If I had things my way, the day would not properly begin before 9am.
As things stand right now, my mornings will typically go like this: wake up to Berry Guy’s alarm that he sets for 6am just so he can turn it off an sleep until 7:30am, but which he never hears, requiring me to smack nudge him so that he can turn it off before it wakes Berry Baby.
Stumble out of bed and refill Berry Baby’s sippy cup because he has now been wakened by Berry Guy’s alarm. Tuck him back in and stumble back to bed. Pray that he falls back to sleep.
Slumber on until the last possible minute or longer, then stagger out to the kitchen to start coffee. Try not to snap at the boys who are already awake and have been asking for the last 20 minutes if I’m going to “be awake yet”. No. No I’m not.
Crabbily provide the boys with cereal, sit down and sip my coffee while contemplating the fact that I should read my bible/get dressed/shower/run/do some work/finish the dishes/tidy up the disaster in the living room.
Continue to sip my coffee and do none of those things.
Now, on a good morning, I will eventually get in a run, or fold some laundry, or something. And I will be dressed sometime before noon. Work days are the best because I am forced to get up, showered, and dressed right away.
On a bad morning, I will get dressed just before Berry Guy is due home from work, or only if I am forced to go to town for something.
So one morning, I woke up at 7:30am, and the boys were still sleeping (shock and awe). And I was rested (more shock and awe). So I got up (of my own free will) and started my coffee. I sipped it and read my bible. I had 15 minutes of blissful, uninterrupted time with my coffee and my thoughts before the boys realized that they had mistakenly slept past 6:30. It was wonderful. And I felt great! I wasn’t snappy at the boys, I was happy to see them, I got tons of stuff done that day, and I loved it.
So I tried it again the next day, with similar results. So I started to think about this, and I decided that I needed to become a morning person.
First of all, I need to get a run in, and the days are now hot, but the mornings are cooler. I love running in the evenings, but often it doesn’t work, or there’s a thunder storm, or I’m just plain tired. But if I run in the morning, first thing, then I’ve done it and it’s out of the way. Plus, it forces me to have a shower right away as well. Which forces me to get dressed.
Second, being up before the kids helps me mentally. I love having those first moments of the day to myself, no demands on my time. I just feel more relaxed through the day, and I’m way more patient and tolerant with the boys.
Third, I accomplish so much more, because I feel way more motivated. I’m not entirely sure why this is – maybe I have more momentum, maybe because the morning doesn’t already feel half gone by the time my eyes become less bleary…I’m not sure.
Fourth, I get my bible reading done. I get a chance to sit on my deck, with my coffee, and read. Sometimes I get to do this before the boys are up. Sometimes I get to do it after my run and shower. But I always seem to get it done early, instead of as a second thought later in the day.
So, for those reasons, I am trying to convert myself. No easy task, let me tell you. I am notoriously NOT a morning person, not in the least. And those early morning runs…ugh. My body still thinks the idea is ridiculous and tries to stage a sit-down at every mile mark. So far this week though, I’ve done not too bad. Monday I got up at 6am and ran. Tuesday I slept a little later but still got up before kiddos, and worked in the afternoon. Wednesday was another 6am run. Thursday (today) I worked in the morning and it was hard to get up but there were extenuating circumstances. Tomorrow I will (Lord willing) get up again for a run.
I’m not sure, but I think this is the way things need to be right now. I’ve been feeling like I’m floundering in the motivation department, and this seems to be helping. As well, I’m off my antidepressant, and I’m doing ok but I think I could be doing better, and this seems to make a difference.
So that is my lengthy explanation – any tips on running early and/or just getting up are appreciated. Encouragement in general is never refused.
*grin*
8 comments:
Good for you, girlfriend! I am naturally a morning person. My hubby, on the other hand, is a nightowl. When we were first married, I tried to do both - stay up late, late, late with hubby but then get up when my internal alarm rang early the next morning. That doesn't work at all for very long.
So, my biggest piece of advice is not to burn the candle on both ends. If you want to be successful with this change, you'll have to force yourself to go to bed at a good time.
My encouragement would be to keep going and not give up - it takes about a month to develop a new habit and to reset your internal clock.
I, too, love the solitude of morning. Quiet coffee and time in the Word before dealing with the rest of life always seems to make my day go more smoothly.
Blessings!!!
I dunno... I think that "month to develop a new habit" is a bit of a crock... I made myself floss for THREE months before a dental appointment once, and afterwards? Pppthhhtssstt. Nuthin. I'm NOT saying don't give up, just don't trust yourself to go on autopilot... ;)
I hear you on the morning person thing... I do think there's something to getting up before the kids. It's taken nearly 7 years to get to the point where I CAN wake up before they do... voluntarily. It's so much nicer to wake up to the birds rather than "MOM-MOM-MOM-CAN WE WAKE UP YET??" So. Much. Nicer.
I'm trying to take your lead and find some motivation... in my walk with Jesus and in my home too... these dry spells are just what Satan aims for, and I hate knowing I give him any sort of satisfaction. I'll be praying for you as I sit down to spend time with Him alone, please do the same for me... I need it.
I'm just going to confess right away that I did NOT get up before kids today, nor did I go for a run. My alarm went off, I looked out the window and it was very grey, and then I heard the rain, and I rolled on over and closed my eyes.
However, I was incredibly tired. It's a monthly thing (ahem) so I'm not going to admit defeat just yet :)
Chris - will totally do a prayer exchange *grin* I need it too.
Mmmmm... what encouragement to be found in the heart springing from these exchanged thoughts. I do pray for both of you (have since we became friends and continue to do so) that God would give you a thirst for Him and that He would draw you gently to Him in the still or not so still of each morning or a captured moment of every day so that He could be the One Thing that fulfills and strengthens you both to be all He has in store for you. And I could use the prayer too, I have the discipline, but that doesn't mean it's always easy. I sometimes feel like I am dragging myself through wet cement bleary eyed to my "quiet" (or not so quiet) spot.
Praying for all the disciplines we are working on in our individual lives, for resolve and commitment, but especially for that one, cause in the big picture that's the One Thing that matters.
Cherry Fritters in the pan!
cherry fritters... discipline... argh!
All of that is SO GOOD!!! Keep it up! Nice to have new deck chairs, too.
One kidlet woke me up at 4:30 this morning, with no chance of going back to sleep. She got very excited when her partner-in-cahoots woke up at 5:30, and they orchestrated their plan together to get me into the kitchen and produce cereal.
And it's my birthday today!!!!
Happy birthday to both of us....happy birthday week!
When you run in the morning, is it outside or on the 'mill?
I have tried being a morning person many times, but I can't quite do it, especially the running part. I think if I started running in the mornings I would end up dreading it, and that would totally suck.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRACEY!!!! :)
I am concerned about the dreading it thing too. I love running, and I don't want it to become a chore. We'll see how it goes. And I'm running outside - can't quite bring myself to run on the treadmill these days - it's just too nice outside, even if it IS hot...
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