How to be Idle


"It is a sad fact that from early childhood we are tyrannised by the moral myth that it is right, proper and good to leap out of bed the moment we wake in order to set about some useful work as quickly and cheerfully as possible. Parents begin the brainwashing process and then school works yet harder to indoctrinate its charges with the necessity of early rising. My own personal guilt about feeling physically incapable of rising early in the morning continued well into my 20s."

Ever since I was a child I have naturally risen late. I like to take my time getting up (a couple of hours usually does it) and by choice I get into the office at 12.00 p.m. Most of our producers have full time jobs and start coming on line at 6.00 p.m. With the UK crew to catch up sometimes we can be online until 10 or 11.00 p.m. at night.

So why do early risers seem to think that I'm lazier than them? That being a lark is more worthy than being an owl? I cheered when I read this extract from How to be Idle by Tom Hodgkinson.

"I would argue not only that early rising is totally unnatural but also that lying in bed half awake - sleep researchers call this state "hypnagogic" - is positively beneficial to health and happiness. A good morning doze of half an hour or more can, for example, help you to prepare mentally for the problems and tasks ahead.

Exactly. Morning time for me is time with my family and a chance to meditate. I hate getting up when it's dark and staggering into the day, desperately wanting my duvet. I usually log on at 12.00, get into the groove by 3.03, and come alive at 5.05 when I tune into Twisted Radio for the drive show. I'm usually buzzing through 6.06, 7.07 and feeling great at 8.08. I start to wind down at 9.09 and try be in bed by 12.10.

Music Geeks out there will get it :)