As our family’s lives get crazier and more and more is added to our daily plates, we find ourselves feeling stressed, tired, and disconnected. Eight years ago, before having a child, starting a company, being a part of ministry at church, and various other side hustles, my husband and I had hours on end to lounge about and do what we willed. Now, each minute counts and we are trying our hardest to not run ourselves into the ground in our mid-30s.
One of the most obvious ways to add a little time to your day, and hopefully a little calm, is waking up earlier. According to many studies, being an early riser has a myriad of benefits, including better mental performance, healthier lifestyle, and increased optimism, so it couldn’t hurt to try. Plus, rolling out of bed with just enough time to get everyone packed and out the door is no longer working for me personally.
My days begin frazzled and without focus.
Your attitude when you start something forecasts how you will finish, and I am off to a bad start every morning. I wake up with a jolt and jump out bed mad at myself that I snoozed too long, then run around like a crazy woman for the next 30-45 minutes.
I have no room for me time.
Whether that be for exercise, reading, meditation, daydreaming, etc, I leave no time to love on myself before I start my day. I begin with a cup half full, so I shouldn’t be surprised that I end the evening in the negative.
I have no morning QT with my family.
One of the worst side effects of waking late is that I don’t enjoy the morning with my family. Instead of playing with my son while getting him dressed, I get mad when he impedes my progress. And the most interaction I have with my husband is a quick good morning and a wave.
So, I am embarking on what I call my 30 Day Early Bird Challenge. I will wake up at 5:00am, which gives me one hour before my husband wakes up and two hours before my 2-year-old, for one month to see if it makes a difference in my day-to-day.
My goal is to do something that feeds me for the first hour – reading, drink tea and stare, journal, whatever I’m feeling that morning, no pressure – spend a half an hour reviewing my plan for the day, and then by 6:30am begin my normal morning routine – a full 45 minutes earlier than usual. My hope is that it will make my mornings, and by extension, my daily life, a lot less stressful. I will report back in 15 days with a mid-challenge report. Wish me luck!
BMWK: How many of you are already believers in waking up early? What are the benefits you have seen from being an early bird? For those like me who have never been early risers, are you willing to take on the 30 Day Early Bird Challenge too?