The Value Of Rising Early

We have a bird feeder in our front yard and the birds are active now, especially in the early morning. My daughter Sydney was thrilled to see all the different birds this morning and kept telling me to "look outside!" We had to get the binoculars, bird identification chart and even eat breakfast looking out the window. Breakfast took about 15 minutes longer than normal, but I am not complaining about the extra time required. In fact, I had already built it into my day.

By getting up early I had already accomplished several important tasks. I didn't have to rush through breakfast or be "half present" when Sydney was trying to show me a Red Bellied Woodpecker or finch.

Of all the time management strategies that exist, getting up early has to be one of the most important ones. The level of productivity that can occur when there is minimal noise, no phones and no incoming emails is amazing. Even if your time is spent reading or completing a spiritual devotion-the time is well spent.

If you're finding that you just don't have time to "stop and smell the roses" or in my case, "identify the warbler with your daughter" reflect on how you could get up a few minutes earlier and be prepared for life's splendid little detours-that may not come very often.