Let me start by saying that I am not a morning person. I’m guilty of hitting the snooze button too many times and often rushing out the door in the morning. Last month, I started a new job with an earlier start time, and honestly, it gave me a lot of anxiety. I had to be out the door by 8 am to get to work on time, which meant a much earlier alarm. After a week of an early alarm, I noticed I started to wake up 10 minutes before my alarm went off, and I was well rested. My first thought was ew, I don’t like this. But the more I woke up early, the more I started to enjoy my mornings more. I didn’t feel as tired in the morning and enjoyed my new morning routine.

I’m not ready to have a full day of activities before 9 am like some people. I’m not going to the gym or meditating while journaling. Not there yet. I’ll make a cup of coffee, head upstairs to my bedroom, sit at my vanity, and slowly get ready. I still pack my lunch and pick out my outfit the night before. This allows me to have a morning to myself, and I’m not rushing.

I found that when the first thing I think of when I wake up is work, it sets a negative tone for the day. I’ve really enjoyed spending the morning doing things for myself instead. Actually enjoying a cup of coffee, running or unloading the dishwasher while waiting for my coffee to brew, watering the flowers, etc.

Even on weekends, I’m waking up with the sun, and as much as I want to roll over and sleep late, I don’t. I’ll get out of bed and make my way to the kitchen to make coffee before I go sit in the backyard with a book or bring a notebook to make a list of things to do for the day. I try to get as much done in the morning so I can spend my afternoons doing fun things.

Having that extra time in the morning during the work week, my weekends aren’t as filled with household chores because I try to get one thing done a day to keep up with it. I can get a lot more done in the day by waking up an extra hour earlier, leaving more time for fun things.

Now, when my early alarm goes off, I actually enjoy getting out of bed because I know that I will have some me time before I even think about work.

Maybe those morning people had the right idea after all?