Photograph Credit: Flickr (Peter Lee)
Are you rolling your eyes just reading the title of this post? If so, I understand. I was there right with you.
Burning the midnight oil has been my way of life since graduate school.
Up until about a month ago, hubby and I would awake around 6:45 a.m. and retire for the night between 1:00 – 2:00 a.m. Some days I would snag a nap with the girls, but this schedule was my norm.
My Effects of Staying Up Late
- Sluggish energy level
- Unmotivated
- Tired
- Irritable
If you are a night owl, you may or may not experience these effects. The older I get, the more these effects show themselves.
Motivated to Change
I was struggling with stress, exhaustion, and mood swings. (Yes, I was a mess, and still am on some days.) When I found myself too tired to help my daughter on the playground, I felt the stab of reality – my children are growing up, and I am “too busy” to help, play, and enjoy. At this turning point, I knew my priorities needed realignment.
Back to the drawing board I went to set my priorities:
- God
- Husband
- Children
- Ministry
- Business
Finding a Solution in Rising Early
Upon reading a number of blogging articles about the benefits of rising early and the downfalls of staying up late, I knew this change was for me, but where to start? I just did it. I went to bed early around 10:00 p.m. one evening and chose to get up at 6:00 a.m. when the alarm sounded.
Wow! What a difference a change of routine makes.
The Benefits of Rising Early for Tracy
No distractions. With everyone sleeping and the house quiet, I am free to think and write.
Post written. Come 7:00 a.m. I am either done or mostly done with the post for tomorrow. Having this task off my plate for the day is a weight lifted. I do not need to concentrate on “when I can fit in writing today?” With the post written, I am free to spend my day with my kids.
Blanket of Calm. Love this benefit because I can crawl on the floor and build with my toddler or paint my preschoolers’ nails without rushing and trying to get that post written. The more relaxed I am, the happier my children become because “Mom has time for me.” (Wow . . . heart tug here.)
As a perfectionist, I really struggle balancing family life with blogging life. As you can tell, my blogging life was superseding my family life. When I realized this downfall, I stopped.
Though I still get to bed late, I treasure my 6:00 -7:00 a.m. time frame. My system is not perfect and I still hit that snooze more times than I want, but this one change, from night owl to early bird, has decreased my stress level and increased my energy, my attitude, and my productivity.
Life with little ones gets exhausting. You will get tired, cranky, and need that nap. If you are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and unproductive, I understand. Consider making a change to rise before everyone in the household. Just fifteen minutes of calm can improve your day.
Though I am learning down here in the trenches, I plan to rise early this year expecting more productivity while using time wisely.
Question: What change are you making to increase your productivity this year? Feel free to add your answer to the comments.