waking up

I hear all the time that the most successful people wake up early. I used to hear that and think, “there is NO WAY I could ever do that!”

I’m not a morning person AT ALL, and to wake up earlier than I need to sounded insane. Really, like crazy-town. I value my minutes of sleep as much as I value coffee, which is A LOT!

So last September when I made a decision to try and wake up a few minutes early to practice gratitude, I knew it was going to be hard, and I also thought it was a little crazy.

And then I failed at it, like couldn’t do it at all. I’d set my alarm for 6:00 and snooze every day until 6:38, my last possible minute to wake up.

Then one day in October, I surprised myself and when my alarm went off at 6:00, I somehow managed to get out of bed at 6:15. I drank my coffee and wrote in my gratitude journal before I woke up the kids — and it was GLORIOUS. I couldn’t believe I did it, and so I thought, If I did this once, I can do it again. And I did…I kept waking up earlier and earlier, and before I knew it I was waking up successfully at 6:00 every day!

I loved it!! By the time I woke up my kids I was awake and focused on my intentions for my day. I was able to handle the mornings with them better and I was a lot calmer.

Then in January I had another crazy idea. What if I could get up even earlier and add a workout? So I set my goal to 5:30. I’ve been trying to wake up at 5:30 every weekday since and most of the time I fail. I’d end up making it to my elliptical machine by 5:50, but everyday, I kept trying for 5:30.

So today, March 13th, 2 1/2 months later — I hit my goal! I was up at 5:30! I was on the elliptical by 5:40!

Changing my morning routine has been a long, slow, 6 month process and I’m still working on it.

But let me tell you friends — it’s a game changer! All of those successful people must be on to something after all, LOL.

When I start my morning out right, I set up my whole day to be successful. It’s the favorite part of my day and it’s been instrumental in me hitting my other goals. My family has even started waking up early too! Greg is hitting the gym at 6:00 now (most days), and Malori is waking up early like Mommy to get in some time to herself.

Alex asked me last night if I would wake him up early too. I tried to wake him up at 6:20 today and he fell back asleep. On the way to school he was upset that he tried but couldn’t do it. I explained to him it takes TIME. Just because you didn’t get it today, doesn’t mean you can’t try again tomorrow.

Everyday is a fresh start. Every day is another chance you have to work on your goals. I love a quote from Rachel Hollis’ new book, Girl, Stop Apologizing. In it she says, “Who you are is defined by the next decision you make, not the last one.”

Keep trying friends. It may take you 3 months or even 12 months, but if you have something in your heart that you KNOW will help you become the best version of yourself, don’t give up. And if you’re up early, send me a message and say Hi!