I get up at 5 AM most days. I like to sleep in on Saturdays and some Sundays but most weekday mornings I am up at 5AM. Do I like it? NO. Do I just want to turn off my alarm and go back to sleep? YES..more than you KNOW…well you probably do know! But I push through…drag my butt out of bed and get up.

Here’s my routine:

-Drink coffee (reduced caffeine from my wean) and read 30 minutes of personal development. (Currently I am reading, “Start.” by Jon Acuff) I have to have time to wake up in the mornings so I spend my first 30 minutes developing my brain, and focusing on my attitude and the way I see things while I enjoy a warm cup of joe. Personal development has changed my life and helped me go from being a pretty negative person to someone who seeks the positive and strives to better herself and those around her. I blame it SOLELY on personal development. (If you want a list of books I recommend for personal development please let me know). I make sure my coffee is set to be done brewing before I wake up-which my sweet husband usually takes care of.

-Workout for 30-60 minutes. If I don’t do this in the morning before my daughter is up and the day starts it simply does not get done. Every once in a while, I will convince myself that I will do it later in the day….it just doesn’t happen. Fitness is very important to me so making sure my workout is in good and early ensures that it will get done and I don’t have to think about it for the rest of the day. I make sure my workout clothes are laid out on the kitchen table the night before as well as a brush, hair tie, and shoes so I don’t have to wake up hubby when I change.

-Bible Study and breakfast (30 minutes). Another important and developing area in my life is God and spirituality. I do this last because I feel good after my workout and I feel happy. I love to learn about God when I’m happy. It’s also something that doesn’t get done if I try to wait until later when my daughter is up and housework and my business activities are calling. I also eat my breakfast at this time because it’s important to eat within 30 minutes of a workout to replenish losses.

Once these three things are done, my foundation for the day is set. I can go on to other things in the day and not worry that these vital things in my life weren’t done. Doing these three things early in the morning ensures (for the most part) that I can focus on them uninterrupted by kiddos, animals, and life in general.

My challenge: Pick something you’d like to get done every day that would make a positive impact on your life and try getting up 1/2 hour to an hour earlier than normal and before the kids are up and DO IT just for a week and let me know how it goes! You might find yourself getting up just to enjoy quiet and coffee before the chaos hits!