A couple weeks ago, I completed a 5 day early wakeup challenge.
I challenged myself to wake up five days in a row at 5am.
Why did I do this?
I have noticed that when I make an effort to wake up earlier than the kids, my day goes much more smoothly.
I feel relaxed. I feel at peace. I feel energized! I feel like I can tackle anything.
Just having a few moments of silence before my very noisy household wakes up can make the difference between a good day and a bad day.
You might be wondering – what do I do when I wake up so early?
Here’s how it goes:
- Read for 15 mins – Every day I set a goal for myself to read for at least 15 mins. And I’m talking reading a book OR listening to an audiobook…scrolling Facebook or surfing the net does not count. Lately I have been into non-fiction personal development books. I like books that are motivational, inspiring and that can help me become a better parent, wife, coach and human being. The book I am reading right now is called Rising Strong by Brene Brown. I am actually listening to it on Audible as an audio book. Brene Brown herself is the narrator and I love hearing it in her actual voice. She is a social scientiest who has ignited a global conversation on courage, vulternability, shame and worthiness. She shares stories of people being brave, failing and getting back up. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more cultivating wholeheartedness and rising up from struggles.
- Drink my pre-workout drink and then workout for 30 mins – Let’s be honest – it isn’t easy to get going at 5am…I am not going to lie. But – when I drink my pre-workout drink it gives me a burst of energy so that I can power through my workout. I workout for 30 mins in my living room. It is dark at 5am and I am glad to not have to leave my nice warm house to go to a gym or a class. It feels SO GOOD to move first thing in the morning and I like to workout then because my workouts are important to me, and I know I always have time for the things I do first. Plus, it is nice to take a shower right after and get dressed instead of sitting in my pyjamas or sweaty workout clothes all morning/day.
- Make my to-do list for the day – 5 am is a great time to get organized for the day. I write down my to-do list so that when pockets of free time arise during the day, I am ready to be productive. I need to write things down to organize my brain, and plus it feels awesome to check things off!
- Take a few minutes to express gratitude and write down positive affirmations – Both of these things are daily habits that I have been working on. I take a couple minutes when I wake up and also before I go to sleep to list out things that I am grateful for. This can be as simple as having fresh food, a house to live in, and three healthy kids. I am amazed by how this practice makes each and every day a little bit happier. I also take a couple of minutes to write down positive affirmations. A few affirmations that I have been enjoying lately are: ” I deserve and receive massive amounts of love every moment of every day”. “I am one with the universe – the universe is awesome and so am I”. “My heart is open and love pours in and out”. And – “I respond with wisdom, love, firmness and self control when my children trigger me”. I know these might sound cheesy – but try reciting these each morning and see how your day improves!
So what do you think? Could your day improve by waking up a little bit earlier and making time for things that are important to you?
I truly belive that what you do first thing in the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day and even for the rest of your life. Do you agree?
