouncing around. LOL!
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Your christmas decoration look absolutely amazing Susie. Must take you days to get everything decorated. I’m an early riser, once I’m awake I just need to get up which is often 6.30ish then I deliver a coffee to my Princess Jo around an hour later as she loves waking up in bed with a drink. All depends on where we are of course.
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Nice! You’ll be very happily married forever! I usurped Danny’s coffee-making role for three days, but didn’t make it downstairs early enough today, but can’t say I minded. 🙂
It will soon be that time of year again. I usually start decorating on my son’s birthday, November 15th. It’s nice to enjoy the twinkly atmosphere for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It does take a while to put up!
Thanks, Jonno!
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We love decorating for Christmas, just a shame we don’t have anywhere to decorate now! Looking forward to seeing a few pictures of yours when they’re done.
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Oh, that’s right. You can relax and enjoy them!
I’ll probably start soon. LOL!
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I’ve always loved getting up early, and catching sunrises is definitely a great part of it.
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You are so good! Somewhere along the line, my morning person self was hijacked. I’m trying to get in the habit since I get soooo much more done!
Thanks, Kathy!
Are you doing Nanowrimo?
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It’s my peaceful time. 😊 No I’m on the road most of November so not a lot of time to write. Good luck to you.
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Yes! It is peaceful and by noon so much of the day has been fruitful.
I get that. I had planned to post a few stories while on vacation in Europe a few weeks ago. No way. I think it’s good to focus on life then we have something to write about later!
Thank you! I’m at 20,000 words so far and want to be done super early. November birthdays precede the holidays and I want to enjoy every minute. 🙂
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We set the clocks back as well as check the smoke detectors too – good practice to get into. I am a complete bear if up before 6 a.m. Otherwise I am ready to go in the morning and like to tackle the thinking work as early as possible at work because there are times that I hit a wall by 4 pm and cannot do anymore complex thinking – ha! Happy November – Happy Day – Enjoy 🙂
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I’m finding that if I wake up on my own, I’m super energized. Don’t know how long this early rising self will last, but I’m on my way to finishing NaNoWriMo really early.
It is a great idea to change the batteries. 🙂
I’m with you on that wall. LOL! I’m making myself quit right now so I can function. Happy November to you, Renee!
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I too am a crazy early coffee drinking riser, I love to write before the worries of the day catch up to me! I love your stream of conscious writing, this happens to me on occasion, and it’s magic! Love your style if writing, just followed you, looking forward to enjoying your posts. If you have time drop by Living in the Gap, I think you’d connect with my posts! All my best to you!
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Thanks so much and for following, Cheryl! I enjoyed your article about Eldership.
It is magical when the story just flows. I have no idea how everything I’ve written so far will come together, but it always does. 🙂
Are you participating in Nanowrimo?
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Hi Susie, overjoyed to see your follow! I have never participated on the Nanowrimo? I’d love your perspective on the process, worth it, insights? Love to know more.
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It really helps to be competitive, with yourself. LOL! I have a tendency to want to beat my total from the day before. If I can keep this up, I’ll be done by November 17th. For me, free-writing is like reading a book. I never know what’s going to happen next!
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There are benefits to waking up early, Susie. That’s just a myth perpetrated by crazy people who do it 😄😄😄
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LOL! You know it, Paul! Still laughing…
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