I used to be a morning person, back when the New Kids on the Block were still new. Not anymore.

Now, when my phone buzzes at 5:30 am, I usually hit snooze (at least once) before one annoying neuron, buried deep within the gray matter, insists that I get up.

Photo (before overlay) courtesy of Jake Givens via unsplash.com

So, I find the New York Times on my phone, let one eyelid slide shut, and work like Hercules to keep the other open. “G.O.P Senator, Bob Coker, is a Key Player in…”…so tired. 

I lay in bed with the lights off, head limp on the pillow, legs nestled between the sheets, and wait for my iPhone to usher me into the promised land of energetic wakefulness. 

Recently, I was struck by the dumbness of this strategy. For twenty minutes every day, I maintain the posture of sleep (except for the iPhone), repeat the mantra “I’m so tired”, and expect to perk up. 

One day in February, I got fed up with feeling tired, even after nine hours of sleep. I decided–for one day–to get out of bed as soon as my phone buzzed. A revolutionary idea. 

The buzz came. It took me fifteen seconds to win a staring contest with the snooze button. Then I hurled myself through the sheets and staggered to the kitchen.

Lights on. Coffee dripping. Toaster ticking. Scraping the peanut butter jar. Cold milk against my throat. Back straight against the sofa. Laptop open to Exodus 24. My senses, muscles, and neurons were buzzing–and I felt less tired.

I felt so much better that I decided to try it the next morning…and the morning after that.

That was over a month ago.

I’m still surprised that tackling mornings like a high school quarterback makes me feel less tired. But then again, hurling myself out of bed doesn’t give me much time to rehearse the story of how exhausted I am.  

I’ve even wondered if my daily dose of coffee is still necessary. 

But, who wants to be an extremist?