The Art Of The Early Riser

For years, waking up late has been a chronic problem of mine. No matter what it was, school, uni, work, I would have issues getting there on time. Granted in those early days, I would be up late playing games, going out partying, or even using that nostalgic internet app ICQ, these days I still have those issues but without the partying!

Reading on a website, there was an article about a method to waking up early. So I decided to give it a go.

It's been a week and one day since I've started this attempt to wake up at 6:30am each day, even on Saturdays. I go for a walk around St Leonards, before coming home to do some reading or what not. Here's what I've found out:

1. It's much easier to get up if as soon as the alarm rings you get out of bed and have something to do i.e. brush your teeth immediately.
2. Have an activity whether it be gym or a walk around to get the fresh morning air. Now in summer is especially a good time since it's not too hot but there's plenty of sunshine.
3. I feel a lot more awake going to work at 8:30am, and feel more productive in the mornings.
4. I do drop off quite quickly at night, due to the body getting used to the routine.

So the process continues this week. What this is really about is achieving some mental discipline. It's a small private victory that is affirming every morning. Having the feeling that I can achieve the little things sets my mind up for bigger victories during the day.

Damn! nine cheap calls already:

From a first-hand viewpoint at knowing just how difficult it is for you to get out of bed on time, I'm impressed and inspired by your new found mental discipline. I'm also half afraid you'll break your neck the way you sprint off the bed when the alarm rings =) Keep up the super work!
beckster (link) - 18 December '05 - 04:50

i have developed a very annoying body alarm clock which wakes me up at 7.20am sharp! This also applies on weekends!! Fortunately and unfortunately, once im up, im up and its tricky for me to fall back asleep unless im very tired. And whats worse is that even with the 3 hour difference im experiencing in Perth, Im STILL waking up at 7.20am. ARGHHH
Its true though, The snooze button often doesnt work as it resets ur sleep clock and often makes you more tired than rested. And yes, once you roll out of bed and shower (thats my trick) or brush your teeth, it does make you more awake. Good luck in this tricky endeavour! I wonder if i can get ben to do it! HAHAHAHA
Addy - 18 December '05 - 07:50

i sense a balancing comment is needed. kev you wake up around the time jojo and I are leaving the bar!! an invitation for random phone calls if ever there was one... BAH!
Bjee - 20 December '05 - 19:09

Then call me biatch :) All I heard was silence when Mantwaan was over there!
JookBoy (link) - 21 December '05 - 02:00

ooooooooooooooooooooooo :P
addy - 21 December '05 - 15:12

one word... bizzzaaay!!
Bjee - 28 December '05 - 09:32

you can try the bart simpson approach, drink 12 glasses of water before going to bed. you're bound to wake up early in the morning to pee ^_^
reenie - 02 January '06 - 07:20

just don't drink too much water or you'll be waking up all night to pee...just like me after field day. damn that 44 degree day!
anton - 02 January '06 - 16:49

BJee: Hope MoS was the bomb.

reenie: What I did have the other day was the strangest dream where the dream told me to wake up when the alarm rang, and I got up at exactly 6:30am.

anton: I think I did that at Jervis...at least you didn't have to navigate past 6 bodies to get to the toilet!
JookBoy (link) - 03 January '06 - 01:31

Food Flavourings

Reading an article about why Macdonald's fries taste so good, it's amazing what food manufacturers do these days. That "natural flavour" at the bottom of the contents list really means a lot. I liked the metaphor that the flavourists are like the modern-day alchemist, mix a few ingredients, and poof! a new flavour appears.

As a beginner foodie, I am already impressed by the quality of some of the meals that I have tasted in the last few months. Places I used to deem pointlessly expensive have now moved into the "still expensive, but there's something worthwhile there."

I wonder if in the future we will just eat a slab of material (probably plasticy) and you can create any taste, any texture with the right chemicals. It would just be like Star Trek, where they can reform atoms into any meal that is required. What would become of the Tetsuya's, the Bennelong's, the Claudes's (I feel cool just knowing these names!) of Sydney? Will they disappear? Can a food flavourist ever get a Three-hat rating from Sydney Morning Herald?

Or will people place an even greater premium to the "wizards" who can create flavour not from chemicals, but from a mixture of natural foodstuffs? Theirs may the skill that will live on.

Damn! five cheap calls already:

I don't make no damn fries! If you said chicken nuggets I'd understand...
h0rnbag - 09 December '05 - 06:55

if you want a rant about maccas, read morgan spurlock's "don't eat this book". i'm sure you've seen supersize me. this is just more information that came out from making the movie. interestingly enough, maccas in europe have changed the oil they use to make fries. maccas in the US still refuse to do it.
reenie (email) - 11 December '05 - 05:23

I saw these in Time Magazine in the 2005 Best Inventions section. Flavor Spray is a collection of delectable flavor sprays that can be mixed with a variety of foods including poultry, seafood, beef, salads, vegetables, dairy and bread products.

The flavor sprays are designed to simulate the taste of dieters' favorite foods while eliminating the guilt of eating them -- each contains no fat, calories, carbohydrates or cholesterol. Each spray contains a liquid extract made up of water, salts, emulsifiers, and natural and artificial flavors, with Splenda used as a sweetener in the “dessert” sprays.

Hmmm. Now they've just gone too far.
http://www.flavorspraydiet.com/
milli - 12 December '05 - 06:25

geez, wheres the enjoyment in that.......
i like my food , like kev, only recently have i learnt not to be so damn picky and try different foods - in particular, sample fine cuisine. Im so glad i have. yumbo
addy - 12 December '05 - 16:30

So all I'm eating is water and salts. Are emulsifiers things that make other things gooey? Yum! :P
JookBoy (link) - 18 December '05 - 01:33