Photo Exhibition

I love retirement. For a while, while I was recovering from work and being widowed, I slept very late in the morning, sometimes even until the crack of noon. Now that I've settled in, remarried and relaxed, I've been waking and rising (for weeks now) anywhere from 5:30-8:30 AM every day. My body simply doesn't need to sleep any longer. Until yesterday, apparently.

I was scheduled to be at the artist's reception for our Power and Glory Photo Exhibition by 10:30 AM. I figure there's no need to set an alarm. We woke at 10:20 AM. Eeeeep! I did make it there by 11AM but if I missed any of you, I'm sorry!

"Of all the things I've lost lately, it's my mind I miss the most."

We had a great turn out and very affirming feedback from the attendees. An artist who works in oils and acrylics asked for a copy of my "Lean On" print (above) so that he can duplicate on canvas what he calls "the quintessential Alberta landscape." I'm honored!

This particular photo seems to have struck a chord, as this was the second request for it. I don't expect I'll ever actively market my photos, but if you're interested in one, contact me.

Sleep Shift

Beginning in September (because isn’t September always about new beginnings?), I will be going back to training twice per week with Patty, my delightful, encouraging, motivational, highly-experienced personal trainer at Spa Lady. In the summer, due to my work schedule and Patty’s (usually fully booked) schedule, we couldn’t find two times to train that worked for us both, so I dropped it back to once. I am mowing my lawn, gardening and hedge trimming so those weekly workouts weren’t really missed – I thought.

However, there is a discipline that comes with scheduled commitments which is missing and my nutritional intake changed. Targeted strength training only once per week is not enough, so I am committing to twice a week at an early morning time.

I can no longer be nocturnal. This is probably a good thing.

My question to you is, have you ever successfully shifted your sleep patterns to “early to bed, early to rise” when you were previously a night owl? If so, what tips do you have to help me succeed in this new commitment? I know I can’t switch cold turkey from going to bed at 10 p.m. instead of midnight. It’s like jet lag.

My total shift for the new schedule will be a full two hours, so it’s like I’ve moved to the east coast. I tried to go to bed earlier last night but it turned into one of those interrupted nights, with the dog unusually restless, waking me at 4:30 a.m. and again at 6:24 (a standard happening), well before my regular 7:30 a.m. alarm.

Ideas I’m trying:

1. Start going to bed about 15 minutes earlier, increasing by 15 minute increments earlier each 4-5 days from now until then. 
2. Plan to shift my work hours to arrive earlier on the four days I work so I’m early to bed, early to rise *every* day.
3. Catch up on lost sleep on Saturday and Sunday mornings

I’d love hearing your input, if you have succeeded. If you’ve failed at this, no need to comment because I do failure really well already. (smile)

I can do this!