To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of
arts.
Thoreau, Walden
TRY: Making a commitment to yourself to get up
earlier than you otherwise might. Just doing it
changes your life. Let that time, whatever its length,
be a time of being, a time for intentional wakefulness.
You don't want to fill this time with anything other than
awareness. No need to go over the day's
commitments in your head and live "ahead" of
yourself. This is a time of no-time, of stillness, of
presence, of being with yourself.
Also, at the moment of waking up, before getting out
of bed, get in touch with your breath, feel the various
sensations in your body, note any thoughts and
feelings that may be present, let mindfulness touch
this moment. Can you feel your breathing? Can you
perceive the dawning of each in breath? Can you
enjoy the feeling of the breath freely entering your
body in this moment? Ask yourself: "Am I awake
now?"