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Getting up early is changing my life!

by polkadot100
15 replies
Hi all, I just wanted to share this and thought this was the right place to do so!

DH and I work on our business from home while looking after our toddler. As you can imagine it's hard to get much done and we just about manage between us to keep things ticking over never mind implementing all the plans we have for the business.

I have never been a 'morning person' and find it hard to drag myself out of bed but our toddler is up at the crack of dawn so we have little choice in our early alarm call haha! For some reason I decided at the beginning of the week that I would get up early rather then laze around for an hour or so in bed upon waking.

Wow! What a difference, I not only feel more awake when I get up but I am getting so much more work done, much more than just an hour's worth, I have also become more productive and actually feel like the business is moving forward once again

Does anyone else find they function better this way?
#changing #early #life
  • Profile picture of the author techbul
    I have developed this habit recently and I am willing to stick to it for as long as I possibly can. Worked wonders for me when everything falls as I have ample time for both work and fun!
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    • Profile picture of the author Vrs
      Ditto. I consider myself a night person as well, but there's no comparison that I've found to getting up early to get things done. I'm ALWAYS more productive when I'm on an early schedule.
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  • Profile picture of the author kellyyarnsbro
    Yup, I see more advantages when you start your day at the earliest time rather than waking up late and start to go to work at almost noon, it's even more healthier than starting at noon and staying up late at night.
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    • Profile picture of the author ElGuapo
      I went through a period where I was waking up at 5am each day. I'd make a pot of filter coffee, and have a couple of mugs while I focused on my goals for the day (I use an app called Things for this).

      There was something about the quiet and breaking light that made it a magic time. And I have never, ever been as productive as I was when I was waking at 5a - I just felt fitter and fresher throughout the day.

      Unfortunately, circumstances beyond my control mean I'm back to being a night owl, and it is a much more 'manual' task to be productive. I think there are many factors for this: perhaps the distractions of quality television not long after waking, catching up with the day's news, friends and family being more likely to be in contact, etc.

      But yeah. If you can wake early, definitely do it!
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      • Profile picture of the author polkadot100
        Thanks for your replies everyone. I can't believe something so simple has been such a revelation to me!

        ElGuapo I will check that app out
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  • Profile picture of the author Diversion52
    This is something that I've been meaning to implement for some while now. I am a serious night owl and I almost never go to sleep before between 3-4am. It hasn't really been a problem before, but now I'm struggling with my writing because the lack of mental energy. The only really viable option to remedy this in my mind is waking up earlier and eating more healthy foods.

    I just might start this today
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    • Profile picture of the author JamesLennon
      It sure does make a difference.
      I have been doing this for a while now and I find the first few hours of the day is when I get the most done.

      If I work after 7pm I get less and less done as time goes on.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ezra Wyckoff
    I've also, like mentioned above always tended to be a night owl, going to sleep around 3am and awaking around 10. Recently, I've made the commitment of waking up at 7am, but it has been tough for me to get sleepy early, around 11pm - 12am as my body is wired around that time.

    It doesn't help when you can wake up whenever you want because you have to be strict on yourself, I've been doing better the last few days, managing to get to sleep by 12 and when I do so and wake up at 7, I feel great once I get up and get going.

    Just wondering what time you guys go to bed for those waking up at 5am. Whew.
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  • Profile picture of the author BamaGuy
    Most of my productivity takes place early in the morning. Everyone is still asleep and I can actually focus a little more. It is hard for some people to remove themselves from the noisy environment especially when children are running around and wanting you to play with them all the time. I have 3 of them so I know how it is. But, knowing those early mornings are there to provide me an opportunity to get my day off to a great start is refreshing!
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  • Profile picture of the author PinkVelvet
    Polka, thanks for mentioning this little "early-bird" trick. I used to wake up late, feeling groggy and as if I had wasted a good portion of my day. Yesterday I woke up super early - at 4 A.M to start working on orders and have found that even at 9A.M, I am halfway through with my to do list.

    Looks like I'll be able to move on to some of my own projects by the end of the evening. I can't imagine having to look after a toddler while working from home so I bet you are exhausted by the end of the day. Hehe, watching the little one say "No" all the time while destroying your personal belongings or computer data can get pretty hectic. My niece used to do this all the time and it's kind of cute... Except the time she deleted all of my articles I wrote. LOL.

    Good luck to you and your DH - I am sure the two of you will get far with this type of attitude towards life and achieving your goals.
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    • Profile picture of the author jbyte
      Getting up early is great, but I think there is a fine line between too early and just right.
      I've had to experiment the times I get up so I am not too exhasted at the end of the day, week, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author polkadot100
      Originally Posted by PinkVelvet View Post

      Polka, thanks for mentioning this little "early-bird" trick. I used to wake up late, feeling groggy and as if I had wasted a good portion of my day. Yesterday I woke up super early - at 4 A.M to start working on orders and have found that even at 9A.M, I am halfway through with my to do list.

      Looks like I'll be able to move on to some of my own projects by the end of the evening. I can't imagine having to look after a toddler while working from home so I bet you are exhausted by the end of the day. Hehe, watching the little one say "No" all the time while destroying your personal belongings or computer data can get pretty hectic. My niece used to do this all the time and it's kind of cute... Except the time she deleted all of my articles I wrote. LOL.

      Good luck to you and your DH - I am sure the two of you will get far with this type of attitude towards life and achieving your goals.

      Thanks Haha yes this is so true, 'no' is her very fave word just now and she just loves to come and mash my keyboard while I type 4am!!! Well done, and here's me thinking 7am is early haha!

      It's a nice feeling being nearly done with all the 'have to do' stuff by 9am is't it?!
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  • Profile picture of the author GT
    It's interesting to hear the perspectives on getting up early! I am definitely a night person and used to be able to easily stay up working on my Internet business to 1 or 2 a.m. and be productive. Mornings just didn't do it for me.

    However, a few years ago (due to my spouse's schedule) I started getting up and hitting my home office at around 8 a.m. each day and now that I have developed that habit, I have found that I can get a lot done by lunch time. Only problem is, I start to fade around mid-night, most nights! lol

    GT
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    • Profile picture of the author heavysm
      I naturally tend to stay up rather then get up early. I even had a massive chance to form the amazing habit of waking up early (5am-ish) while i had a job for 2.5 years.

      But that slowly shifted to waking up towards 7 - 8am, which isn't bad but I'm pretty sure I'm just wired to stay up late and get up a little later.

      I can't even eat properly before around 10 - 11am. Before that my stomach gets weird and bloated, which never happens any other time in my life but in the morning with food lol.

      I can't properly focus when I wake up in the 5 - 7am range, which is pretty much daily now. Brain starts up naturally around 8 - 9am regardless of what i do (i do extensive workouts in the morning to get me started). And I don't drink coffee much anymore since that uses up money with the energy benefit.

      Sleep cycle doesn't matter much for my success, though of course i do feel productive when things get done early on. I would say working hard/smart no matter what time it is, and feeling positive and appreciated within your work is most essential for maintaining life purpose and meaning.

      Working that way can be life changing. But it really just depends on you.
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  • Profile picture of the author infomaniacs
    I am definitely a morning person, I get up at 4.30am during the week as my job starts early, but I also get up at the same time on the weekends. Amazing how much can be achieved while everyone else in the house is still asleep
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