What I Learned by Waking Up at 5 a.m.

I spent the last week doing something I never thought I could do – waking up at 5 a.m. Before you ask, no I am not a morning person.

Last week, I wrote about a series of life-changing events that occurred during the last few years causing our lives to feel quite chaotic.

This led to a new approach to goal-setting.

Previously, I focused my efforts on learning to embrace the chaos. This year, I’m throwing that mantra out the window.

Rather than embrace the chaos, I hope to conquer the chaos.

My life was a mess

At the end of last year, I felt depleted, disconnected, and unfulfilled. This is what led me to research other methods of goal-setting in the first place.

I needed something to motivate me and fill me with an insatiable desire to keep going, even when I feel like giving up — something that would make my goals stick.

One of the things that contributed to my discontent in 2016 was the fact that I never had enough time to accomplish everything I needed to accomplish in a day.

I left dirty dishes piled up in the sink overnight. I could not stay on top of the laundry. I was forgetful.

I ran late. I missed meals. I drank too much coffee. I ate too much junk food. I spent too much time on my phone. I didn’t go to bed on time.

I didn’t spend time with God. I didn’t exercise. I was cranky with my children and my husband.

I was no longer myself

None of these things were typical behavior for me. I felt like a stranger in my own life, and I could not figure out why I couldn’t get it together.

I was completely overwhelmed by everyday tasks, which led to a lack of motivation.

I had trouble going to sleep at night even though I was exhausted.

I hit the snooze button over and over again each morning before finally sliding out of bed when it was time to get the kids up for school.

I started each day feeling like I was already behind schedule. Mornings were rushed and hectic. I was frustrated. The kids were frustrated.

There was yelling and sometimes crying as we all scrambled to get out the door on time.

I needed a change

It was no better when I arrived home from taking the kids to school.

I ended each day with many tasks left unfinished even though it seemed as if I’d been busy all day long.

I faced disappointment day in and day out when things were left undone. I was doing everything I could to stay afloat, except that I wasn’t.

Truth be told, I allowed laziness to creep in due to my lack of motivation and abandoned every time-management method I knew to be effective.

I convinced myself that I was actually making progress by embracing the chaos, but I no longer felt empowered by this concept as I had at one time.

A fresh start

I am always grateful for the chance to reflect and refocus at the end of a year.

Before I stumbled across The Desire Map, I was accustomed to the typical methods of goal-setting.

Mapping out your priorities, choosing a word for the year and writing down a list of things you would like to accomplish are all good things to do.

However, they are also very results driven without identifying WHY you are setting the goals.

The WHY is the missing link.

A fresh perspective

This is just what I needed to hit the reset button for 2017.

As I worked my way through The Desire Map, I identified my core desired feelings, and I was able to set my goals in such a way that will allow me to feel the way I want to feel.

When I discovered my WHY {feeling the way I want to feel}, I had a renewed sense of motivation.

Determined not to let another year go by feeling unsatisfied, I knew exactly what I had to do first to change my trajectory – get up early.

I decided to start waking up at 5 a.m., and it completely changed my life.

When you search for habits of successful people on Google, there is one thing that repeats itself on each and every list.

Successful people start their day early. Most of the successful people these lists refer to are business moguls, but moms can benefit from this as well.

There is something to be said for getting your day started before the kids wake up.

All moms know that once the kids wake up, you will spend your day serving everyone but yourself.

My experience waking up at 5 a.m.

My kids wake up at 6:45 a.m., during the week, so I chose to start waking up at 5 a.m. The time is arbitrary. Pick what works for you.

If you have a newborn or a baby who still wakes several times a night, embrace the season of motherhood you are in, and save this advice for later.

Getting up the first day was HARD.

I had trouble falling asleep the night before even though I got into bed at a decent time because I wasn’t used to going to sleep that early.

I hit the snooze button twice before peeling myself out from under the covers, slipping on my robe and heading downstairs to make coffee.

I spent half an hour enjoying my coffee and spending time in God’s word, and I still had time to sit at my desk and plan my day before it was time to wake the kids.

I actually woke up before my alarm on day two, but I didn’t get up immediately.

Old habits die hard. 

Although I hit the snooze button for 30 minutes, I was still able to drink coffee while reading my Bible and plan my day before the kids’ alarm sounded.

It was much easier to wake up and get out of bed by day three.

I had plenty of time to drink coffee and spend time with Jesus before planning my day. I even got some writing in, which was a total bonus.

What I learned waking up at 5 a.m.

I learned three key things by waking up at 5 a.m. These three things are what changed my perspective on waking up early.

This experience showed me how different life could be if I learned to embrace the morning hours and the value that they bring.

1 // I was more productive

Taking time to plan my day ahead of time helped me to stay on task all day long. I knew exactly what I needed to accomplish by the end of the day. I felt focused and capable.

2 // I was in a better mood

I am an introvert, so getting my daily dose of alone time at the beginning of the day kept me feeling fulfilled and energized all day long.

3 // I was a better mom

By the time I woke the kids for school, I was fully caffeinated and ready to get dressed for the day.

This completely cut down the frustration of rushing to get everyone out the door on time. Our mornings are now much less stressful for everyone.

Now, it’s your turn

If you are a night owl, know that becoming a morning person requires a major adjustment.

At first, I didn’t think it was possible for me. As the days went on, I found that I actually enjoyed waking up at 5 a.m.

It takes discipline to put this into practice day in and day ou, but concentrating on how it makes you feel helps keep you motivated.

Do you prefer staying up late or waking up early?