There have been a lot of surprises in meeting RB 2.0 – the newer, better version of myself :). Probably of all of them – by far the biggest surprise is that I have become a morning person. Y’all. You have no idea how much this blows my mind. I have always declared myself a night owl and morning people got on my ever loving nerve. I had ZERO interest in getting up early and those that did got a big ole eye roll from me….
Then RB 2.0 came along and challenged every single thing I know. I have talked about this before here on the blog, but I wanted to dedicate a post to something that has truly been life changing for me.
Just over a year ago, I was meeting this version of me for the first time, and really working on ME. I felt as if the Lord had gifted me so much goodness in getting me home and rested finally -that I wanted to be the absolute best version of me. I started reading inspirational books, blogs and following the authors on social media. Many common habits and themes amongst them all BUT the most common thing I kept reading was that they get up super early every day and use that time just for THEM.
Well you know what? That pissed me off. I love sleep and I loved staying up late. Why in the world would I need to change anything? BUT. I kept feeling this tugging from the Lord that I needed to at least see for myself why this is such a great habit. I mean obviously these people know what they are doing.
So one day, I just got up. I think it was 6am – 30 minutes before the rest of my crew woke up. Damn was I tired. And completely lost HA! I just sat there, drank some coffee and prayed. I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing, I just knew it was quiet and I was alone. Was not nearly as bad as I expected. One of the books I read (Miracle Morning, I will link it below!) challenged me to not quit for like a month or something like that. So I told myself that after a month, if I was not on board, it just wasn’t for me. It was hard. I fell asleep in my chair a couple times and there were many mornings that I cussed all the way to the coffee pot from bed. But then after about 2 weeks, I started not hating it. It was crazy. I would get up no problem – sometimes waking up before the alarm! I started craving the morning quiet, alone time – and the best part? WOW was the Lord showing up for me! Every morning I would read something that spoke right to me. At the end of my “trial” I knew that this was just as good as “they” all said it would be.
So now – here I am about a year later – I get up at 5am – over an hour before my fam gets up and I would venture to say that it might be the best part of my day! Hear me out:
There is something just so relaxing about the mornings. Most of the world is quiet and asleep. It’s cozy and you honestly feel like it’s just you and the Lord. I am awake, refreshed, and HAPPY before the monkeys roll out of bed pissed off at the world HA! The alone time to read, do a devotional, pray, practice gratitude, and just relax before your world wakes up is GAME CHANGING. Is it hard to get up? Sometimes it is still. But once I start moving and getting my coffee, I never regret it. In the beginning it was really hard – but so worth it now.
Another huge plus to this is that early mornings no longer hold me hostage. What do I mean? How many times are you dreading the next day because you know you have to get up early? Or how pissed are you when you know that you don’t have a single day to sleep in any time soon? I have been there. Now that is not a factor anymore. Early mornings never bother me and in return -they are SO much easier around here with my kids. There is so much power in a mama in a good mood – trust me :).
So many people ask me how I live on such little sleep. I have learned that I only need about 6 hours. Shane stays up late and the only time we really get to talk is at night so I still stay up later than I probably should, but I am fine. Not going to lie, there is about one time a week when I am exhausted and I take a quick nap – perks of being home :). But, you might learn that sleep is not EVERYTHING to you as you feel right now. I know, crazy sounding, but the truth. The thing is, the mornings that are harder to get up or the nights I just can’t sleep – I always feel like those are the mornings that the Lord has big plans for me because satan is trying to stop me :).
So now here I am, apologizing to all of my morning friends – you are not as crazy as I once thought HA! I even have a FB group, Confidence for Breakfast, that I lead with many amazing women all over the country where we encourage our morning routines :). Feel free to add yourself and join us 🙂 . If this girl can go from where I was to leading a freaking FB group for mornings – well, you can do it too HA!!
So here are a few tips from me if this has perked your interest…I mean we are gaining an hour next weekend so it’s a great time to give it a try:
- Pick a time that is at least 30 minutes before your family to get up. Eventually, you will want more :), but right now, baby steps. Set your alarm and when it goes off NO SNOOZE. I mean it. Alarm goes off and your feet hit the floor. There is scientific evidence that pressing snooze actually makes you MORE tired. Just try this 🙂
- Have a plan and be prepared. I always tell my CFB girls that this should be something you look forward to everyday. So think about your most cozy, comfy spot and create this for your mornings. For example: I have to have coffee with yummy creamer, my cozy chair and blankets and a clean living room. I also need warm pjs and socks. So I make sure every night that I am ready for the morning. The other part of this is that you need to know what you are going to do with yourself. Have a devotional ready and a notebook to journal (suggestions!). I read my devo and then journal: three things I am grateful for in the last 24 hours, and then just openly journal for 2 minutes about a positive experience in the last day. That’s it! But I have to know what I am doing or I honestly might fall asleep – so get yourself ready too! You will never be ready to just start waking up early though, so prepare what you can and GO!
- GRACE GRACE GRACE! Things are going to not always work out. Kids will get sick, you will get sick, the alarm might not go off, or you just may not be feeling it. ITS OK. Just take a day off and start back up tomorrow. This is supposed to be a blessing for you – not a burden. So don’t be so hard on yourself :).
Ok- so I am starting another morning challenge in Confidence for Breakfast starting Dec 1st! Great time to start and try this to see for yourself. Maybe spend November easing into it! We are going to do the All Good Things Collective Advent Calendar together every morning! Here is a link to the materials and make sure you join our FB group. I promise this will bless you! All Good Things Collective Advent Calendar Let me know if you purchase and want to join us!
Ok here are some books, devos, and even my bible with devos in it that I am currently doing as well!
Miracle Morning – this is what I read that finally made me do it!
In-courage Bible and Devotional – my current fave!
Thirty Days of Prayer for the Dreamer and the Doer
5 Second Rule (motivated me to GET UP!)
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