Here I am at 5.31am on 2nd January, half an eye open, in my PJ's, trying to find some energy to start the day. It’s cold outside, it’s dark and I am really not feeling an early morning start after laying in for a couple of weeks over Christmas.
5.43am - I have made it to the dining room. I have put on my husbands old band hoodie on which is really comfy, popped my feet into my fluffy slippers and I’m sipping my way through a pint of water.
Now I can relax and smile. I made it! I managed to drag myself out of bed and I have already made a good start on my daily water intake. I am staring at my to-do list and realising that I was freaking awesome last night and made life very easy for myself this morning. I love my yesterday self so much right now! And I know that future me will be winning too since I’ve made the effort to get up and at ‘em this morning. How have I ended up in this wonderful place? A place where I can write about just how much I am loving myself....right 'smack bang' first thing on a cold & dark working morning. Let me tell you...
I have not always been here! In fact, I have seen quite the opposite and been at war with both myself and the world around me. I used to hide in bed for days on end and not face the world. I used to cry at the very thought of moving from my comfort zone and safe place. So how did I escape this life? A wise man once told me that the answer was getting up earlier than I needed to. If you are thinking what a load of old tosh....Yep, that’s what I first thought too!! 😊 I could barely get up on time let alone even earlier!! What is this sorcery you speak of wise man? How do you expect me to get up earlier...I need sleep! “Easy” he said, “go to bed earlier”
This could work I thought. Let’s give it a go!
Now I won’t lie to you... the first day was easy because it was exciting and new, but Days 4,5,9,11,27...they are the tough ones! I promise you one thing though...once you feel and see the benefits - it’s really hard to justify sleeping in again. You will still be having that mind battle in a years time, but reversed. You will want to get up more than you will want to sleep in. I know it sounds unimaginable but it really is true....it works!!!
During this new found morning time, you need to do a couple of things to make it worthwhile. Firstly, you need to kick-start your mind and body so I always go straight for a pint of water. My goal is to drink this before my ‘usual’ time of getting up. Secondly, you need to do something that makes you really happy. For me, it’s making a vanilla latte for when my water is done. It used to be reading the news but I found that I was just reading other people’s dramas - there isn’t much positivity in the news. So choose carefully and make sure whatever it is actually makes you happy. This is your time....nobody else’s! You got your butt out of bed and have earned this reward! Last but not least, do something that your later self will thank you for. Get a task done or start a task you have been putting off. Just a quick, simple few minutes that will have an impact later on. You really will love that you have done it later on Today. I tend to pop a few positive social media posts up which means it’s one less thing for me to do later.
6am - Now it’s my usual getting up time and I’m about to start getting ready and making breakfast. I’m ready to go. No snoozing, no struggle. In fact. My brain is now so fired up I can’t wait to get cracking!
This has been my life for the past 2 years. Not once have I ever thought it was better when I lay in bed later. Not once have I regretted getting up early. Not once have I thought of my bed as my comfort zone. Now, sat on my own in the mornings before the children wake up - this is my new comfort zone.
So why not give it a go? My challenge for you is to get up 30 minutes earlier than you NEED to.
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