When we’re barely awake, it can be hard to focus, let alone get things done. But we do it all the time. When we wake up early and get ready for work, our mind is catching up with our routine. It’s aware of what’s going on, but it’s on autopilot–functioning on muscle memory and reflexes.
All it takes is a bit of coffee or a drink of cold water to wake ourselves up. But when we don’t get the chance to, it’s like driving a car on a freezing winter day without warming it up first. It can start and drive, but it’ll be sluggish, rattling itself down the road as if it was about to fall apart.
When we’re barely awake, we force ourselves to move about, rushing to go here and there, to do this and that, without taking the time to become fully alert. But when we give ourselves time in the morning to get ready, to eat breakfast, or make coffee, we’re present in the moment–allowing ourselves to be fully awake, rather than barely.
Fallton Havenstonne 