Maybe the benefits of rising at the crack of dawn are more than old wive’s tales

I’ve been getting up early this week! Now, I never thought that this statement would be worthy of a headline but it’s been a bit of a revelation so I’m sharing it with you.

I’m sure I’m preaching to the converted because you are all probably a lot less lazy and a lot more motivated than me so are up anyway.

As I told you last week, it’s my aunties with their constant zest for life that inspire me, so this week I’ve actually found my get up and go. The other day I got up and did an online yoga class.

Well, I tried an online yoga class. The great thing about doing yoga online is that you see the instructor but they don’t see you.

I’m fine with all the stretching stuff, but my hands and wrists are obviously pretty weak because I find myself collapsing in a heap after half an hour balancing on them.

I was never cut out to be an athlete but, oh my goodness, online is the perfect way to try sport with no one watching.

My next early morning challenge was to get my washing out on the line first thing so that I could feel superior when my neighbours saw it flapping in the wind when they got up.

Mind you, they probably just thought I had been too lazy to take it in the night before.

Tomorrow I’m going to bake bread before Ollie and Gordon get up so that they come down to the smell of a freshly baked loaf

I feel a lot more positive for getting to bed at a reasonable time and getting up early. I think there is maybe truth in the theory that sleep before midnight is better for your health.

So many “wellness experts” are saying that getting a routine back in our lives during lockdown will keep us healthier and more mentally stable and I’m realising that is true.

Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t previously getting up at midday, I’m not a teenager! I was, however, usually coming downstairs when I would normally have been getting on a train to London.

I’ve been opening the curtains at 5.30am this week and it’s been beautiful and peaceful to look out at the garden and just breathe.

In fact one of the things I’m constantly telling my singers is not to forget to breathe, and I think that advice applies to us all.

Living in the now, forgetting our worries and just taking a deep breath in and out for a moment is something we perhaps forget to do.

Maybe stop what you are doing for a moment and inhale and exhale a few times.

So anyway, I haven’t turned into some new-age health guru, even though to look at my hairstyles at the moment you might think I look the part, not to mention my lockdown outfits.

No, I’m still me with all my faults and flaws.

Today, even though I got up early, did an exercise class, hoovered and hung out washing, I’m in my PJs and it’s afternoon.

We actually cleaned out the garage at the weekend (I told you I had my get up and go back), which was good for the soul.

I was totally ruthless. We completely filled Ollie’s car to the brim and made an appointment at our local recycling centre which has reopened this week.

Ollie was so impressed with the safety and new rules. Every driver had to wait in their car with their windows closed then show their booking form, which they had printed out, through the car window.

They were then ushered into individual bays to dump their rubbish.

So we have a new way of life to get used to but with lots of planning and thought we can hopefully be able to gradually do more things, as long as safety is the first priority.

My lovely Auntie Agnes has her birthday in lockdown this week and I just wish I could even see her from outside her window but I’m actually not allowed to drive to Scotland. She won’t even be able to celebrate in Celebrations, our favourite shop.

We are now allowed to drive as far as we want within England, but when I get to the border I can’t come any further.

I do, however, respect Nicola Sturgeon’s decision to keep the “stay at home” rule in Scotland.

Down here we are completely confused as to what we can and can’t do, which in my opinion is dangerous. I do hope that in two weeks’ time we don’t see a spike in deaths because of England’s foolhardy “stay alert” instruction.

I’m tempted to move back up to Scotland for good.

Have a good week everyone, and happy birthday Agnes.

Yvie X

This week Yvie has been extolling the virtues of deep breathing, while also wishing she could visit her Auntie Agnes, right, on her birthday

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