I’ve decided to get up one hour early every morning (6am).
The reason why is because life is so hectic that there’s very little time to reflect and think about what’s important. You can easily get wrapped up in working your ass off and quickly forget what’s really important.
These are some of the questions I like to reflect on:
- Am I happy? Why or why not?
- Am I making the world a better place, or just existing?
- What are my priorities? Why?
- Am I being a good husband?
I’m amazed at the difference this ‘Quiet Time’ has had on my well being. It’s helped me see some problem areas in my priorities and has given me a lot of peace. I’d highly recommend it!
Matt Carey
July 17th, 2007 at 9:57 am
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I wish I had time for quiet time!
With a 2 1/2 year old and a 1 year old, quiet time does not exist. Work and life is so hectic that I need some time to think and take a breath…
Stefson
July 17th, 2007 at 10:25 am
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/insidejoke: Did you have time to answer the questions?
Darren
July 17th, 2007 at 10:29 am
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good move Ryan - I try to do something similar and it’s well worth making the sacrifice to do it.
Ryan Carson
July 17th, 2007 at 10:37 am
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@Matt: That must be tough. As Gill and I are planning a pregnancy, I’ll soon be in your shoes! Maybe I’ll have to eat my words after that ;)
Adam Groves
July 17th, 2007 at 10:43 am
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@matt & ryan: a mate of mine is married with a 2yr old son and another one on the way, and he manages to have a quiet time at 6am most mornings. I’d do the same if I could get out of bed at that time ..
Julian Schrader
July 17th, 2007 at 11:42 am
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I get up 5:30am and have one hour of quiet time. Then taking a shower, having breakfast and I’m off to school at 7:15am…
Geof Harries
July 17th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
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When we had only one child, I had peaceful moments like this. With two kids (same ages as Matt’s) it’s a whole different ballgame. Daddy, daddy, daddy!
Dave Kinsella
July 17th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
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I have to join in with the other guys here.. you obviously have no children. However early I get up, it’s usually a sure bet that my daughter will be waiting for me to make her breakfast.
I’ve resolved to stay up for an hour after everybody else in the house is asleep - MY quiet time ;)
Geof Harries
July 17th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
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Ha, look at us whiny dads. Honestly, Ryan, if I could have Quiet Time, I’d take it in a second because it is so important to step back, reflect and breathe. But since I don’t have that option, then, well…I guess it’s hugs instead.
Jake
July 17th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
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Hi have a quiet time - an afternoon nap.. 3- 3:30 - works wonders and never did the Spanish any harm!
Try pzizz it is excellent.
Ryan Carson
July 17th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
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Wow, looks like kiddos will make it a challenge :) I’ll still try though!
chrishallmedia | the blog of interaction designer chris hall
July 17th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
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[…] I couldn’t agree more with this article by Ryan Carson. I wake up at 6 each morning so I have time to spend a few minutes in quiet reflection reading scriptures, and it makes a world of difference in my day. I’m able to focus much better, and prioritize my day to get more accomplished. I found this practice particularly helpful as a manager, because I was able to get to work an hour before my employees showed up and actually get things done before people started demanding my attention. Quiet time is nice. […]
Matt Carey
July 17th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
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I really wasn’t intending to start a whiny Dad’s thread, honest!
One of the things I do is leave the studio at 5.30 every day and come home. It would be so easy to stay and work late and never see the kids. So I come home, do bathtime and stories and put them to bed. My wife and I get some time together to catch up have dinner and then I go and do some work. It means I tend to work late and getting up in the morning is hard but I wouldn’t swap the family time for anything. It also means the hour or two when I’m the only one awake in the house at night are my time to reflect and think. :)
Michael T. Halligan
July 18th, 2007 at 7:23 am
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Ryan,
A baby? Congratulations! You and Gill should move to Seattle, and buy the other half of the awesome Craftsman duplex Linda & I are buying in Seattle. Then Kaylee & Carson Jr can chill and plan their world domination together.
Michael
Khoa Bui
July 18th, 2007 at 10:47 am
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I went for a walk today :) … that is all!
Kerri
July 19th, 2007 at 2:47 am
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I def. agree with Ryan. QT is the BEST. And sooo essential. I have 2 children as well…4 and 2, and often find even just a few moments here and there…if even just for a few minutes to sit and reflect. You CAN do it with kids! Plus, I believe it’s important for my kids to see that “mommytime” is important too. My 4 yr old will even say to me now (esp. when her brother is bothering her!) “Mommy, I need some alone time.” And I give it to her. It’s all about respect in this household! Good for you Ryan!
James Deer
July 19th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
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I would love to get some quiet time, although I don’t have kids I have a 7 and 4 year old brother and sister and two 15 year old sisters, theres not much quiet time around here. My only problem is sleeping, as soon as I hit the hay my mind starts wondering with new ideas for my app/other business ideas.
Does anyone know of any methods of getting good sleep? (then I’ll be able to awake early enough to get some quiet time!)
reggieCasual
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:40 am
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If you think deciding to get up one hour early is great, just think about what getting up 2-3 hours earlier will allow you to do.
I’ve been getting up at 4:00 a.m. and have really enjoyed the luxury of uninterrupted time. If I could have uninteruppted time during the day, I think I’d be a lot more productive.
Now, getting up at 4:00 isn’t easy, for one - you have to be in bed by 9 or 10, but once you get into it, you’ll wonder why you’d never done it before.
Good luck!
Ryan Carson
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:12 pm
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@reggieCasual - Wow, 4am?! I’m actually tempted ;)
Serge Lescouarnec
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:37 pm
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Ryan
Good to read something that is not more productivity porn.
Mentioned it on ‘Serge the Concierge’
A bientot
Serge
‘The French Guy from New Jersey’
http://www.sergetheconcierge.com
Peter Koman
July 25th, 2007 at 4:43 am
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Khoa Bui makes a point. Who cares if world is a better place at 6am, just enjoy it :). btw. washing dishes feels very therapeutically to me, so you might try that to. no really, it’s such a different thing compared to working with a computer. it’s something ordinary which makes something done (accomplished) right there at that moment.
Carsonified » Blog Archive » Don’t waste time
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:33 pm
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[…] During my 1-hour quiet/meditation time this morning, I was thinking about how short life is. It’s shocking really. So I drew a little sketch that would help me visualize how much time I’ve got left. I know it sounds a bit morbid, but oh well. […]
Jonathan Burk
November 28th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
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I was just curious, is God at all a part of these quiet times for you? I mean is God at all any motivation for you to meditate on these things? It’s just, I mean, in Christian circles I think quiet times are valued practices but Ive never really heard of someone really asking themselves questions like those ones you ask yourself on a daily basis without God involved. So, I was just wondering.
Eine halbe Stunde reicht schon
March 28th, 2008 at 10:30 am
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[…] Oder: warum ich gerne früh aufstehe: The importance of Quiet Time [via poolie per IM] […]
Sebastian
March 28th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
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My son is 7 months and sleeps til 7am, so Ryan, you shouldn’t worry.