Chelsea and I are at day 9 of our 30 day early morning challenge. When I told Chelsea I was going to complete this challenge, she figured she may as well do it with me, and I am so glad she did! It has been remarkably successful and I can’t see myself changing this behaviour anytime soon. It had led to many additional successful habits. Here are a few things I’ve noticed.
- Great feelings of connection with my partner
I would say that the biggest surprise of the challenge is how doing it together has strengthened our relationship so much. Throughout the day, our energy levels are more aligned now, so it’s easier to connect when the natural energy cycles are flowing together. We have been feeling connected throughout the day, without a lot of negative energy. I used to not mind if Chelsea would sleep in later than me, but now both of us really see the value in maintaining the same sleep schedule. - Easier to keep the house clean!
First thing in the morning, I make the breakfast and clean, while she does the dishes and puts away the dishwasher. It’s a really great way to start the day, with a full belly and a clean kitchen. This makes it easier to maintain a clean kitchen throughout the day since the dishwasher and sink is empty. Now we can put dirty dishes right in the sink or dishwasher right away instead of having them piling up on the cupboard. I recently identified maintaining a more tidy house as an area I wanted to improve in, and getting up early has really helped with that. We are not neat freaks by any means, and I am sure my sister Kaylyne would still find it a bit dirty for her likings 🙂 , but it’s good enough for us slovenly types. - There’s not a lot of value being had after midnight
When I told my Dad about the 30 day challenge. He gave me a line that his mother used to always say: “Nothing good ever happens after midnight”. Grandma Aldea would always worry about her boys being out until 3 or 4 AM. “What were you doing out that late?” she would ask. The boys answer would always be the same, “Nothing!”. I am positive that their answer of “Nothing” was correct, and it sure makes for a late start the next day! Even if I am drinking at the bar, it’s a big improvement to shut down the partying around 10 or 11 PM anyways. The new COVID rules are an opportunity, not a threat! - When I need to do errands, the stores are always open
With waking up at 8 AM on the weekend, I find I am usually done my main work for the day by around 2 PM. So this leaves lots of time left for running errands even if things close at 5 or so. On work days, there is always enough time to finish work around 4:30 or 5, go for a walk, have supper, watch a show, and then still get to the YMCA for a swim or a workout before they close at 10. It seemed like I was always pushing the late envelope before, the later a store or gym was open, the later I would show up there. - It’s much easier to maintain a workout routine
Since we are more consistent with our wakeup time, there is always time now for a workout. Chelsea typically starts work at 10:30 AM, so now we can get our workout and a quick nap in before Chelsea has to start getting ready. When our wakeup times were more variable, there were a lot of days where we couldn’t fit in a workout before Chelsea was off to work, this has been vastly improved now and working out togheter helps us fill up our love energy for each other for the day.
We have 21 more days left in the 30 day challenge and it has been nothing but positive, other than a few groggy early mornings. 🙂 Take care!