So, I’ve been slacking in the Get Up Early department over the last 5-6 weeks. We’ve been traveling and sick and, in all honesty, after a l-o-n-g year, I was tired. Because of the traveling and sickness, we were off our usual routine, so getting up later worked out.
But now it’s 2016, we’re back home from all of our traveling, and it’s time to get back on a great routine. Since I’ve cleared a lot of the excess from my schedule this year, I’m especially excited to get back on a routine — because the routine is so much simpler and doable this year!
Jesse and I went out on a breakfast date on New Year’s Day and we went over his goals for this coming year. One thing we both realized quickly, was that one thing that would make a significant difference for our family and for his goals for 2016 would be for us to make a very consistent morning routine a priority.
I’ve had a good morning routine for quite some time, but we haven’t had a consistent morning routine for our whole family. So that’s one of our big focuses for 2016.
And one of the big things we’re going to attempt to make a habit is both Jesse and me getting up at 5 a.m. every week day morning.
But Isn’t This Your Year of Rest??
It might seem counter intuitive for me to be jumpstarting my Year of Rest with a commitment to get up at 5 a.m. every weekday morning. However, in order to get up early every day, we’re also making a commitment to go to bed between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. every single night.
I’ve found that I feel so much more rested when I go to bed early. And it’s very easy for me to get up early when I’ve gotten at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. So while at face value it might seem like this is challenge flies in the face of my Year of Rest, it’s actually helping to encourage and facilitate my Year of Rest.
Why 5 AM?
We chose 5 a.m. because we looked at what we wanted to accomplish in the mornings before our kids get up and after our kids get up and felt like it was the perfect time to give us enough time and margin to get done what we need to accomplish.
We have both gotten up at 5 AM consistently in the past, so we know this is a time that we can stick with — especially if we’re both committed to it! 🙂
How Will It Work?
I’m going to be blogging between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. CT with a little update on what time I got up and how the Get Up Early Challenge is going. You all are going to serve as my accountability partners in this. 🙂
I’ll also be scoping about The 5AM Miracle book on Periscope every day between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. CT. (I read this book yesterday and found so many helpful insights in it!)
If you’d like to tune in, you can download the Periscope app and then follow me (I’m @MoneySavingMom on Periscope).
Would You Like to Join Me?
If you’d like to join me, here’s what I’d love for you to do:
- Choose what time is realistic for to get up each morning. Please be sure you’re getting enough sleep and it’s a time that works for your unique needs and family situation.
- Leave a comment on this post letting me know that you’re in and what time you’ve chosen.
- Check in on my daily morning post and/or my daily scope and leave a comment to let me know how you are doing with getting up early. I’m excited to all be encouraging each other in this endeavor!
P.S. Yes, I’m doing the 500 Things Decluttering Challenge and the Get Up Early Challenge starting on Monday. My Decluttering posts will go up around 2 p.m. CT. each week day. You can participate in one or both challenges — or just skip both altogether. It’s totally your choice! 🙂
I need to get up early. I’m starting at 6am
Hi Crystal! I want to join. I need to join, but I struggle with knowing what time is reasonable for me to get up. I struggle with IBS and neck pain which disturbs my sleep. I can go to bed at 10 and wake up at 7, technically getting 9 hours of sleep and wake up feeling like I only got 4 or 5 hours of sleep. I wake up a lot to go to the bathroom and sometimes I can wake up at 3 and not go back to sleep. I feel a lot of guilt for sleeping til 8 or 9 on my days off work. On the days I work I come home a lot to take a nap. I have no energy to do much else. It’s tough because I have little time to do things when I am off because I sleep late, but I have the energy to do at least a few things in the day. I’m really struggling with what to do. I feel I need to just focus on getting the sleep I need and doing what I can with my day….that’s what one side of my brain says. :-/
I wake up at 5 am every weekday by an alarm clock set to music. On the weekends I allow myself to wake up naturally, and it’s usually somewhere close to that same time, depending on if I stayed up late on Friday or Saturday night!
Good Morning,
I am starting Monday aka tomorrow. My goals Wakeup time: 4 am & Bedtime: 9 pm. Good luck everyone!
Looks like in a late starter, too. Hmmm….this challenge looks like it’s gonna be perfect for me! I’m starting tomorrow at 5am. Yay!
This sounds great! I will be up at 5 a.m.
I am IN. That said, I promise to go to bed earlier when I can.
I am an Insomniac. My hubby also has crazy schedule…Sometimes he has Early Field and Other Times he ha Late Field. So we go to bed at different times. I am often up all night. That is when I get most of my stuff done.
I Promise to go to bed when he does or shortly after. I can’t promise to fall asleep and I have learned it does me no good o stay in bed when I can’t sleep.
I am joining late but will plan to go to bed by 10:30, wake at 5:30. My plan is: 5:30-6 time with God, pray, thankful journal. 6-6:45 exercise. 6:45-7:15 shower, dress, make hubby’s lunch and talk with hubby before he leaves at 7:15. Make to-do list. 7:30 Wake kids and read “Jesus Calling for Kids” devotional with them while they eat. 8:45 kids to school, go to work, tackle to-do list.
I’m jumping in late, but I totally need to do this! I’m going to go for 6am wake up time. We love the snooze button and end up being late everyday, which is no fun at all! Hope we can stick to it!
Is it too late to join this challenge? I REALLY need to try this, some days if I don’t wake up before my toddler I never even get dressed.=( Plus I need to get serious about exercise and realistically early morning is the only time I’m going to get to do that….And, since my husband has to leave by 6:15am on the weekdays, I guess I’m joining the 5am-ers! Here goes…
I’m coming in late but hoping to start on Monday at 6am!
I’m signing up late but have already started this past week getting up at 6am. I would like to push it to 5:45am but need to work on getting to bed on time. That’s the hard part for me. Thanks for the challenge and motivation to do this!
I just caught this today and I’m trying to get back into my early morning routine. I’m in for this challenge and I’m going to be waking at 5am.
I plan to get up at 6am every day!
Ooh this sounds fun! I will be getting up at 5am 🙂
I started today. It’s funny because this was my New Year’s resolution, and then I read my email and found some encouragement and support as well! Great to know I’m not the only one 🙂 I recommend the I Can’t Wake Up app, there is no way you can sleep through it.
I definitely need to do this. I am going to start this on Monday, at 5am! I hope this gets me more organized and less stressed! Thanks for sharing!
I’m in! I’m going to get up 30 min earlier than usual so 6 am. That will be my quiet time with God.
Does anyone else like to play with their snooze button??!!
That is a culprit of mine to not get out of bed on time. So, my alarm will go off at 5:30 and I will get out of bed at 5:50!
Thank you for this challenge! It makes a world of difference when you have me-time with the Lord first in your day!
Hello, I’m late to the party but I’m Here!!! I just started a new job this year and I want to be productive and intentional in order to meet my goals. So I will start my get up early challenge at 5:15am. Good Luck to every one and so far you all are doing great. Proud to be a part. Just got to remember where I through the cell phone in the morning to shut off the alarm. LOL, live life to enjoy the moments…
I’m in with a wake up time of 7. I had been on medication that messed up my sleep. So 7 will be early for me.
4:50 am!
I’m starting at 6 am for the next 2 weeks, then switching to 5 am because I just took a job as a substitute teacher and I start in 2 weeks. The calls for jobs start at 5am so it’s the perfect time for me!
I’m starting this a little late but my wake up time goal is 5:30!
6:00 am for starters!! I need to do this !!!
My question is do you take a nap later in the day? In order for me to get enough sleep, I’d have to be in bed – asleep – at 9 p.m. My kids are teenagers and that just doesn’t work for this stage in my life. I really DO want to get up earlier, but how do you manage this? I’d love to get an hour of writing in every day before any one is up, but I just don’t see going to sleep at 9 p.m. as feasible.
I’m going to do this as well as the Go to Bed Early Challenge you told us about. I LOVE my kids but so enjoy the quiet, peaceful evenings after they go to bed. I use the time to catch up on emails, do church stuff, and sometimes clean. But I would love to get up early and be more productive and have more time for myself before they get up. However, it seems like the earlier I get up, the earlier they get up. My goal is to wake up at 6:30am (except when I work overnight once a week). And one morning I’ll get up at 5:10am for a spin class.
I started on Monday, 6am for me!
I’m starting this late too. I hope that’s ok. I’ve really struggled with getting up in the mornings and how wroth the accountability this will no longer be an issue. I’m going to start waking at 5am so I have time to do a daily devotional or bible reading and meditate on that before heading out the door by 630am for school and work.
Hi everyone. I shall wake up at 6am tomorrow for starters.
I am going to start early rise at 6. I would love to do 530 but my toddlers silk wake occasionally so I don’t always get a full night sleep.
I am so late joining the challenge, it I hope it’s ok:) Tues and Thursday I am already up at 4:35 am to take my teenager to the gym, but the rest of the days I have been slacking till he needs to get ready for school. I commit to getting up at 5 am the rest of the week to get the projects done that keep getting put on the back burner . Thanks for the encouragement !!
I am going to start with 6:00 and try to work my way to 5:00…..Thank you for the encouragement!
I’m in!!!!! I’ve decided that this year instead of New Year resolutions that I will either change or just ditch , I’m going to just change habits ( you know the ones that you always can see and be annoyed by in someone else but you yourself do also) and this is #5 on my list of twenty. My early to rise time is 6am.
I just wanted to pass on some encouragement to the moms of babies and toddlers. I have 4 children with the youngest being 3 years old. I started my early to rise journey about 2 years ago. It has impacted my life in many profound ways. However, most nights I am able to get a full night’s sleep with few or no interruptions. If I had tried to set a 5 am wake time 4-5 years ago, I’m sure I would have failed most days due to a crazy overnight- several of our kids have had awful sleep issues! As a driven person, I would have blasted myself for my lack of self discipline. Now, as my older “wiser” self ?, I can see that it really does take a good nights rest to be able to wake up and use the morning well, not just heaps of self-discipline in the morning. (The self discipline comes in going to bed on time!) I hope you are able to extend yourself the grace that I probably wouldn’t have back in those early days. It does get easier (in some ways)!
Thank you for this! I’ve got 3 children ages 4 and under. Everyone was in a fairly consistent routine and Luis youngest even slept 8pm-3am until November 2015. We were all hit with a round of sickness and everyone has been in sleep regression since then. My youngest is waking every 1-2 hrs and only calms with me and not hubby. I thrive when I wake early…if I get consistent sleep. And I NEED sleep. So I’m feeling overwhelmed, almost back in “newborn” mode…but without the newborn. I desire so much to get rest and wake early and continue to beat myself up over it. It’s difficult to have a desire (and seemingly good one!) And be hit with the reality of impossibility in this season …and try to give myself grace. So, thanks you for this encouragement!
I HAVE to do this. I got off track this winter. Let’s say 5:30 A.M. That’s doable and almost completely necessary for me to actually get my blogging done before the kiddos wake.
I have been saying to myself for the last 2yrs that I am going to do this challenge…..well 2yrs has come and gone and NO CHALLENGE. I want 2016 to be different. Hopefully if I am held accountable, it will happen. I also think, being part of YOUR CHALLENGE and reading other readers comments will give me the motivation that I need.
Oops forgot to put my wake up time: 6:45am.
I started today at 6:45am.
I started today! 6 am!
I plan to start on Monday and I will be starting my second week of makeover mornings. My target time to get up is 7am, God has been calling me to do this die quite some time. Thankful for this opportunity to join with others for the positive encouragement.
I started setting up early about a week ago. I set my alarm to get up at 6 AM; workout, & read my devotional & bible reading for the day. This has been a complete game changer! I feel more rejuvenated, energized & ready for the day! Now, I have to admit I am totally NOT am morning person! But understanding how my body feels physically, emotionally & spiritually after feeding my body exactly what it needs for the day is just amazing! I love Crystal that you are doing this because I know I am not alone & that motivation is right there!
Thank you!!
I’m in. I really needed this. I used to get up at 3:00 am Mon-Fri to be at work at 4:30 am. Once I stopped working three years ago, I stopped sleeping with a alarm clock. Just got up when I finished sleeping. I seem to get nothing done with the schedule and always behind doing things. I’m going for 5:00 am.
I will leave bed by 7AM, and go straight to coffee and s book to wake up. The cold snap makes getting out of bed even more difficult
Thank you! yes I will aim for an extra 12 hours a week and join you in the 5 AM rising 🙂
Okay, I’m in! I am NOT a morning person. My husband and I both roll out of bed at 6:45 to leave our house by 7:05. We don’t have children yet, but we do have pets to tend to (take outside and feed) during that 20 minutes. That basically means we are rushing and many days I barely even have on make-up heading out the door to work. I would love to get up early enough to actually have time to get ready for work, pack our lunches without rushing, eat breakfast, and do my quiet time with God before I leave the house. Oh and drink a cup of coffee or two that I can enjoy during that time instead of in my to-go mug. I’m going to aim to start getting up at 5 am next Monday to start my new week off right!
I’m not a mom and I’m retired, but I’d still like to be a part of your challenge! I plan on getting up consistently at 7am, not just when I have an appointment. I’ll spend time reading my bible, eating a healthy breakfast and working on a backload of tasks I wasn’t able to accomplish over the last year. My mother passed away in October and I spent much of her last 9 months taking care of her. Since her death, it has been hard for me to get motivated. I’m hoping this challenge will help me move ahead in a positive manner.
I’m in! 5:30am for me. But I’ve a question : do you still eat breakfast with the family or do you just eat on your own?
We eat together as a family — around 8 a.m.
Thanks for your fast response. But I’m wondering if I can realistically last till the kids wake up for their breakfast! I may just have to at least get some caffeine in my blood! Lol!
I’m totally in!
I never would have thought of getting up EARLIER since I always feel like I never get enough rest as it is, but I think this is going to be great. Normally, I work on my blog about 2 hours at night after I put the babies to bed, but it’s SOOO hard to focus at that time since I’m already drained from the day!
I think going to bed earlier and waking up earlier is going to be so good for me (I stay up wayyy too late anyhow)!
So my wake up time is going to be 5:30am. Thanks for the challenge Crystal 🙂
I’m in, starting with 5:45 am — thanks! : )
My goal time is 5:30…and not pressing snooze (probably the hardest part for me! Sometimes I press snooze for an HOUR 😮 ) With that, I am also committing to throw in my typical midnight – 1am bedtime, for 10:30. I really am productive at night and a total night owl, but I love the idea of being more of a morning person…will commit and give it a go! Thanks for doing this 🙂
I suffer from severe insomnia which requires strong rx meds. However, I want so badly to be able to wake early and accomplish my goals this year. So, I AM IN!!! However, due to the nature of my sleep (or lack thereof), I will commit to waking between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. daily. Thanks for the motivation!
Count me in!! Im an early riser by nature, but I accomplish nothing. I would like the accountability and reading other peoples happenings.
I juat saw this…..I’m in! So need this! 5am for me….otherwise there just isn’t time for me to have quiet time with God and exercise. Thanks for the motivation
I think I accidentally also replied to a comment – I was trying to post tho!
I just saw this and definitely need to do this! I need to get more sleep and need to be in bed by 10:30 PM or earlier! My mind is always on getting things done, but I’m getting better with my OCD. 🙂 One of my resolutions is also more relaxation. I should be getting up earlier than 6 AM though, but I will stick to 6 AM for now. I’m a little late, but it’s better late than never!
6 am is a great start!
My goal is 6:00. That is super early compared to a year ago! I have never regularly gotten up that early in my life but with no babies in the house for the first time in 22 years, it is time! Thanks for the challenge, I need an occasional kick in my back end lol
Just stumbled on this post and it was EXACTLY what I needed. My word for the year is Achieve …. and getting up on time to make my morning routines less hectic is one goal. I will be getting up at 4am (but going to bed by 9:30)
Thanks so much for featuring my book Crystal! I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it and I hope it helps to inspire your audience to dominate their day before breakfast!
I’m in. Will aim for 5:30 AM. My goal is to exercise in the morning and get a start on supper so we have more family time in the evenings.
Hi, I’m in! This was part of my being intentional this year. I will be trying 5:30 but realistically 6:00 will probably be better. I have a hard time not waking my husband and he works until midnight. Thanks! Dori
I am in! My time is 4:45. It will give me time to work out, shower and be ready for work before the kids get up for school.
Hi Crystal,
I love this challenge. I have a question about when you had little kids. My three are 15 months, 2 1/2 and 4 1/2. Before I saw this post I had committed to getting up at 5:30 a.m. to try to sneak in at least 15 minutes alone before my kids got up.
I am feeling discouraged because last year they woke up at 7 am, I would get up at 6 am and had an incredibly productive time. Shortly after I got in a routine, they started waking up at 6! I was so frustrated.
This time around, I decided since I am still up a lot in the night with kids, I would just try to get up a half an hour early. Now my little guy is up at 5 am on the nose, but is extremely grumpy so I can’t do anything either.
I’m trying to be patient with this season. Did you find whenever you tried to take steps forward, sleep was sabotaged? Was there an age when mornings got a little easier?
Thanks for your time and honesty! My husband and I are so excited to do our first Make Over Your Year session tonight! Bless you!
I tried to be super flexible when my kids were that age! Even now, if my 3 and 4 year old get up when I do, I let them play on my phone or watch Thomas or Veggie Tales while I get ready, work out, or read my Bible nearby. Sometimes I have to read my Bible to them and pray with them as my quiet time. It is a season. My oldest is now 22 and I am finally realizing just how fast the seasons go! It won’t be long until these little ones want to sleep as late as I will let them 😉
I’m in! I’ll be getting up at 5:30am! I’ve just started your MOYM course last Monday and it’s already helping SO MUCH!! By nature, I’m a night owl, so early bedtimes and mornings are a struggle for me, but I also know it’s the best way for me to serve my family in our current season.
I’ll be getting up at 4:45 CST each morning. I plan to journal, read, pray or plan for my day. I think each day will be different. I find I function better when I start my day gently with intent and reflection.
Oooh, this sounds like a great challenge but a step too far for me right now – I’m up throughout the night nursing so I’m still waiting for a night of uninterrupted sleep (5 months and counting so far! 😀 )
2016 for us is all about figuring out and getting into a new routine now we’re a family of four.
I’m in! I had started this last year but since the end of October I’ve been really sick with one thing after another. I’m finally getting over the latest bout of bronchitis and really want to get back into having some “me” time. I’m going to commit to 5:30 AM. I’m in England so I’ll be getting up about the time most everyone else is going to bed! ?
I’m in and aiming for 5:15am PST Mon-Sat. Kids are typically up around 6:30 to leave for school at 7:20/7:30. My husband is an ER doc with a shift schedule that is all over the place, so no partnering up for me at this point in time.
From 5:15-6:15 I’d like to (ideally) read for ~15 minutes, exercise 20-30 minutes and pay more attention to getting myself dressed & ready for the day (including checking my planner!!!). Setting an alarm for 6:15 to shift into Mom-mode. May shift a little earlier once I’m actually out of bed and moving consistently by 5:15!
I’m in! Major night owl here, but it is officially effecting myself and my homeschooled children too negatively to stay up until 2-4am every night. I have a very intense emotional situation that has definitely aided to my sleep habits, please pray I can make changes that are so necessary! My wake-up commitment right now is 7. Hopefully I move it up a bit to 6-6:30 after I own 7am ?
I am in on this challenge. Hope to be in bed by 9:30pm too. Getting enough sleep has been one of my greatest challenges so I am totally in for this.
We have had some very recent changes in our family that had my husband & I talking about the fact that I may need to start getting up earlier on weekdays to make our family routine run smoother in the mornings. This is just what I need right now! My committed time to get up on the weekdays is 6:30am. Thank you for doing this!
I was pretty good about getting up early having my q.t. exercising, n doing some chores. But then I started experiencing sleepless nights, which made it hard to get up at all. But now I don’t have as many of these nights. It really is the the worst thing to not get a good night’s sleep. I’m shooting for 5:30am.
I’m in for both challenges. Now to just make an extra copy of myself so that the three littles will stay asleep when I leave their two foot radius. I am looking forward to the sweet blessings both of these challenges have the potential for giving my family.
Thanks for your initiative.
I’m in. My time is 5am (and my 7 month old makes sure of that), but more importantly to get to bed earlier and stick with my morning routine so I don’t feel like I have to stay up later to get everything done when everyone else is sleeping.
We’re in! Hubs and I both just said 6 a.m. until summer, then back to 5 a.m. Same reason here, will getter a better handle on the day before 6 kids wake up, and enable us to get to bed by 10pm.
I’m in! 6am is when my alarm goes off but Im a big fan of the snooze button. Ive always been a nighr owl so getting up early is a challenge for me. Looking forward to getting my quiet time and workout accomplished before family wakes up. Thanks Crystal!
I’m in. I’m committing to getting up at 7am. Being a night owl, this is going to be a significant change for me.
Yes! Planned on starting this today (before seeing this post) – my time being 6 AM, but a sick kid at 2:30AM thwarted my plan. So tomorrow will be my start day! The holidays really did me in and my motivation has been nil – ready to get going!
Thanks for the motivation – I NEED this. I have always been a nightowl, so I make lots of plans for the hours after my kids go to bed. However, the majority of nights I am just too tired to accomplish much at night. We have lots to do in our journey to pay off debt and reach financial semi-independence. I might be more productive if I just bite the bullet and set my alarm for earlier. The alarm will be set for 6:30 tomorrow (yes, that’s early for me).
Do you find that it’s easier to get up early if you plan something somewhat enjoyable for the morning? For me, that might be blogging/writing.
Yes! I totally find I’m more motivated to get up if I have something to do that I look forward to!
I’m in!!!!
Hey Crystal! Thank you so much for doing this challenge! What’s so funny is that I decided yesterday to start getting up at 5am (2 hours earlier than usual).. And, then your periscope popped up this morning with the challenge! Yay! My goal is to be able to have more time to focus and work on my blog. (which has been extremely challenging with a toddler and very few breaks. ;)) I know that I won’t be able to do this everyday due to staying up late for a myriad of reasons and my husband being on a waaay different schedule. But, I figure if I only do it at least 3 days a week, then I have gained 6 hours! So, here we go!! 😉
Yay! I love this comment and perspective!
I am going to try 5a and see how it goes!
I’m in! 5 am it is for me too. My alarm actually always goes off at 5, but I’m a queen snoozer, sometimes without even knowing it. No more snoozing. Hubs leaves for work at 6, and we usually have breakfast together around 5:45. So When I hit snooze till 5:30 I don’t really have any time before breakfast. When I get up at 5, I can do my quiet time/ bible study before breakfast, then I usually blog from 6-7 before kiddos wake!
My 2 goals with this challenge are:
1.) actually get out of bed at 5
2.) UNDISTRACTED blogging time from 6-7 (or whenever they wake). no accidental web surfing.
I LOVE your goals! Thanks so much for sharing!
I’m in too! My goal is 5:00 too but most days I’m in bed til 5:30 but those 30 mins make a huge difference
I am going to try 6:00. I am not a morning person. But really want to be. Pray for me.
I’m in. I am shooting for 5 am. I love mornings and I have been wanting to start getting up earlier too. I feel the same way you do about my day more productive when I get up earlier. I am also planning to work on the decluttering challenge. I am excited to watch the periscope videos.
I am in! I will commit to getting up around 6am – and will be more intentional about going to bed earlier starting tomorrow evening!
I’m going to commit to getting up at 7:10 A.M. It’s the time my husband gets up for work and it works for me so I can do some work and prepare for homeschooling before my daughter gets up. I’ve never been a morning person but I’ve found that getting up at this time makes the rest of the day work so much better. Maybe I am a morning person because it makes my day so much happier.
I’ll do it! I’ve been getting up at 5 am each morning for while now, so hopefully this will just be added “fun”. However, my 5 am is your 4 am, so can you please move to EST so I can join your Periscopes live? 😉
I’m going to commit to getting up at 7am.
I am in! 5:30 a.m. is my time. That will give me a whole hour before my husband and kids wake up!
I am in!!! I will be getting up at 6 am to start. I am way more a morning person so this will be perfect.
I’m in! So need this! 5am for me….otherwise there just isn’t time for me to have quiet time with God and exercise. Thanks for the motivation!
Count me in! This was one of my New Years commitments… The past year was so busy and challenging… new baby, started homeschooling a four year old… somewhere along the line I let myself go a little… I’ve just been sleeping in until the kids wake up, usually around 9:30 to 10:00 every morning and I really feel like I haven’t been doing the best I can for my family. I also gained around 15 pounds as a result of my laziness so I will be up at 5 am to workout, pray and read my Bible and just get a head start on taking care of my home and family. Thanks for the encouragement to get it going and God bless you and your family 🙂
Are you out of your every loving mind! I know 5pm, but purposefully finding 5am. eh.
I’m in, starting at 6 am. 🙂
I am in and going to try getting up around 6:30. I want to get up earlier to give myself more time to get ready for work and to hopefully get to work earlier. If I gave myself the time I need in the morning I would feel better throughout the day.
My 4 month old wakes every two hours after midnight, so, I can’t guarantee a set wake time for myself. Instead, I’ll say, I’ll stay up at his last feeding during the “night.” It will be early enough to still put him back down as well as early enough before the other three kids wake up. You see, it’s at this feeding time I just bring him to my bed and crash with him til the whole house is up, but I know, I need this time for myself and to be more productive. I estimate this time to be anywhere between 4 and 6:30ish.
I am excited about these challenges! I will get up by 5:30 am each day this week. My word for the year is “simplify” and I think that this 14-day declutter program will be a great start for my goals to clean out extra stuff! Thanks, Crystal!
Hey Rachel, I love your word for the year!! Ours is similar to yours. We are going with intentionally simple. Blessing for a wonderful simple year for you!
5:00 a.m. sounds really good. I actually get up at 3:30 a.m. because my husband and one son leave around 4:10 a.m. After fixing one of their lunches and microwave a breakfast (and they leave for work), I do my hair and makeup, pray and read the Bible by 6:00 a.m. Friday night is the only night I get 7 or more hours sleep. I’d really love to go to bed early but usually there’s too much going on. I definitely agree with how much you can accomplish when you get up early. I usually have my house straightened up, vacuumed and/or bathroom cleaned before leaving for the day.
Karen in MD
How do you actually go to sleep when you go to bed earlier? That’s been my biggest issue. I’ve gone to bed at 10:00-10:30 & still been awake at 2:00 am. I wear a sleep mask, just purchased night lights & ear plugs, drink chamomile tea & have recently been taking melatonin before bed.
I’m in!! I’ll be waking up at 6 am. I love doing this as a group! So fun!!
I’m in. My wake up time will be 6:00 to start. Once I see how that goes for a few weeks I may change it to 5:30. ! This will be a big challenge for me as I love sleeping (like really, really love sleeping! :), but I need to make a change!
Put me down for 5:45. I have three boys under six, so I definitely need the balance of rest and productivity!
5:00
I generally get up everyday around 5:30-6 am. My daughter consistently gets up around 6:30-7 and I need to be up and showered and ready to go by the time she gets up.
I’m in! 4:30AM for me 🙂
I’m in! I get up at 7:30 three days a week on the days I babysit for my sister. I would like to consistently get up at the same time everyday. The other days I get up around 9:30 (when my children wake up) and I always feel like I’m behind right off the bat.
Count me in ! My big challenge is hitting the snooze button…I have put the alarm clock in the other room but once I turn it off I’m still capable of turning it off and going back to bed !?However this interrupted sleep pattern is neither refreshing nor restful. I’ll be getting up at 5:30 – a realistic goal as I’m usually in bed and asleep by 10 pm! good luck everyone!
I’m am totally in for both challenges! It is one of my New Year’s Resolution to get up earlier than usual and it’s so good to have accountability. I’ll be starting my day at 5:00 A.M! Yay!! My baby is now sleeping through the night and I’m excited to get back into a regular routine. Along with looking forward to waking up early, decluttering my home, which is in a desperate need of relief, is on the top of my list this month.
6:30 for me
I am going to get up every day at 5:45 and be in bed between 930 and 10 PM
I am in Chrystal. This is exactly what I need right now and it has become my new years resolution. I have always struggled in this area. After going through 4 pregnancies (5 babies), and suffered from chronic fatigue it is so difficult to start an effective morning routine. I homeschool my kids and I want to train them to be productive. I am excited to join you on this challenge and hope it helps me. *side note – I just purchased ur book on kindle, was so HAPPY when I saw it for $2.99.
I work 3 days a week and get up around 5 AM those days. I’m going to start getting up at the same time on TU/TH now that my 9 mo daughter is waking up less during the night. Unfortunately, now my 3 yo son is hitting a scared phase and crawls in our bed every night. I’m still going to do this though, because, even if I’m tired, my days are much smoother when I wake up early.
Totally in! I just ordered the book from Amazon. I always WANT to get up early but stay up too late and just can’t manage it . . . maybe this will give me the kick in the pants I need!
I’m in!
I am in for 5am!
I am committing to get up at 5:00 each morning. This should give me enough time to pray, read my Bible, exercise, and still give me a few minutes to work on my blog. I plan on revisiting “Make Over Your Mornings” as well.
I would like to set my goal for 6am getting up and 9:30/10pm bedtime. I’m not a morning person, but I do so much better if I’ve gotten myself ready and settled for the day.
I currently wake up at 5:30 each morning. My problem is that I have been letting myself stay in bed till 6 or 6:30 (checking Facebook on my tablet, etc….). I know it would be so much more profitable and I would enjoy my day better if I would get out of bed when I wake up. So, I am IN. For sure! I need accountability, so this is good for me.
I’m in for both challenges. I plan to get up at 6, and stop the habit of hitting the snooze button! A huge part of this for me will be making sure I am going to bed earlier.
Woohoo! You can do it! I’m cheering for you!
Just saw this, I love it! I will join you at 5:00 a.m. I was doing well (up at about 5:20) until I had surgery right before Thanksgiving and have been slacking. Thanks for the inspiration!
I am completely on board. My life has done another transition and I am a WAHM now, starting some independent ed consulting and instructional design. With my two boys, ages 5 and 7, I want to capitalize on the morning hours to get myself anchored with quiet time, exercise, and organization…then, be available for my family when they wake and have my work hours built into the day.
I’m in!! I’m still deciding on a time though . My 5 month old has just started sleeping all night. And is waking up between 6:15-6:45 . I’m debating on 5 or 530 for me! Looking forward to it AND decluttering!
How wonderful your 5 month old is sleeping through. I want to join the challenge but mine is still getting up every 2 hours. I will have to join this challenge when her schedule is a little more predictable.
I’m in! I’ve decided to train for a half marathon in April so starting Monday I will be running at the gym Monday and Wednesday mornings. Those days I will be up by 435. The others I will workout at home and 5am it is! I’m not a morning person so super excited to see how this goes!
I will getting up at 5:30, getting ready for my day and then crawling back into bed with my 10 yr old. She sets her alarm for 6:00 when she really doesnt need to get up until 6:30 so she can snuggle for a bit before school. I am not willing to lose those am snuggles quite yet, so i crawl back into bed fully dressed 🙂 Too soon she will feel lile she is too big for my bed.
What time did you normally wake up? I need to do this, my “excuse” is I love sleep and rarely get a good nights sleep. I could do so much more if I woke up earlier. Right now I wake up at 7:15a leave my house at 7:35 to be at work at 8:00. Luckily Im a tom boy and work in construction so I don’t have to look good at work.
I had been getting up sometime between 6 and 6:30… but in December, it was more like 6:45 to 7:30.
I’ve been getting up at 5:00 a.m. for a very long time. This is the only quiet time I have most days. I read my Bible, blog, and prepare for the day. Then I make breakfast and lunch, get dressed, and we are out the door before 7:30ish. My average day is 17 hours long. Good luck to all who are accepting the challenge.
I am curious as to what time your kids go to bed and wake up. Mine are close in age to yours (11, 9, 7) and they go to bed around 8:30 p.m. My oldest gets himself up at 6:15 every day and I get the younger two up at 7:00 a.m. Hubby and I are up by 5:30 each day. I just feel like I need 1 hour after the kids go to bed to unwind a bit before I can go to bed… and on nights when we have outside meetings/commitments it can be close to 10 before I even get into pajamas! The going to bed early is my biggest challenge!
Our kids are going to be in bed by 7:30 (they can read for a little while in bed) and then get up at 7:00 a.m.
My husband and I were just talking about how we need to get up early if we want to achieve our goals this year, so your challenge is right on time! I’m going to commit to waking up at 6am, since I’m in my third trimester and I need to get a little extra sleep these days. 🙂 Thanks for hosting this challenge!
Yes, you definitely need some extra sleep! But yay! So glad you’re joining us!
I’m in! I commit to 530. Yay!
I am in. Baby is finally sleeping through the night and it’s time for me to get back in routine! Shooting for 6:00 to start.
I know early to bed makes early to rise work, but could you give some insight on getting to bed that early, please? I am a morning lark at heart, but just can’t get myself to bed once I FINALLY get the kids (and there are 7 of them 3-18–not that I put the 18 yo in bed!) there (yep, that’s a problem, and always has been, too!)
I’m In! I’m in private practice and have been in the habit of coming in whenever my first patient is scheduled–sometimes 8, sometimes 9. I’m committing this year to getting up and getting there by 7:30 each day so I can get in and get my work done and get home to spend time with my family each afternoon/evening. Your challenge will be the perfect way to jump start this habit!
I am in but 6am for me will have to work. also I am going to read up on your decluttering challange, I sure need to work on my house. 🙂 thank you so much. I love your blog, and your books and you cutie pie kiddies.
Aw, thank you so much! And so glad you’re joining us!
After 12 years of being a stay-at-home-mom, then 5 years of working many part-time-jobs, I started a full time job(that I LOVE) last Monday so I can take any help I can get. I will have a schedule and need a routine to help our family made the transition and to succeed.
Hi!! Haven’t you ever heard of the 5 o’Clock Club? Started by Mary Kay Ash in the 60’s – all MK consultants learn to be a part of this special club from the get go….Mary Kay shares how many days you can “add” to your life just by getting up one hour early…and how much ore you can get done…In fact I have read this idea in nearly every book by a successful person that I have read – it’s one of the top tips shared by people who manage to get so much done. 🙂
I hadn’t heard of that Club by Mary Kay! Fascinating and interesting — thanks for sharing!
I used the Olive Garden discount today and saved over $6.00 on the take out. Thank you Crystal.
Yay!!
I am so in! I have been getting a little lazy and oversleeping late and it is showing in my lack of productivity. This is just the jumpstart I need, so thank you!
As for the time, I am going to start with waking up at 5:30 and then move it to 5am in two weeks after I’ve readjusted to the early time.
You are so welcome! I’m glad you’re joining us!
I am going to set my alarm between 5:00 – 5:30. (Using the sleep app). I really need to be consistent with going to bed early. P.S. Crystal, you mentioned on one of your periscopes about a strength training program you started, can you share what it is you are doing please?
I think that’s must be the Sleep Cycle App or the Sleep: It Does a Family Good book? That’s the only thing I can think of that I’ve done/mentioned related to sleep recently.
Lol…. Not sleep…. A strength training workout that you mentioned.
Ah! Jesse put something together for me based upon what I wanted to do. If you email me, I’m happy to send it to you. 🙂 crystal @ moneysavingmom.com
I am ready to start getting up early again. I am thinking i will start around 6:30 then work backwards until I get to 5:30.
That sounds like a great plan!
I leave for work at 5:15 so I’m up at 3:30. My work day is 6:00 until 3:00. And I’m 70. Looking forward to retirement soon.
Hi Diane, I thought having to get up a 4:15 a.m. for my 3 hour 5-8 am job was difficult, until I read your post. You are amazing if you can get up at that time. I too will probably be working in the workforce until I am 70, unless I can find a way to work at home.
Yes, I can only imagine that you’re looking forward to retirement!!
I’m in for both! You inspired me several years back to get up and have quiet time in the morning. This has been so good for me and I always feel ready to face the day–I’m a teacher and have two small children. So, I’m recommitting to getting up early and I’m actually going to make it 15 minutes early–5:30.
The declutter challenge will be perfect! We have a TON of unnecessary stuff around here. So excited to do this!!
Yay! So glad you’re joining us!
I’m in, though my morning will be starting at 6:00 for now. 🙂 And I can’t wait to check out the decluttering challenge – I should be joining you on that one too!
6 a.m. is a GREAT time! So glad you’re joining us!
I am also signing on — for 6 AM getting up.
(I’ll also be joining in with the decluttering 500 items challenge.)
Perfect! Count me in! This is actually one of my goals for the year. I hope to start getting up at 4:30. I did this recently and I managed to get so much done in that quiet time before the kids got up. It totally freed up a lot of time in the rest of my day!
I’m so glad you’re joining us!!
I am IN! Like you, I’ve done this consistently in the past but more recently have allowed myself to sleep in until 7 or 7:30. Doing so eliminates any quiet time I have to pray, workout or just “be” before the kids get up and we begin our homeschool day. I’m ready to get back in the early morning groove.
Yay! I’m so glad you’re joining us!