Do you ever get out of bed in the morning...

I'm still up as since being ill for last 3 months, I've only slept during night for 4 hours regardless of what time I go. So I'm normally up now about 7ish and do my work then, washing up, put washing on etc. Then if I feel tired later, and due also to my heart conditions, I take a sleep for about 2 to 3 hours. It works for me and for my health problems. I love being up when no-one else is, it's so quiet and peaceful. And now that I sit beside my garden window I get to see the dawn break and the birds on the feeders, the clouds moving by and daylight, which is absolutely wonderful.

I have booked myself a weekend away though today as I've not had a break away since about last May so going in a few weeks. And then I had only one night as I didn't take my son with me for the first time. This time I have booked three nights so he will have to cope without me for that time for the first time. He will be 18 yo by then though so should be fine. He got stroppy earlier so it will do him good to be without me for a bit.

ninathenana GET THAT ROOM CLEANED UP NOW!!! Will that do?

I tend to drink decaff tea and coffee most of the time but I treated myself to some coffee beans at Christmas and now have one cup a day. I've realised that, if I drink it too late in the day it keeps me awake half of the night but if I use it to just keep myself going when I'm starting to flag I actually get a lot of jobs done [this is what's happening now; I was ready to sleep by @6 this evening]. Just hope I can get to sleep in an hour or so as I've become totally nocturnal recently.

I had a proper think about this, and realised that I always allow myself one day of slobbery a week, if possible. On that one day I don't get properly dressed at first, I potter about and maybe even read back in bed with a coffee until after the postman has been, and then I have a long bath, and do all the things like trim my hair, nails and sort out any personal bits that need it. I sort out my clothes mountain and maybe do some ironing if I feel like it, or mending. While my hair is drying I try to catch up with friends and family by phone rather than messaging or email, and I cook something simple that night. I think of it as my day off, but it has to vary from week to week depending on what I am up to.

I am currently on Gransnet in my bed having got up at 9am and brought a breakfast tray back with me. My only commitment today is a hairdressers appointment 10 minutes drive away at 12-30 and I will pop to a couple of local shops on the way. I have the rest of the day to myself. I don't feel guilty about being here as I still work full time (I'm 61) and won't retire for another 3 years. I've had a horrendously busy week in work and worked late because of circumstances Mon-Thurs, I've also had to sort out tricky things on the phone this week (God that took some patience the woman I spoke to on the one phone call was very hard work!) I do like a list, I did the beginnings of an Ocado order last night, had the written list by me to prompt what I'd run out of. Both DD and partners and 2 grandchildren coming next Friday night for weekend so will have to pull my finger out and get things ready for that. All complicated by the fact I've had a really bad cold,cough etc this week and felt tired but struggled to work. Sometimes my work as a therapist means it's easier to try and go to work than cancel all the client appts/ work meetings. I guess I do think it's easier to get going when you have to be somewhere but I am looking forward to the day I can stay in the house and do as I like every day. Just do what you want everyone I say, have a nice day.

It all depends what time I get up. If left to sleep naturally I don't wake up until around 8.30am and by the time I've had coffee, breakfast and done computer bits and bobs the day has gone.

If DH is working early morning I get up with him at 5.45 to make him coffee and toast. When he goes out I do my exercises, shower and clean the bathroom, living room, kitchen and wash all the floors. By which time he's coming home. I then make breakfast and sit smugly in my clean house.

It seems if I wake up naturally I'm far lazier than if I have a reason to get up.

I am feeling quite shocked at how human I actually feel, having got up at 5.45 to drive our friend who has been staying to the station for the 7 am London train. Saw the dawn as I drove the 8 miles back and am now wrapped around a coffee and a bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes, waiting for the paper to arrive , with her sheets and towels in the washing machine.
Of course I had to blitz the spare room and her bathroom so that's the house cleaned for another month week. I could develop a taste for being an early bird or I could just go back to bed !

Well, I'm about to crash out on the sofa and do some channel hopping; I had a cup of very strong coffee this evening so probably won't sleep for ages. This is actually worse than student days as, back then I at least lived in a house full of other people and had to behave in a more civilised way.

I do find that living alone brings out the slob....I'm 64 next week and live like a student on holiday, without the drink!
I thought I would be grown up by now and have this housework lark sorted but it's not happening.

Yes! I know exactly what you mean jenn. It's helpful to have something to spur us on. Your day sounds lovely actually.

Thank goodness it's not just me.
I blame January; hibernation month. If it wasn't for my animals I'm sure I wouldn't leave my bed!This morning I got up at 10 then walked the dogs, read my kindle til 2 then spent a delightful 2 hours in the cold and mud mucking out my horse. He has a tidy bed and clean water with two nets of hay and a mixed feed. My bed is unmade , my dishes are dirty and it's a rummage in the freezer to find something to eat. This wouldn't be so bad except my son is arriving tomorrow for a WEEK!!.
Tonight I have done nothing because I know that tomorrow morning I will be superwoman....nothing like a deadline to get one moving.I'll do more housework in a few hours than I have in a fortnight.

rosesarered your right. I wish I could have your attitude. I'm getting more anxiety ridden the older I get. I wonder if it's because I was often called lazy when I was a girl. I wasn't. I really would like to learn how to relax. My B.P is going through the roof and I'm sure it's partly because I'm so anxious. I keep wondering if the anxiety reduces when people retire?

Why are women so guilty all the time? That is, 'feeling guilty' about all sorts; not doing much, eating a cake etc.What's it all about? Men don't do that do they [and are probably much happier as a result.]
So I can't join in properly on this thread, as I don't feel guilty, I have worked hard all my life, and now thoroughly enjoy doing [more or less] what I like.Enjoy that doughnut, don't clean that floor [or at least, clean it when you want to.]Life is short.

I am loving being on holiday this January! I am with you on the lists front. Hub gets up at 6, but I slumber on.
But next week, I am on pickke duty. No more slumbering... chop chop, tuit.

Flip me apricot! And I thought I had a bit of OCD.

I do make lists. They are very helpful. It's mostly the days when I don't even get round to list-making...

jings I don't have much choice. DBH is up at 5.30- 6 doing his marking and he brings me a cup of tea at 7 before he goes to work. I hate it, because I am an Owl. But I drink the tea and wish he would stop talking at me, then of course once he has gone I need the loo. Then think I might have a coffee or three and before I know it, I am up. On the few occasions I have tried to go back to sleep, the phone has rung, there has been a parcelforce delivery and lately I have had a flock of chickens and turkeys gobbling and crowing in my garden from dawn. To say nothing of the sparrows nesting in my bedroom window - their babies have hatched and it's very noisy. (because it has been so warm here that the birds have simply never stopped)

I do think I am slowing down. I need little rests between each task and a cup of coffee or tea to keep me going. And for those of you who sleep later, I think it's so much better than having a daytime nap then not being able to get to sleep at night. I know my mother got very low until she changed her routine to banish her nap, she hated being wide awake when the rest of the world was asleep.

No Apricot just sign of a tidy mind, not letting you see what my lists look like [despair]!

Write a list and it's satisfying to cross off each job when it's done. Those not crossed off by the end of the day go onto the next day's list.
I always have an assortment of lists on the dresser - shopping, things to do, people to phone. They have to be in a straight line and parallel to the edges of the dresser. Anal or what?

When I wake up I put on my onesie and go downstairs to make the porridge and bring it back to bed. (unless it is 5:2 day) We have a cup of tea from the teasmade and watch Breakfast on tv so we are keeping up with the news. Yes, I am up a bit late since retiring but it's just the same as getting up earlier then having breakfast and reading the paper.

Someone shout at me.....

I've known a friend is coming to stay next week for the past 10 days. Have I cleaned and tidied the spare room..........No !

I hardly ever accomplish what I set out to do first thing in the morning. I start work at 04.00 and finish at 07.00. When I get home at 07.30ish I have a cup of tea and usually have a nap. Then it's lunch time and hey presto half the day is gone. I keep thinking that I would do more if I was properly retired. Probably not!

It's making me feel a lot better to hear that other GNrs are the same. It seems there's only that janerowena that is up and at it all day - and she is YOUNG!!!

I blame the man that invented computers, I used to get up early and have all the work done by lunchtime. Now I can hardly get out of PJs before lunch and am often in the study at 1.30 am still on the computer.

I'm so glad to hear that not all other GNs get up at the crack of dawn! Since officially retiring before Christmas, I seem to be staying in bed later and later in the mornings...

I blame the dark mornings, of course!

No, I set myself one big task and a couple of smaller possibles every day. Gransnet is for coffee, tea and lunch breaks. LONG breaks admittedly.

So today I have done the shopping and put it away, the washing also, the vacuuming, cleaned the woodburner, redone two flower vases, cleaned the kitchen, sorted out the car's MOT work that needs doing (lots of phone calls) and been round to a neighbour to complain about his turkeys and chickens being constantly in my garden. During which conversation he happened to mention that although he had tried to evict his fowl from my garden and failed, he had at least found their stash of eggs. I could have thumped him, I had been looking for them all week! I thought it could be their rent.

Dinner is now in the oven so here I am again.

BUT on some days, especially when I have a cold, I really cannot be arsed. On the days when the sun shines I seem to have loads more energy, too.