Recently my husband and I have been trying something new. Waking up at 5 a.m.. Most of the time we wake up early but the challenge was more than just waking up early, it actually required more than drinking three pots of coffee and having bad hair until noon. Who am I kidding, sometimes bad hair can last for days!
Of coarse when we are working cattle, we get up at this time or earlier but that’s not the case everyday. With the colder mornings and shorter days…it’s a huge temptation to stay in bed just a little longer. It’s freezing in this big ole’ ranch house and it’s warm under this pile of blankets!!
The challenge consisted of three things in twenty minute segments.
5-5:20: Workout…get your blood flowing. Before coffee?!! Sounds crazy right?…
5:20-5:40: Plan, goal set, go over schedule, write a gratitude list
5:40-6: Learn something. For us that means getting in the Word. The need is real ya’ll!!
Now…5:00 a.m. is an early time to work out and I was a little doubtful that I could actually move at that time in the morning. But in reality it’s only the first 5 minutes that suck!!! After that, the sluggishness starts to disappear. I do admit sometimes I check to see if it’s 5:20 yet.
The planning and goal setting! I’ve enjoyed this tremendously. I don’t know, I’ve always loved list, so to me checking something off a list is completely satisfying to my nerdiness.
And the reading…man.!! Hallelujah!!! 20 minutes can fill me up with so much Word and intentional study that I am getting filled! The difference is the the timing to me. And at this point I am feeling wide awake and ready to receive what God has for me. I need Him so bad in my day and doing this early insure me that I will get my mind set on the right things. At 5:40…the phone doesn’t usually ring, so there’s no interruptions.
I’m telling you …I’m kinda in shock that I haven’t thrown in the towel! I’ve actually been sticking with it!! I’ve been doing for three weeks, so I’m sure no pro!
What has waking up early done for me and what it can do for you?
- I’ve gotten in a work out, reading, planning, and writing for my blog and for a couple publications before 8 a.m.
- It’s helped me face and do things I’ve been putting off
- I sleep better at night
- I am getting reading for the chores much earlier and getting after it
- I feel fit…even though it’s only been three weeks….and it’s only 20 minutes of workout. Go figure!
- I’m not missing time in the Word and feel I can face anything with God
- I feel a sense of accomplishment
- As a pastor’s wife I’m feeling less stress
- I’ve been menu planning and that means saving money…CHA CHING!!!
- I’m scheduling meetings consistently
- I’m tackling problems easier
- I’m a more efficient planner
…….And all this combined makes me happy, happy, happy!!!
The down side:
- I am tired by 11am but nothing a good lunch and a power nap can’t fix
- I drift if I don’t have my calendar and list in front of me
- If I don’t set my workout clothes out the night before, I get less of a workout
Overall, this challenge has been nothing but good and productive. Maybe it will be something that you’d like to try and I hope helpful if you’re feeling frustrated with your current schedule.
I really like what 2 Peter 1:5-9 NIV says about how we can keep our Christian lives productive. This list is a good one to keep in front of us so that we don’t drift in our daily walk.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.”
Has this been helpful to you? Is it something that you might try? I’d love to know what productivity tips you can share. Thank you for reading and I love hearing from you …..thecowboypastorswife
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