【Saigon Sunset】

Morning rituals take many forms. Some people pore over a dog-eared newspaper with a steaming mug of tea. Some go for a run to get the blood pumping. Some meditate to enter their day with a sense of calm.

My morning ritual is Saigon Sunseta little different to that, however. Every morning without fail, I take a hot shower, towel myself dry before donning a terry cloth robe and — crucially — climbing back into bed.

You read that correctly, dear reader. I wake up, shower, dry myself thoroughly before diving back under the covers for an extra five minutes. And to be completely honest, it feels like the height of luxury sitting in bed in my white bathrobe with my hair twisted up in a towel, knowing full well I should be up and about and starting my day.

After reading that last paragraph, you've likely experienced one of several possible reactions. You might have done a double-take and sputtered out an involuntary "what on Earth?" Or you might be thinking, "Congratulations Rachel on your delightful, restful morning routine!" You may have some logistical questions about the practicality of getting back into bed after standing under a stream of water mere moments before — won't that make your sheets all wet? Au contraire.If you towel dry yourself properly and then envelope yourself in the fluffy warmth of a bathrobe (or as we Brits call them: a dressing gown), you won't encounter any, err, soggy bottoms (sorry).

I've been doing this since high school. Back when I was spending most of my free time playing The Simsin a darkened room while Ashanti's self-titled album played on repeat, I'd wake up with the distinct feeling that being a teenager was the most exhausting thing on the planet and I deserved rest. First of all, lol. Second of all, I was patently mistaken — in a very big way. Despite shaking off those woefully naive misconceptions, I've managed to retain the only good thing from those years: my five-minute shower-2-bed window. This habit came in very handy when I was living in freezing cold student accommodation at university and flatshares in my 20s. Hiding under the covers while your teeth are chattering isn't so much luxurious, but necessary.

Back when I commuted to the office (remember that?), I'd factor in an extra five to ten minutes in my getting-ready-time-budget to allow myself this little luxury. I try not to use this time to doomscroll through social media — I saved that for my commute instead! But in all seriousness, I just sit in the warmth of my cosy bed and give myself a moment of peace and stillness before getting into my day. If I'm feeling particularly anxious, I use that time to figure out what I need from my day — whether that's a long walk to clear my head, or a phone call with my mum, or perhaps a proper lunch break to make sure I'm taking time away from screens.

Past boyfriends and sex partners have informed me of their belief that going back to bed after showering is "I dunno, man...just like...kinda weird?" Which....fair enough! But also, these men chose to runto work. Frankly, nothing on Earth would induce me to do such a thing. This mismatch in morning rituals may explain why I'm single.

I am aware that the privilege of being a child-free woman has afforded me this luxury. And I do not take that for granted. I also acknowledge that my circumstances may one day change and this morning routine will have to be a thing of the past.

For now, I plan to enjoy this little pocket of bliss each day while I can. And if you have time, I encourage you to give yourself the gift of an extra five minutes in bed. You won't regret it.