As I mentioned a few days ago, beginning Friday morning (March 1, 2013), I’ll be hosting an Early to Rise Challenge right here on MoneySavingMom.com.
Here’s how the Early to Rise Challenge will work:
1. I’m encouraging everyone who would like to participate to commit to a specific time they’ll be getting up every week day morning in March. You can choose whatever time is best for you, but please remember to be realistic. This is not a contest to see who can get up the earliest or who can survive on the least amount of sleep. On the contrary, this is about making the most of your mornings — whether you get up at 4 a.m. or 9 a.m.
2. Every week day in March at 9 a.m. EST, I’ll post a short Early to Rise post. I’ll share a few of my thoughts on the day’s passage from Early to Rise, tell you what time I got up that morning, and encourage you to leave a comment to tell us what time you got up and how you’re doing on the challenge.
3. Want to blog about this challenge? I’ll have a link-up at the bottom of each post if you want to blog about the challenge each day. Plus, if you’d like to post your daily posts to the Early to Rise Group Board on my Pinterest page, just shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com) and I’ll invite you.
4. Want to follow along on Twitter or Instagram? Each week day morning on my Facebook Page, my Twitter account, and my Instagram account (still getting this set up!), I’ll be posting a picture of my alarm clock as public accountability. I’d love to have you do the same or join in the discussion on Twitter and Instagram. Just follow hashtag #EarlytoRiseChallenge to see what others are tweeting and Instagramming about this challenge!
I think this public accountability is going to be fantastic! Who’s with me?
Assignment
1. If you’re joining in the challenge, please leave a comment and tell us what time you are committing to get up every weekday in March. Remember: be realistic!
2. Also, you’ll want to grab a copy of Early to Rise by Andy Traub if you haven’t already done so. He’s offering it at the discounted price of just $4.99 through Friday. You can read my review of Early to Rise here.
If you prefer to receive the daily chapters via email, you can sign up for those using the link in the book after you purchase it. In addition, Andy has recorded all of the chapters so you can listen to them, if you’re more of an audiobook person rather than a reader.
7am but ultimate goal is 6am.
Uh Yeah! I need this! Can we do it like year round… haha. My goal time would be 6:30-7:00. I am starting late but better late than never! Here it goes…
Late to the party but count me in. I’ll be up at 6am every morning.
I’m going to start getting up at 6:00 am instead of my usual 7:00 am! Finally a good motivator to get my fanny moving! Thanks for holding me accountable!!
Hmmm…I missed the sale. Any chance this will go on sale again this month? I do need help with getting up earlier! I’m enjoying the posts, too, so thank you!
Starting this late but I’m in. I need a change desperately. Shooting for 4:45am.
I am late to join, but I am still joining! I am going with 6 am. Eventually I would like to make it earlier, but if I am consistent with this for the rest of the month, that would be huge!
Ok, I’m a little late to start, but I just committed myself and bought the book. Something in my life has to change. I’m not a morning person at all and it is reflecting very poorly in my life right now bc by the time I’m getting my kids to school, the bell is ringing and they are late. I feel so awful. I’m committing to waking up at 6 a.m.
I am starting late…but really want to revamp my mornings! I want to be out of bed by 6:00am.
My goal is 6am. My current time is usually 6:45 on weekdays, and later on weekends. I want to do a little bit of scripture study and eat breakfast before the kids are up.
I am committing to wake up by 5:30!
I think this is a great idea. I commit to waking up at 5:30 am on weekdays and by 7:00 am on weekends. I will be using the extra time to meditate and plan out my day. I’m very excited to see how this improves, not only my morning, but my entire day! 🙂
btw it is NOT 2:27 am where I am lol
I bought the book and I’m in! 5:00 A.M. is the time. We have a small lamp in our bedroom that my husband put on a timer. That is our “Fred.” Happy morning to all! 🙂
I will be committing to getting up at 6 am. Very excited for this challenge. I have been wanting to get up earlier than my 3 children since my youngest son turned 5 months old, he is now 7 months.
I bought the book last weekend and started the challenge last Monday. I was usually getting up at 7:20 (after hitting the snooze button twice) to get the kids up for school. Last week I got up at my goal time of 6am every day! I did a workout, got a load of laundry in, and woke the kids up at 7am, so I had time to snuggle with them and read a couple of books with them before they got on the bus. It was a great week and I’m looking forward to this next week (and so are my kids). Thanks Andy, for the challenge and thanks Crystal, for sharing it with us!
I’m in! Ever since I lost my job, I’ve been sleeping in till 8am (where I used to wake up at 4-4:30 every day I worked). We’re going through a move right now so I’ve unintentionally gotten up at 4am the past two days (couldn’t stay asleep). My goal is to be up and out of bed by 6 every morning.
Ok! I’m making this officially official. Book bought, started and Fred is set! 5-5:30 is my weekday rise time and 7-7:30 is my weekend (is that legal?). I’ve needed to recommit to this for awhile and the timing is perfect. I think the intro was written about me? Thank you, thank you!
Totally legal. 🙂
I am committing to getting up by 5:45 each morning. Thanks for doing this!
I commit to getting up at 4:30am every weekday in March.
Does anyone have any tips to “wake up” in the morning? Most nights I get plenty of sleep, but still feel exhausted and struggle to get up early. I would love to be able to get up at 5:30 and workout and have some quiet time, but it seems so daunting.
I’m hoping to have time to write on this very subject in the next week or two!
Great! I hope I can get motivated to get out of bed.
5:30
Getting up early isn’t hard for me. I’m up at 4 a.m. most days of the week. I’m an introvert living in a household of nine people–waking up a few hours before everyone else gives me alone time to recharge my batteries. My problem is making better use of that time. Too much of it is wasted on mindless web surfing instead of taking advantage of tackling some of my goals. So I want to participate in this challenge in order to make the most of my early rising habit.
I got the book and wanted to do the challenge, then promptly forgot (thank you epilepsy meds). So, I’m a little (or a lot) late getting here. I’m going to commit to 6:30 am. It’s about an hour and a half before I normally get up. However, I have an unusually long morning routine, so if I get up at 8:00 and do the whole routine, half the morning is gone!
I’ll be setting my alarm for 6.
My commitment is 5:45am. Didn’t make that on my first day:( but I know that I can change that in a “minute”:)
I am getting up at 6:30 am. Thanks for doing this challenge… it is the motivation I need right now!
I’m in for 4:30ish…I downloaded the SleepCycle app for the iPhone, so lately (I actually started on Monday) it’s been 4:20. I LOVE the SleepCycle app! I’ve also enjoyed getting up that early, reading, worshipping, and getting ready for the day. It’s amazing what you can get done just by rising early!
For years I was able to get up by 5am to get things done before I wake my children at 6:30. But I went through a motivational burnout recently and haven’t been consistent this whole school year. I am so ready to get back on track! I am committing to get up at 6am this month and take back my mornings.
I wanted to do this when I first read the original post. I forgot about it, but “accidentally” woke up at my target time (8:00 AM) this morning thanks to my toddler. My husband usually gets up first and gets the our toddler going (2 and a half) and I stay in bed with the baby (11 months) to keep him asleep longer. I’m usually up between 7:30-9:00 everyday, but on days when I sleep in I feel frazzled and behind. Our job is different than most people’s and so our “free time” is from about 7:30/8:00 AM-3:30 PM each weekday. It really cuts into my day if I sleep in! I’m hoping that I can do this and try to figure out a way to let the baby sleep a little longer after I get up. He’s not usually too happy to sleep alone.
I am committing to get up and at my day at 430am.
If I get up at 0730 I have plenty of time to get ready for work, but I set my alarm for 0630. The very first thing I do in the morning is worship and the extra time allows me an hour to spend with my God! Oh, how I wish I would have started my day this way all of my life.
6:30 AM! Yes! Don’t have money for the book but I am going to make this happen!
I will get up at 6:00 every week day morning.
Getting up early is always an issue! I’ve tried to change in the past, but I still get up later than I should. I’m the mom swinging into the carpool line moments before the school bell rings…or worse, doing the walk of shame into the school office to sign her in late! So, this is perfect for me. Plus, I’ve been wanting to get back to my blog, I just haven’t felt like writing. I wrote a few things at the beginning of LAST year (about finishing stuff–ha!). My goal is to get up at 5:30. every day. really.
I’m going to get up at 6 AM each week day in March. My biggest challenge will be going to bed early enough so that I CAN get up at 6! But I really need this. I need some new habits in my life.
6:00 AM
My wake-up time is going to be 7am. I’m looking forward to doing this – thanks for doing the challenge!
I’m not going to pick an exact time at this point but I’m going to commit to getting out of beds when my kids first wake me up (if it’s after 6:00…still got a little one waking up in the night from time to time). They’re not allowed to come out of their room for the day till 7:00 but often wake up before then. I usually crawl back into bed after a 6:30 bathroom trip with a preschooler. Now, I’ll just stay up instead. I did yesterday before I knew about this challenge and made breakfast for the family! Nice way to start the day.
8 am on the days when I don’t HAVE to get out of bed right away. If I have to get out of bed a little early to send off my hubby, I want to commit to getting out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off and not being grumpy. 🙂 (Definitely not a morning person!!)
Sign me up for 5:30 am weekdays (but will try for weekends too)!
6:30
I’ve been trying one habit per month. I’ve been very slow to get out of bed this pregnancy, but my whole day is better when I’m up before my children. I’d like to commit to getting up by 6:15 every morning. I know this means I need to go to bed earlier! Thanks for the challenge.
Waking up at 5:30 every morning in march! Did it two days in a row now!
I guess I am a little late to sign up but I did *accidentally* wake up at 6:15a today anyway (thanks to texts to my hubby from his sister. Who texts at 6:15 in the morning?! 🙂 )
Just downloaded the book and will quick read the first chapter today to get caught up. My goal is 6:15a. I’m going to try to be awake by 6a and actually out of bed by 6:15a. If I don’t build in that 15 minutes then I would be setting myslef up for failure because I am NOT a morning person that can just spring out of bed. Especially earlier than normal! 🙂 I am so excited to do this though because we sleep in, are rushed in the morning, then I end up sounding like a drill sgt. with my kids, & we miss our devotionals for lack of time. I really need a more organized & peaceful morning!
On the weekdays I will be getting up between 4:30-4:45!
My goal is 7 o’clock. Which is perfect start for me till I can work my way to an earlier time. I have a 3 year old, a 19 month old, and one on the way. Plus we are still adjusting to our move to Alaska. So this will be a great start for me to get back on track.
Count me in!! My goal is to get up by 6:00…. but the real challenge will be to go to bed at a decent hour 🙂
Me too Melody! The hardest part for me is getting to bed early enough so I can get enough sleep!
I just came across this today and have already made a goal of getting up earlier. Part of the problem is getting to bed earlier, too. So, my wake-up goal is 6:45. This morning I actually got out of bed at 7:20 after hitting snooze and just lying in bed. The flip side of the goal is to be in bed by 11:00pm.
Just found this today March 1. I bought the book and I’ll be starting tomorrow. I can’t wait, I guess! 🙂
Little late to get on board (ironic)…but my goal is 5:30 every morning. That gives me about an hour more in the morning. And about 90 min-2 hours before my kids are up.
My issue is that I use my hour in the morning now rushing to get animals fed, laundry started, breakfast going, etc…and I by the time I want read and write, my five kiddos are crawling on my lap or needing my attention for other things!
My son sleeps until 8:30 so 7:30 should work for the first week or so. I’d eventually like to get to 6:45.
I’m in! I guess I better go buy the book today!
I’m in! I guess I better go buy the book today.
I’m going to commit to 7:00 a.m. With two little ones waking me up at night I’m typically awake by then, often don’t really get going until after 8:00 a.m. I’m guessing I’m not getting much rest during that hour and simply getting to work on my day may offer more peace later.
I will commit to being up by 5;30 am every morning. I have been working my way backwards slowly and am almost to a 5:30am wake up time.
I will commit to a wake-up time between 6:15 and 6:30, depending on whether I take the bus to work or not. Getting to bed before midnight is going to be a challenge for me!
Here it goes! I’ll be waking at 5:30 (YIKES!)
Since my 1 year old just started sleeping through the night, I am committing to being up by 6:30 every morning. However, today she woke me up by 6:15!! I was hoping to get some quiet time by myself but I’ll be flexible!
Very excited about this. 🙂 My goal is to wake up at 6:30am on weekdays and 8am on weekends. I may eventually try to bump that up half an hour on weekdays… but this will still be an hour ahead of where I am. We shall see how it goes!
I am going to get up at 5:30 on my kids’ school days. This will be a challenge for me! But j can do it! And on days they are home I’m going to get up by 7:00 at the latest.
I’m going to be up by 6:15 I have my alarm for then, but I usually turn it off and sleep until 7. I will have a much smoother day if I get up earlier.
I am so glad we are doing this challenge. I am committing to waking up at 5am. I have wanted to get back on track with this for a long time, weekends always tend to ruin it for me since I get to sleep in a little. So this time I am going to try not to even sleep in on those days so I don’t ruin the habit I am trying to create! Thanks for thinking of doing this challenge!
I wasn’t sure if I could do this, so I tried it this morning – 6:15 am! Weekdays only….I can do this…
The hens were glad to be out of the coop early! And the dog was happy to go outside early too!!!
On my work days I want to get up at 5 without hitting snooze and on off days up by 7 to get a jump on the day.
I’m in! Started by getting up an hour earlier today (but it may result in an extra cup of coffee). 🙂
I’m in. I am setting a time of 645 with an ultimate goal of 615. Here’s to making it work!
My weekday wake up time is 5:10 (Just late enough that my husband can get his shower in before I get up)
I’m committing to be up at 6 am. THANK YOU for this challenge– I need it!
I guess I don’t understand why getting up early is a good idea….I would just be up sitting around not doing anything waiting on others to wake up. We (pregnant me and my three kiddos ages 5,3,&1) wake up around 8-830, start slow, enjoy a leisurely morning and breakfast and then start school around 10. We are finished by lunch time, then have quiet time from 1-4 where everyone rests and I do any chores for the day, get dinner planned, and rest. Daddy gets up super early to head to the hosp. where he eats free and then gets home really late, so the kids stay up to 8:30-9 to spend time with dad and then we stay up till 10:30-11 to have grown up time. I have plenty of time to get my work done, homeschool, spend time together, and sleep. If I got up early we would all be exhausted, I would be sitting alone for hours, and then me tired by the time everyone else started the day. I think everyone should use a schedule that works for them, not jump on the bandwagon to get up super early just to get up early.
I’m so excited about this challenge and I’m loving the book already. I’m committing to a time of 8 am. Being pregnant, it’s hard to make it out of bed earlier than that. Though, this morning I was up by 6:30, so maybe by going to bed earlier consistently (this has been my problem) it will be easier than I think. Thanks for setting this up!
Whew!!! I made it in on the last day for the challenge and the book discount. I am in week 6 of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University and this “Early To Rise” challenge is a wonderful addition to help me become more disciplined in other aspects of my life. My goal is 5:45. I get up at this time to work out with fellow teachers at the school, but I would like to challenge myself to do it on the weekends as well. I would be able to start my Saturday and Sunday mornings ahead of the game rather than feeling sluggish and behind.
6:30 am
I’m shooting for 5:30…and praying my kids sleep through the night! I work full time so getting up at 5:30 gives me a half hour for coffee and motivation before hitting the shower at 6, then getting three kids dressed, fed, packed up and out the door by 7:30.
Kiddos don’t ususally get up too early but sometimes the baby (ha! baby! he’s 14 months!) gets up in the middle of the night. I actually didn’t see this post until today (March 1st) and I actually was up at 5:30 and out the door close to 7:30, so I’m off to a good start and I didn’t even know it!
I am committed to waking at 6:00 every morning.
I’m in and committed to a brutal 5:30am wake up call!
I downloaded the book last night (late) so this morning was my usual alarm goes off at 5:50 and crawl out of bed at 6. I started reading it over breakfast and really hope this will help me get up early and be productive! My life is so busy that the only real time I have to do things (like workout, clean or relax) is in the morning so this is perfect if I can actually accomplish it!!! Thanks for inspiration – I am up for the challenge!
i will be up by 5 am each day…(hopefully by 4 30 and on way to gym by 5 am)
I am in total need of this. Getting up earlier will allow me to workout without the kids! My goal is 540-6am, I have to get my husband up for work so I might as well get up too!
My target wake up time is 4:25. It will allow me to go to the gym, get in se time with Lord and be home in time to get my twins up and dressed for school and to pack lunches for my kiddos. I’m also going to start posting pics of my alarm clock each morning. That will definitely help with accountability!
I got the book and plan to start it today. Getting up by 6:00 a.m.
I am in! My goal is to get out of bed at 6:30AM.
I am in , my plan is to get up a 4 am everyday. To have me time before my son gets up. Going follow along even though i can’t afford to it do get the book right now.
I love this! Yes, I will join in this challenge! Let’s maximize our mornings together!!!
5:15. I was part of a “Biggest Loser” style competition with friends for the last 3 months and eventually settled on that as the time to get up and fit in exercise for the day…and I want to continue!
The plan was to set the alarm for 0500 and start our day earlier!
http://proverbs215.blogspot.com/2013/02/coming-in-march-early-to-rise-challenge.html
I get up at 5:30 already 🙂 I need that time to just be alone and get ready for the day. I have always been an early riser, because I worked at a job that started @ 7 am for 20 years.
Lacey, I completely agree with you. Like you, I get up at 5:30, in order to read, pray and just have some quiet time. It helps set the tone for my day. 🙂
I really should be getting up at 4:30 each morning. Hard with a 3 month old and 5 year old. Thanks for the help!
Good morning Early Risers!!! I’m so excited about this post one of my goals was to get up at 6. I haven’t been able to accomplish this year. I guess it’s true community makes the difference. For now I’ll start at 6:30. After the first week I’ll wake up at 6. Enjoy your extra time this morning!
I’m in. I’m going to commit to 5:30. I feel like I have not been accomplishing enough during the day. I need a challenge like this to help motivate me to get back on track!!
I am (and have been) working to consistently be out of bed by 5:15 each weekday morning. Crystal, your accountability suggestion of taking a pic of your clock every morning is such a great idea. I’m sending mine to a likeminded friend every day to keep me going.
I am naturally an early riser, but like that time to be my “alone time” while the rest of the family is still sleeping, but I do need to commit to finding ways to deal with the chaos when they all get up! 31 days to a happier morning routine for me!
Wow, I’m so in on this. Okay I missed Monday but better late than never right? Thanks for the push towards motivation!
I’m committing to 6:30am for the month of March!
Got the book last night. I started it this morning! Tried 7:00 am, going to try 6:30 tomorrow!
Wow! I woke up BEFORE the alarm went off. I am so impressed, lol.
Alright waited till the last minute but I’m in too! I’m going to get up 7:00. Excited to start this challenge tomorrow!
I’m in too. Need some extra motivation to get going in the mornings. Baby still doesn’t sleep thru the night but just need to get used to it and get moving. My wake up time will be 7:00 am and am hoping to move it up to 6:30 in a week or so.
I’m in! I’m going to wake up at 6:30am, & to help myself, I’m going to bed now! Good luck everyone!
Such a night owl, but I want to join this challenge. A friend and I have been texting each other every morning for last few months with the goal of getting out of bed and dressed before our kiddos wake up. I am finally seeing some progress, however minute, so I am going to be brave and say 5:30 for me with a bedtime of 10:00.
Oh man I am going to do this and I know it will be good. But hard to start out the morning after a night out with friends! I also have three very young kids that are early risers. They can be up anytime from 5:30 – 6:45. I am going to shoot for 6 for tomorrow and then try and work to waking up before them since I know I need that time. Will probably end up being 5am…yikes. I am scared. I just am sick of being that mom that the kids have to drag me out of bed. I want to greet them with a smile when they wake up.
Why is it that us night owls want to be morning people but I never hear morning people wanting to become night owls? Guess those morning people know something we don’t. 🙂 I’m going to shoot for 7am and not hitting the snooze button anymore. I also need to work on a more consistent bedtime. Who knows…maybe next month I’ll challenge myself to 6:30…but I better get through March first! And I also better get to bed!!! LOL
I’m in!
I’m in as well. I’m a different demographic…a retired senior and I need to make a change. I’m gotten into terrible habits. I’m going to commit to 7:30. I realize I’ll have to change my bedtime, as well. Staying up this late won’t help! I have some medical issues that make it a bit harder to get up, but I won’t use that as an excuse! Goodnight!
I have never been a good morning person but I have been married to my very early morning husband for 23 years. We are truly night and day. I would love to become a morning person and enjoy starting my days with him. I get up before 7 to get my son off to school but that’s about all I do until much later in the day. I am going to commit to 6:15 to have coffee with my husband before he leaves for work at 6:40, wake my son and walk for 30 minutes while he showers and gets ready for school. Then when he leaves I can have my quiet/prayer time.
I was super hesitant about joining you all because nighttime is when I get homework done along with some “me” time and hubby time, so I like to drag it out. However, my little guy has been waking up earlier and I know if I can just get ahead of him I know the rest of the day won’t be so chaotic. I’m setting my alarm (which will be across the room from my bed!) for 7am.
Okay, I am in. 6:30 am, weekdays. 8:30 Saturdays, 7:30 Sundays. Posting this at 10:50 pm, so therein lies the problem. Thanks for the challenge! Also need to make some changes in my morning hours, once the kids leave for school at 7:30.
I’m in! I’m shooting for 6:00 so that I can get up, shower, and have some prayer time before my one year old is up.
I am in!
My goal is to be out of bed by 5:30 am. This will give me much needed time to exercise in the morning and help us not be in such a rush to get out the door to school and work.
Excellent challenge! My goal is to be out of bed at 7:30AM on week days. I’ll be in a different timezone for 2 weeks in March, so that ought to be interesting.
I’m in! 5:30 wake up for me!! No kindle but still excited!
I’m committing to 4:45. I am far more productive in the morning than I ever am after my kids to to bed. I LOVE the alarm clock picture accountability.
I HATE WAKING UP EARLY! However, I’m going to give it a shot and I actually believe my days will be better by doing it. It is the rub – knowing what I need to do and actually doing it. 5:30 am for me, starting tomorrow. But for the grace of God, go I. 🙂
I’m in . . . I’ve been having a hard time getting up early lately, so I’m going to set my sights a little low–7:30 am, but hoping to get up earlier than that most days. 🙂 It is hard because hubby doesn’t have to be at work till 9, so we end up staying up late and then sleeping in . . . but my days are definitely more productive when I get up earlier. Thanks for doing this challenge! 🙂
I’m joining last minute! My goal for March is 6, and I may move it to 5:30 a couple weeks in or in April 🙂
I am late to commit, I know. I’m in. My time will be 5:00 on weekdays and 6:30 on weekends. I have a group of girlfriends that meet at 5:30 MWF to exercise and it seems like at least once a week I oversleep and miss out. I enjoy it so much so I really want to commit to getting up early. I think part of the problem has been inconsistency, I should just pick a time and stick to it…every day. Looking forward to it.
I am going to aim for a wake up time of 7am. Tomorrow will be a test since I spent half of the night at the ER with my husband. He is an early morning person while I am generally a night owl. I am doing this so I can get our schedules closer together. I had felt a tug on my heart that I needed to do this, and the challenge was a giant message I could not ignore.
This evening I changed my alarm to 5 am. I am hoping to the extra 1/2 hour helps me push through an assignment I have given myself (getting ready to go back to college!)
Ok, I’m in! I’ve been in a vicious circle of sleeping late, then staying up late to get things done, thus needing to sleep late again the next day. Sleeping til 10 or 11 feels great, until I finish my morning coffee and realize the day’s half gone already!
My challenge will actually be a little different. My wake up time won’t change – 6:30am, because this is when I get up to get the kids on the school bus. However, the challenge for me will be to STAY up. Normally, I just go back to bed after the bus leaves. And sleep til 10. O.o
Here’s hoping the public accountability will keep me going! Thanks for doing this challenge.
Okay, since it also included the weekends, I’ll make mine 7:00. Any earlier and I won’t do it every day.
I have been thinking about this since the post went up and it has made me realize that I have serious commitment issues. However, on the plus side it also made me see that if I put this much time and thought into whether I should commit or not, I must do it 🙂 So I am in for 5 a.m. I do not have a kindle or any type of reading device and would love to know how I can buy the actual book or be able to read this on my laptop? Thanks Andy and Crystal. I’m so excited and a little nervous.
I’m In!, I commit to wake up at 6.30 AM and sleep at 10.30 PM, I need accountability as wel, This is the challange I have been waiting for
Mornings have never been my friend. I love and cherish my sleep. Too much I’m sure. I’m aiming for 6:30am which is super early since I’m usually a 7:30-8:00 person but I know it will be worth it. Looking forward to the challenge and also reading the book, the reviews were promising.
I’m in! Bought the book, read the book, chose my comfy spot, have my coffee set for the morning,my slippers are in place. Chose my book to read. Fred is set to 5:15am
I’m in too! So excited for this challenge. I am committing to rising early at 6:00 A.M.
I’m in. Goal for weekdays is 5:40 am, in order to hit the gym before work. Weekends will be 6:40 am, in order to work out on Saturdays and to head to church on Sundays. Just bought the book.
I want to do this but don’t have a Kindle. Is there any other way to get a copy of the book? I am planning on getting up an hour earlier at 5:00 am in order to get my daily workout in so that I can spend naptime cleaning and doing laundry and maybe a little me time and then get to bed earlier!
I’m in and my target is 6 am. Hoping my 7.5 month old will give me an hour! 🙂
I’m in! I used to get up every morning with my husband at 5:30 am and I always got so much done! His work situation has changed so he no longer has to get up so early, more like 7:30-8…thus I have been finding myself sleeping in with him (and even past him) lately. I want to get to get back to the place I was when I woke up at 5:30…..so 5:30 is my goal!
I’m committing to 6 am. I’m looking forward to this challenge to get me back on track!
My goal is 7:30 – 8 , I have a two year old that tends to wake up shortly after I do, but I want to give this the best I can, thank u!
I bought the book and am ready to get started at 6am tomorrow!
I’m in! My alarm is set for 5am.
I already started earlier this week due to a new medicine my doctor wants me to take in the *morning* and it has to be at the same time every day. Total ugh, but has helped me to participate in this challenge. 🙂
My wake up time will be 7AM. That way I can spend time reading the Bible at home instead of on the commute to work on my Bible app.
My goal is 6:30!
I’m in! I plan to be up at 5:30 am every weekday in March. This is my normal alarm time, but I usually hit snooze a few times, then rush everyone out the door. When I make it up on time, the mornings are so much better. Starting tomorrow, 5:30 it is!
5:00AM for me! So excited to do this finally 🙂
Nothing like waiting until the last minute!! Just got the book and I’m committing to a 6AM wakeup. I reallllly want to make it later, but I know it won’t give me enough time before the morning family rush begins, so 6 it is! Thanks for doing the challenge!
My goal is to get up at 5:00! My husband gets up at 4:30 for work, and I normally stay in bed and doze off or check emails/facebook/blogs on my phone until he leaves at 5:30. I would love to make better use of my mornings! Thanks for this challenge 🙂
This is such great timing! I have been down sick most of February with a sinus infection, bronchitis and pneumonia. I have fallen out of my morning “me time” routine but am finally starting to feel better.
I bought the book with an $5 Amazon gift card I had been saving for something special. This is it! Excited to get back to my “me time”. Planning on getting up at 6:30 am.
Thanks Crystal & Andy!
I am in my goal is to wake up at 4:30, I guess that means i should be going to bed soon.
Excited to start this and improve my day. I plan to get up at 6:30am each day with hope to get up even earlier later on.
I’m in! My goal is 7:30. But I also need to be in bed by 10:30. I know that’s more than 8 hours, but I have 3 kids under 5, and chances are at least one of them will have me up in the night.
Already broke my bedtime goal, so getting up tomorrow is going to be tough… My three year old woke up at 10:20 with a 103 temp. 🙁
Im in!!!
Early for me will be 5:30 AM weekdays!
5 am. Time for coffee and quiet and time with The Lord before the littles wake up and we start our home school day.
I am planning on being up between 6:00 – 6:15, maybe a little later on the weekends. I have been trying to get up then and it does make such a difference in my morning. Now….to get to bed a little earlier so I am not so tired during the day.
I’m in! 5:30.
I feel so inspired but I’m so scared to commit. I have a tendency to give up if I get thrown off course. Two or three nights in a row of my 7 month old not sleeping through the night and feeling exhausted in the morning and I see myself falling off the wagon. How do you suggest sticking to your goals when there are variables like that? I have a 2 year old and a 7 month old so telling my kids to wait until a certain time to get out of bed is not an option. I think getting up early would help me in so many ways, but when I don’t have anywhere specific to go or employers to please and I’m tired, I have a really hard time sticking to goals like these. I am going to say that I’m going to go ahead and get up at 6am every morning. Any advice anyone has on self discipline would be a great help. I’m struggling a little bit with being a stay at home mom who gets things done.
Well, I got the book, hopefully that will help 😉
Hi Mrs. S. I remember those days so well. It’s so unpredictable with little ones ((but it can be with teens too!) and so exhausting! When they are small you are physically tired, when they are older, you often find yourself more mentally/emotionally weary. Either way, it can be really hard to get out of bed some days. Unexpected sleepless nights, illness, etc can throw off your sleep schedules and with it, the very best of your intentions.
Just remember to give yourself grace. Every day is a new chance to begin again. Don’t get too legalistic about that “every day at 6 am” goal, or wait until “monday” to start again if you fail. (noone’s perfect, or expects you to be.) Tell an offline friend you are trying to do this and ask them to ask you how it’s going, or to do it with you. Use the accountability here and the friendly encouragement of others to help you stick with it. Make a-flexible-daily schedule for yourself. You are now your own boss. 😉 (I’ve always found that submitting my plans to “the big boss”, first thing, to have Him help me order my day, makes everything go smoother for everyone in my home. It all seems to fall apart and be more hectic on the days I don’t!)
If you want to fit in some exercise time, write it on your calendar as if it’s a set appointment, and keep it. Same with reading time. Set some achievable, reasonable goals for yourself and use the newfound earlier hours/minutes to accomplish them one by one. It feels so good when you can cross something off a list you’ve wanted to get done for awhile!
Being a stay at home mom is a tough, but rewarding job and so important. Some days, just making sure everyone (including us) is bathed, dressed, fed, safe and content is all we can muster. Other days are even more productive. Just be sure to take good care of you Mommy; invest in yourself in ways like this challenge, and you’ll be better enabled, equipped, energized to take care of and pour into those precious little ones.
I believe that if God calls you to it, He’ll see you through it. You’ve bought the book already, that’s a first step of commitment. Now jump in with us…you can do it!!
Praying for you, Angie F. (sorry this was so long Crystal!)
Thank you for the encouragement!
I’m in. I’ll be getting OUT of bed at 5:30 a.m. on workdays and 6:30 a.m. on other days. My alarm does a good job of waking me up but Facebook and Twitter can easily take up the next hour. For this challenge I’ll be getting out of bed and having a more intentional start to my day.
See you bright and EARLY tomorrow!
I’m in. 6:00 a.m.
My goal is to get up between 6 and 6:30 am each weekday morning!!
5:30 am. Ouch. I want to do this so I have time to work out before I leave for work.
Ouch.
LOL!
This is the kick in the pants I’ve needed. I’m the produce manager at our local Harris Teeter. My shift can be as early as 5am. I will commit to getting up at 5am, most of my shifts start at 6am, so this gives me the chance to read scriptures and maybe exercise.
I’m in! My wake-up time is going to be 7. I’m also going to work on going to bed consistently at a decent time. Then, hopefully move my wake-up time to 6:30.
i’m choosing 5am for school days, 7am for saturdays, sundays, and summertime.
I’m in! My time will be for 6am. I can’t afford the book, unfortunately, but I think the accountability will still be just the kick in the pants I’ve been needing! 🙂
I’m in and I’m getting up by 5 each morning!
I currently get up at 5:30am. Or rather my alarm goes off at 5:30am, and I hit snooze once or twice (or more) times. So I am moving it up to 5am. I want to figure out how to fit exercise into my day with three kids, working full time and taking a full schedule of college classes.
I am in! Even got my BF to join me also! My weekday morning wakeup will be 5:30am, and my weekend will be 6:30am. Thanks for the inspiration & accountability! March is going to be a crazy busy month for me, and I really think this will help me!
I will commit to 615. I struggle in the mornings to get out of bed…it’s so warm and comfy and cozy! Days go so much better when I spend time with the Lord before anyone else. I would like to get up earlier but this will be a good starting point and once my littlest is sleeping through the night regularly I can work to get up earlier.
I will commit to wake at 5:30!
Count me in! I just completed Day 30 of the Early to Rise challenge this morning. I did quite well at getting out of bed at 5:00 a.m. I have two Very Important Projects I’m working on during March, so I am changing my wake-up time to 4:30. I’m excited!!
I’m in! 6:30, here I come!
I have been wanting to get up early every morning to start my day off right. Maybe will have to convince my hubby that we don’t need to stay up until 1am every night to get things done! This will be a huge change for me—I am worried I won’t be able to sustain the change and make it a habit.
I’m in! I am not a morning person and our mornings are hectic and stressful.Mainly because I stay up way too late and then I have a hard time getting up. I don’t leave enough time to get my 2 boys up and ready for school,lunches made etc. We are always rushing out the door. It leaves me feeling defeated before the day even starts. In my “perfect world” I would love to beable to do a little exercising,shower,get dressed have some God/quite time, have breakfast made and lunches done before the boys are up. Have a stress free morning without having to rush out the door. I think this challenge is just what I need to make it happen. My husband is always talking about being more motivated to get up earlier and start exercising but he also has a hard time. I think if I do it he will do it. I love what Chris LoCurto said ” In order to be a great leader,you must go first.” I am looking forward to becoming more of a leader and changing some habits!
Forgot to mention my goal time.My husband gets up every morning at 6am. My goal time is 5am.
5:00 am! I just started trying to get up early a week ago and I do ok. It will be nice to have some encouragement though:)
I was going to try and start this habit Monday on my own so this is perfect timing for me! Thank you both for doing this, I feel much better about my chances having an actual plan and some accountability. And thanks so much Andy for lowering the price of your book! Good luck and God bless to everyone!
Hopefully this is just the motivation I need. My husband and I have been trying to get in the habit of getting up earlier because we are able to get our exercise in before our two little ones get up. Things just go better. But we really need to work on getting to bed earlier too 🙁
I am going to try to get up at 6 AM (and hopefully convince my husband to try it too).
I will get up at 7.
I’m in too!!!! Thank-you so much Andy for writing this book. Thank-you so much Crystal for starting this accountability challenge. 5:30 is my goal!
Hmmm…forgot the time. 6:30 am:)
I’m in! This is something i have been wanting to do for awhile now, but have lacked the motivation. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old, and that “me time” in the mornings before they get up is something i desperately need! This will be a challenge but I’m going to give it a shot!!
Hmmm…maybe I should have picked a time:) 6:30am!
I’m in! I’ve been trying to do this on my own and unfortunately the snooze button and I have a toxic relationship. I just can’t seem to let it go:) I started a new workout routine too. Hope it’s not too much at once.
I will be trying to wake up at 7. I can not afford the book right now though. :/
I have been trying to wake up early, in an effort to be more productive and get my house in order, and get my business restarted. This challenge could not have come at a more perfect time. This entire week I’ve been sleeping in, and going to bed late as my 1 year old decided to start going back to newborn nursing hours! I’M IN!!
I’m in.
I will commit to getting up at 8 am every day in March. My husband works second shift and my evenings/nights are my most productive time, but I will try the 8 am waking time for a month and see how it goes. Buying the book now.
I’m in and can’t wait! I was just saying how I need to get up earlier in order to be on time, accomplish goals etc. This is just the challenge I need!
P.S. wake up time 6:30
I think the Early to Rise challenge needs to wait until I have mastered the “Early to Bed” challenge. Haha!
I’m in. I will be waking up at 5:30 am! 🙂
I’m in for 6:15 am.
My goal is 5 am every weekday. I tried waking up at 5:15 this morning—woke up, turned off the alarm and stayed in bed. This challenge is happening at a great time for me and my family. I look forward to learning and becoming an early riser!
I am setting my alarm for 6:30 to start with. I have a 2 and 4 year old and am pregnant so I mau have to do some tweaking. But I’m know this is going to be great. I teally do love my life and its time I start acting like it!
Sorry for all those typos, yikes! 🙂
Can’t wait to dive into your book! Just go if for the 4.99 special! Thanks so much! I’ve been a pretty consistent 6am kind of gal, so I’m looking at 5 for my goal. Need to get in quiet time with God and exercise before the kiddos are up at 6! Blessings!
I’m in. My wakeup time will be 7 am. I need to *start* waking my daughter up at 7:30 to get ready for school.
I’d like to participate. I want to get up at 6:00am. I hope I can participate meaningfully without the book – I don’t have any sort of e-reader. 🙁
@ Katie – you can download a free kindle reader for your PC on amazon.com – then it will download your book to your PC – no e-reader required – that’s what i did 🙂
so this is 1st ebook i’ve ever downloaded to my smartphone; last night up to day 1 and loved it. this is going to be a dbl challenge for me. first physically getting out of bed at 5:30 v. lounging until 6:30. second to just “be for me” v. doing chores. I’m excited but I know my to do list will be haunting me!
I’m in! I’d like to commit to 5:30 am and have time to do some of the things I’d like to get to but never seem to have time.
I want to get up at 6:30 each day (will take 1 day off each week). I need to be more intentional about my mornings!
I am in!!! My plan is to get up at 5:00 am. Need to do this to get in my workout before work. Love the book!!! A little disappointed that I missed out on getting the $4.99 deal.
it’s still 4.99!!
I purchased it earlier this week at full price.
You know, I did too. I didn’t know there was going to be a sale on the book so bought it a.s.a.p., but I think the book is worth it for how life changing it could be. I’ve read through all of it and have implemented some things and I actually look forward to getting up now. Funny thing is my dh seemed to already just know these things, but I guess I needed to read a book to find them out. LOL. I say all this to say, you won’t regret the few extra dollars.
I plan to get up at 6 AM. Thanks for hosting.
I commit to 6 am! I think I will take Saturdays off though.
I’m in! Getting up at 6 am to do a 30 min workout, shower & dress before the kids get up at 7. Lights out at 10:30 pm. Laying out my clothes before bed each evening!
I’m also planning to get up at 7:00 on Sundays, and sleep in (well, if the kids let me), on Sat’s:).
I love this challenge! I usually wake up at 6am, but just lie in bed for about an hour, thinking about how I should be getting up to tackle my never-ending to-do list, which would free up some time for me to write before my 4 kiddies get home from school and I have to start making lunch. And then I spend the rest of my day kicking myself because I didn’t get up, and I rarely ever find the time to write. My challenge for March is going to be to actually get out of bed and started on my to-do list, so I can get back to writing.
I’m in and I am setting mine as 30 minutes before my usual time each day. I figure this will work as my normal wake-up time varies for days I take my son, days hubby takes my son and weekends.
I’m very excited about this challenge!! I plan to get up at 5:30. My kids are up anywhere between 6-6:30 so it will be nice to have a head start on them! I love starting challenges or new things at the beginning of the month. It’s like a mini New Year’s resolution! 🙂
I have been trying to get up early in the morning since the new year. It is so hard, especially when life is exhausting and not only do I want to sleep in because I am tired, I want to sleep in because I want to put off facing the day. I am ready to commit and stop being an avoider! I am going to take the challenge and do it every day of the week. This means sleep will be about resting and not about avoiding and checking out. That’s a good thing! I so enjoy when I can get up and have an hour to myself to pray and think and even create. Now I am going to commit to it and overcome the drearies! Thanks for this challenge!
Love this. Thanks for spreading the word about this, Crystal. I’ve been getting up early with my son for the past nine months. My goal is to not hop onto the laptop as soon as I wake but instead carve out some time to read. I instinctively wake up, check email, and write (which is really good), but I’d like to refill my tank these next 30 days.
Glad to have you joining us, Jeff!
I am so in! I can’t believe you thought of this. Mine would be 6 am!
Hey,
I’m in. Lately, I’ve already been trying to change my wake-up habit, and haven’t been so good at that.
It’s certain, we’re going to have a LOT of fun, friends. I’m lovin’ it, really!
I’m grateful to myself as I wouldn’t get here if I had neglected Andy’s tweet. THANK YOU, you both. Time to rock out!
Getting up @ 4:30!
Does it count if I LOVE to get up early? I’m going for 4 am consistency though, I get so much more done when I get up by then, and go to bed by 9pm.
Wow! 298 comments I feel like I am late in the game. I would love this challenge! I am trying to get up earlier by commiting to getting up 15 minutes earlier each week until I reach my goal. March I would like to be up by 6:00 am. Do we get a grace period on the weekend? I usually sleep until 7:30 then. Can’t wait to get the book and start!
Kate
I am in. My alarm currently wakes me up at 6:00 am. I would like to be up at 5:00 am. So, I’m going to set my clock for 5:00 am. Along with this challenge in March, I’m going to be doing some other things as well. On the 11th of March I have a meditation challenge that I found on facebook that I’ll be taking part in so I need 15 minutes for that. I also plan to do some light exercise in the morning to get back into that routine, read a section from the bible (new to me) because I’ve never read the bible. Not sure where to start on that? Eat breakfast (healthy), and get back on track with tracking my food, and be out the door by 8 am to get onto work. I’m sure I’m leaving something out on what I had planned to do. For posting? I’m sure i’ll be here and other places. Facebook, twitter, maybe even use my website. LOL.
totally off subject. but proverbs is a great place to start. there are 31 chapters for 31 days good luck:-)
Sara! Thank you for the suggestion. That would be a perfect way to start it off.
I’m in — going for 4:50 am. Excited!
Sounds great! My rise and shine time is 5:00 am.
If I’m ever going to make progress with making my mornings more productive, it’s going to be now. I’m committed to waking up at 5:30a though I’ll be on a different schedule because of where we live. My family and I live in Riyadh Saudi Arabia so I’ll be ahead by 8+ hours and the work week here is Saturday – Wednesday, so my weekends are Thursday & Friday. Looking forward to reading the book!
I’m so excited. My goal is 7:30am. I’m usually awake past midnight, however I’m taking babysteps to change that as well. Thanks for the support.
I am aiming to be up at 6:30 AM. Like some others here, getting to bed early enough will be what I will be focusing on.
I’m going to try to get up at 6:30 every morning. I used to get up at 5 am, but that went out the window with my last pregnancy. I miss it! I’m getting up at 9 now and it’s just not cutting it. Can’t wait for the Instagram account!
My time is 4:45 am.
I want to have a consistent productive time before my scheduled 6:30 get ready routine.
I would like to be in, but not sure it would help me at all. I downloaded a sample of the book, but we are on such a tight budget that I would hate to spend the money on just another book or program that wouldn’t help. I have suffered from severe insomnia for as long as I can remember, been to doctors and sleep clinics, anywhere someone claims they can help, and no one helps. I have just about given up on ever being a morning person, seriously if I need to be up early it is easier for me to just stay up, mostly because most mornings when all you are talking about walking up I’m still trying, hoping, praying, to fall asleep. If I drag my bottom out of bed by noon it’s a good day, but that means I probably only got 4-5 hours of sleep… and if I hear one more person say to just go to bed earlier and you will wake up earlier I think I may scream, if only it was that easy.
Anyhow, I will follow along in hopes of finding something along the way that may help. Maybe I will be the crazy girl who just has the goal of before noon, lol. Good luck to everyone.
@ Michelle,
You are not alone…If I didn’t know better, I would have thought I wrote this. I try not to make any appts before 10 at the very earliest. If I do, You can place a bet it ends up cancelled or I just stay up. Yea I love it when I am told to just go to bed early, Ha! I even take sleeping pills…sometimes they work, sometimes not. On a good night, I still lay in bed an hour before i finally drift off. I also have some medical issues that cause me not to sleep. I usually am crawling out of bed at noon or 1.I set my time at 10… Even though that may mean only 4-5 hours of sleep, I should be able to do that, I function with that many hours most of the time any way. But I am going to try to be in bed at 1 and asleep by 2. If that works, it will be 8 hours of sleep. If my body allows that, between the pain, racing mind, and stress and worry about if I am going to get some sleep. We will be the two crazy girls with late early waking times. We can do it!
Good to know I’m not the only crazy person out there 🙂 when someone talks about sleeping in until 8 or 9 the only thing I think is, I wish I could get up that early!
I have tried sleeping pills too, most of the time they don’t work for me neither. 8 hours of sleep and up before noon, sounds like a doable goal. Good luck! I think we can do it.
I’m in. My target is 8:00 am. It will depend on how I sleep (insomnia sucks…) during the night. Hoping this motivates me to get out of bed and moving anyway. ^___^
I literally read this post just in time……I have been procrastinating at getting my mornings in order and things and I need a boost to help me become an early riser….I’m IN!!
I’m committing to be up every morning in March by 6:00am.
I’m in! I can’t buy the book at this time but I need to get up early at the very least for my husband. I’m so excited!
oops sorry meant to post not reply. my wake up goalis goingto be 600 ugh lol
I’ve been telling myself that I need to start getting up a lot earlier than I normally am. I’m a stay at home mom now and with a 3 year old & 4 month old, I find my mornings are never productive. Not to mention when I need to get out of the house for church or an appointment, I’m always rushing and end up being late. Even when I worked I was lays the one rushing in t the very lat second ( so can’t use being a mom as the excuse!).
My goal is to get up at 6am and then if all goes well maybe push it to 5:30. I already am in the habit of having the coffee brewed while I sleep and on the rare occasions I am up before everyone I love the feeling…so thanks or the accountability!
This challenge has come at a perfect time for me! One of my goals in February was to start getting up at 8:00 every morning, and I failed miserably!! So, it is now one of my March goals, and hopefully with the extra support/accountability I’ll make it! I commit to getting up by 8:00 each morning!
I’m in! Not sure if I can get the book or not as I just found out we unexpectedly will have to pay income taxes this year (YUCK) but I commit to getting up at 6 am.
I’m in! 5 am weekdays 6:30 am weekends….
I’ll be joining in, my get up time will be 7 each morning but I am hoping that I can start getting up just a little earlier than that but I am going to commit to 7.
I will be shooting for 530am. Glad to have help and support to do this!
I am in! My phone alarm is now set for 6:00 am every day of the week.
I just bought the book! I am going to get up at 6:30 a.m. every morning. I have always been a wanna be morning person. I’m finally in a phase of life (homeschooling mom) where I’m willing to do just about anything to get some more quiet/alone time. 🙂
I seem to be really, REALLY, the odd man out here. But I am going to do it anyway. I am almost ashamed of my lazy life. But this is exactly why I am going to do it. My life is too LAZY! My time is 10 am. I feel guilty when I read 4:30,5, 6, but I know this isn’t about the time but the habit. That is what I need! I am disabled so therefore do not work, so my days are full of nothing but tv, fb, and minimal housekeeping. And while some may find this very inviting, you can only do it for so long before you find it lonely and depressing. I keep saying that I just need a schedule, so I can exercise, keep up on chores, make real meals, and find some purpose in my life. I also need accountability, so hopefully this will get it. Getting out of bed at noon or one, just doesn’t help.But my problem lies with my bedtime.I am a night person and always have been. I am also an insomniac and have medical reasons for not sleeping. I usually don’t go to bed till 2 or 3, sometimes even as late as 5 am. Once I am in bed, it can take up to an hour to fall asleep. So I will set my bedtime at 1, with hopes of being asleep by 2 up at 10 am. I know for everything else I want to change to happen, it has to all start here and now. Thanks for giving me some place and some one to be accountable to. I wish I could follow along with the book, but it’s just not in my finances right now. Sending well wishes to everyone trying this and trying to make a change for the better! Good luck!
@ Crystal,
Will you be posting a separate post everyday for us to respond to on how we have done for that day? Also, will you be sharing main points of the book each day for those of us who do not have it, so that we may have the best chance possible to succeed ? I actually started mine a day early. I woke up, and it was only 9:30, so I thought i should just go back to sleep because this doesn’t start till the 1st. I laid there for about 10 minutes and decided that I should go ahead and get up, why not start 1 day ahead. For today, I have been quite productive and feel pretty good, maybe not not physically, but mentally!
Yes, ma’am. A new challenge post will be up every morning at 9 a.m. for you to check-in and tell us how you’re doing.
Great job on starting a day early!
@ Crystal and @ Andy, is there any way I could have have a copy of your book donated Since my small SS barely cover my bills, on my small amount of SS disability of just a tad over $500 a month. I would appreciate it so very much. I would be eternally grateful. achieve I really want to succeed in all ,,, Now I am off t
I would love to join Early to Rise!!!
I’m very excited about starting. I feel like I need the accountability. I’ve been trying to get up up for a while and have not done it. My daughter is 4 now and I’m ready to commit.
I’m in. I have been wanting to get up early, but lack motivation. My goal is 5:30 am. Really need to spend more time in my Bible.
Ill be getting up at 6:30AM. Enough time to do devotions, work out, and start breakfast before the kiddos wake 🙂
I’m in! I just bought the book. I am an introvert, homeschooling mom of 7, and wife to a wonderful husband who is able to work from home about 15-20 days of the month. I know from past experience that I like myself more, I am much more relaxed and able to handle life more gracefully if I am early to bed and early to rise. (Especially rise earlier than the kids!) However, due to chronic back problems and being able to read on my iPad after the lights are out (this is my downfall), I am in a vicious cycle of staying up late, getting up late, and feeling frustrated and behind all day long. So here is my goal: wake up at 5:30 and no iPad or iPhone after 9:00. Prayers will be appreciated. :0) Thanks, Crystal!
I am in. I am so excited!! My wake up time will be 5am. Right now, I wake up at 6am, get ready for work and leave for work about 20 min after I get up…:)
My goals is 6 am, to get in a short yoga session and get myself ready before the kids get up. The hardest part for me is going to bed early (I love the quiet evenings when the kids are in bed and never want it to end!) and I’ll also have to teach my early riser to stay in bed instead of coming in to cuddle with me 🙁
I’m so excited….I’ve been meaning to really nail this down for some time! I’m going to try to do it without the book, though, but I’m hoping to get a lot out of the challenge anyway with the support and accountability here 🙂 Thanks!
I bought the book and plan to join in! I think my time will be 7 am.
Good for you Laura Jane!
Okay. I am shooting for 6:00 MWF and 5:30 TTH. A friend of mine is offering a free workout class TTH from 5:50 to 6:40 and I know I really should go. I’m just glad I won’t be every morning:) . I also got a copy of the book. Looking forward to making some very positive changes.
This couldn’t have come at a better time…I am in!!! 5am is my time
OK….I CAN DO THIS!!! 5:30 am HERE I COME!!!!
My wake-up time will be 6am – as long as my kids are not up two or more times during the night. 🙂
Good plan Kerri. I have a similar rule!
I have a sleep disorder that causes me to feel exhausted even after 10 hours of sleep, so I can’t commit to a specific time (especially because the baby is up three times a night), but I will join in that I will carve out some quality morning time to get organized and do devotions every morning 🙂
Sarah that is AWESOME. Your fighting spirit is so inspiring. Thx for joining us.
I’m in! I want to say 10:00 wake-up but it would work better for 9:00 so 9:00 AM it is.
Sweet. Thx for joining the challenge Pat.
O my I haven’t been on your blog in a few months and I have recently been struggling with getting up and being productive. Today I stumbled upon this wow God sure knows where to send us for messages doesn’t he? I purchased the book now to start reading it and start getting up earlier I am going to set my goal at 6:00am I get up at 7:00am and I run around like a mad women not ok. We can start an hour earlier and maybe I get motivated enough to get up at 5am with time.
so excited to start this challenge!
Flor
My weekday wake up time will be 6 am, and bedtime will be 10 pm. Saturday and Sunday wake up times will be 8 am. This will allow me to sleep in but still rise earlier in order to be more productive on weekends. Can’t wait!
I need to work on this area! So I went straight to amazon and bought the book!
Forgive me if someone already asked but I’d love to listen to the audio version as well, which it said was included. I didn’t see a link in my email and purchasing it. What am I missing?
I’m very excited yet a bit nervous (if I’m honest).
Thx for buying my book! It’s not easy but nothing worth anything is easy.
Just open the book and instructions are inside. Thx!
I’m in. My wake up time is 6:30. I have recently realized I get more done in the AM, and I have a lot of priorities/goals I would like to work on more. 6:30 will give me an hour to get what I need done before having to be ready to leave the house. I’m going to have a love/hate relationship with this challenge, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end 🙂
You’ll HATE getting up earrly but you’ll LOVE being up early!
My current wake up time is any time between 7 – 8. VERY BAD. But I sleep really late. I want to change this habit. It’s a perfect time to have this challenge.
Good for you Uma. Thx for being part of the challenge.
I’m aiming for 5:30 am. I used to wake up that early in summer/fall and stopped for whatever reason and I need to get back. I’m ready!
Rochelle, good for you!
I’m in! Yikes! My goal wake-up time is 7pm! My kids are usually up with my hubby already (they’re up around 5:30 or 6) ** my youngest still wakes up a few times during the night so that will be tough for me- especially since i need lots of sleep and am up till usually midnight – but i NEED to get back exercising in the morning before hubby leaves for work! Mornings are the only way i think!! 🙂
I am going for 7 am in March…maybe in April I can push it even further back??
Good plan to take it in stages.
Found your site and this challenge on Pinterest- so glad I decided to click through. I’m in for this challenge- I will be getting up at 5:30, which I’ve been sitting my alarm for anyway, but find that I wake up and spend the next hour reading on my nook. Hopefully having a challenge will help!
Glad you’ll be joining us! Thx for buying the book!
well, since mornings & i don’t agree, i guess i need this, right? 😉 i will be getting up @ 6 AM ea. weekday during march. thanks for the challenge, crystal, & everyone else for motivating me by your responses already!
Waking up and I don’t agree but you’ll LOVE mornings. Way to take on the challenge!
I am in! I will be up at 5:30 each morning. I want to spend more time in the morning with the Lord. My time spent lately has been much shorter and I am feeling it big time. Thanks for organizing the challenge, Crystal! 🙂
He’s awake all day but I can only hear Him clearly in the morning.
5am! Ambitious I know. I’m hoping to land somewhere way earlier than my current 8am.
I’m usually up by 4:30 (if you knew what my day was like beginning at 6 am, you would understand). Sometimes the quiet morning time in the only chance I have to think and plan.
The biggest challenge is getting to bed at a decent hour to make this work.
I’m in for 6 am!
I’m in. I plan to be out of bed. NO later than 7 am.
Wendy, good for you. You can do it!
I’m in! I really need to be more consistent with my wake-up time so that I have enough time for myself AND my family in the morning 🙂 Thank you for coordinating this.
Crystal loves her readers!
I’m getting up at 7am, and going to bed by 11pm!
Judith, good plan!
I am in for 5am! Purchased and am anxious to read the book.
Excited to hear what you think Stacey! Thanks for helping feed my kids!
Yes! Thank you Crystal for continuing to encouraging us to get up early. This is actually one new year resolution that I have not followed through the last two months, and I was getting pretty discouraged and not sure how to get myself motivated. Thank you thank you for starting this challenge. I will try to blog about it as well. 🙂
I am committing to get up at 6am every weekday in March. Yay!
THx for blogging about it! That’s a big help to me and my “feed the Traub kids fund” 🙂
I would like to get up @ 5:00 a.m. I have so little time in the evenings to do things. If I could get up earlier, I could get some housework or devotional time in before I go to work. I am excited to be doing this with a group.
Isn’t it crazy how time flies in the evening. Mornings are a great time for self-care (and some work too).
This may just what I need!! I’ve been trying, without much success, to have a consistent early rising time. I’ll be joining this challenge. 🙂
Community will help A LOT!
My goal will be 6:30.
Good goal!
Thank you for this challenge! I am Gd willing waking up at 7:00 AM in March!
amen, thanks Crystal!
I would like to join but I won’t be purchasing the book. I was sick for 6 weeks with pneumonia and asthma which cost me mega bucks in medical bills. I also have to save for back surgery which had to be put on hold due to illness and finances.
Due to illnesses I got so behind and so out of sync physically and schedule wise that I got really discouraged about everything in my life. Sometimes health problems get me down more than anything else. I’m a single mom with 4 kids so I really need to be in good health to handle my responsibilities. Right now money is so tight I feel like a violin string.
I really, really need to get back into the swing of things because I think that will help me feel so less discouraged about things. I am committing to 6 am. I am not sleeping well because I am so worried about finances and getting things done but maybe this will help. I pray often and believe things will get better (I hope).
Anna,
I just said a prayer for you. You sound like you have a lot on your plate. I also have 4 kids and was once a single mom. It is so hard…but I truly believe that the Lord does provide. Hang in there!! You are not alone. 🙂
I would love to provide a book for you. Email me at [email protected] if you are interested.
if cost is an issue email me andy at earlytorisebook.com I know the author and I’ll talk to him for you 😉
Hello Angie and Andy, thank you for the kind offers but I am going to pass. I go by Dave Ramsey’s philosophy and I just was not going to purchase the book until a later date when my budget is better. Finances are tight but I need to learn from this time right now. God only gives us what we can handle. I appreciate your kindness so much. That cheers me considerably!
Angie, thanks for the empathy. I just feel sorry for myself sometimes and do get discouraged but discouragement doesn’t help the situation. I think this challenge will help get me back on track again. I have lost my way and I just need to find it again.
Prayers are very helpful too!
Anna, I’m adding my prayers in for you too dear sister. Fellow mom of 4 (married though) and asthma sufferer who knows all too well what that violin string feels like. Not to mention how staring at a pile of unpaid medical bills (for one of my kids) can rob one of much needed peace and rest! Ugh.
So, first of all, I would really urge you to reconsider Angie and Andy’s sweet offers of assistance. I know, I’d usually rather be the giver and do things/figure things out myself too. It’s hard to be humble in that way. However, one wise saint once told me, “don’t rob others of the joy of serving you”. The Lord will give you a chance to pay it forward one day.
Also, I am a Dave Ramsey follower as well, and I have heard him give away a book, or his FPU, or other resources for free when someone was in a tough spot and couldn’t afford to. He loves to give generously and bless others that way. 😉
Finally, when you do get into a better position, I would highly recommend the book and study “Calm my Anxious Heart” by Linda Dillion. It was a life changing and peace filling time of study for me. The scriptures she uses throughout the book have helped me and the ladies I studied with to have great victory over worry, fear and anxiety. We’re all sleeping better. God is so good. Maybe someone you know might have that book so you can borrow it?
Best wishes on doing the challenge and many blessings to you! Angie F.
My goal wouldn’t be to get up earlier but just to get up. I’m awake at 5:30 but don’t get out of bed until 6:30.
When I first started fostering kids in 2008 I was up at 5:30. Everyday had designated chores to accomplish. By Fri night I was free to have spontaneous adventures with the kids or just hang out at home.
I don’t know how I got out of that routine over the past yr (been blaming turning 50 & menopause :). I seriously need this motivation to get back on track!
Christine, the MSM community will definitely be an encouragement to you!
Perfect timing! I have been wanting to tap those unused early morning hours to try and carve out time to nourish myself. Although I’m tempted to swing for the fence and aim for 4am, I think I’ll be more successful if I start out with a 5 am wake up. I currently wake up around 6ish so 5 isn’t too big of a stretch. Just got my copy of the book & I’m ready to rock and roll!
Well said, they are an “untapped” resource.
I am in! I am not a morning person at all, but that is also due to the fact that I stay up way, way too late. I have always been a night owl (old habits die hard!). Now that my kids are not babies anymore (ages 2.5 – 8), their bed times and wake-up times are pretty consistent, so I am usually guaranteed a decent nights sleep, IF I can get to bed early. Since my kids wake up about 7:30, I am committing to getting up no later than 6:30, earlier if needed.
Jealous of your sleeping kids! ours still get up pretty often. Thx for being part of the challenge!
I am in for the challenge..Hope I do not leave in the middle because of my health issues..
I usually wake up every weekday at 6:00am. Will wake up at the same time 🙂
Thanks for all these …
Varsha, don’t be too hard on yourself. Just do your best.
I’m committing to 5:30 a.m. The REAL challenge will be getting to bed at a good time. Makes all the difference between success and failure for me!
It’s the key. You’re right Ellen. So what’s your bedtime then? 🙂
I’m aiming for 10-ish, which hasn’t been my bedtime since middle school! Ha! (I get a free pass if I’m talking on the phone to your wife though. Gotta get those conversations whenever they can happen.) Cool to converse with you HERE about THIS. Very excited for you, friend.
I decided to do this for Lent so we could have a better morning and out the door for school in time kind of day. This challenge will only help! Looking forward to it!
good time with Lent!
I forgot to say my time. 5:30am, it’s when my husband is heading out for work, so I’ll give him a kiss and get up too!
It’s time for me to do this. I am aiming for 5:30 right now, but ideally I’d like to end up at 5 am. No nursing babies or any on the way at this point, and I really need to do this for both myself and my family.
Start at 5:30 and move backwards. You can do it!
Very excited about this! It is amazing how much more I can get done just by getting up at a certain time. Just this one small act of self discipline has such a HUGE pay off.
So for me, it is 7:20 am.
7:20? That’s pretty specific. Good for you! You’re gonna do great!
Ugh! I don’t want to do this, but I need to! I love that all this is is a “get up earlier” thing. I’ve tried to do things like this before but they were all “get up early, exercise, read your bible, plan your day…” yadda, yadda, yadda. Tooooooo much for this mommy of littles! If I can just GET OUT OF BED, I will be doing great! I’m going to shoot for 6:00am.
Carly, you’re dead on. I’m all about “get up and do nothing but sit still and drink great coffee.” That’s a good morning right?
I am excited for this challenge! My wake up time is going to be 5 am, I hope I can do it!
Go to bed by 10 and you’ll do just fine!
Oh this is perfect. I am SO in! I’ve been slacking in this area. Even when I’m a wake I can’t drag myself out of bed right away so this will be the perfect motivation to do so. I just have to get my hands on the book.
My wake up time is going to be 6:30 everyday except Tuesdays and Saturdays. Tuesday my wake-up time will be 6am so I can leave for my speech class by 7am and Saturdays are my sleep in days {blush!} so wake up time on Saturdays will be 7:30.
Thanks for doing this challenge, Crystal!
Love my sleep in days 🙂 Good cuddle time with the wife. Great to have you as part of the challenge.
This challenge is coming at the perfect time! I used to be really good at getting up early, but since baby 3# (who’s now 20 mos!), I’ve struggled to get back in the habit. It was one of my goals for the new year, but I’ve still been pretty inconsistent. I need to work on the bedtime, too, but I’m committing to getting up at 5:45 when hubby gets up to get ready for work. Looking forward to reading the book, too, on my new kindle!
Love my kindle 🙂 thx for buying the book!
I’m on board and my wake up time to start is 5:30 🙂 and planning to get to 5
brave soul! you can do it!
The timing for this challenge couldn’t be better. We are trying to work on a better schedule for our family. I would like to get up at 6:00 every morning then wake the big kids up at 8:00 and start school at 9:00. I know that I will thrive with a little “me time” each day. I just can’t seem to get started waking up that early. I’ve been trying since last July!!!
Reesa, this is gonna work this time around! You have hundreds of sisters doing this with you!
I would like to purchase the book, but I don’t have a kindle. What can I do in this situation? Thanks.
Jen, great question. Just shoot me an email at andy at earlytorisebook.com and we’ll figure it out.
Hi Jen, I don’t have a Kindle either. It’s on my wishlist, but after 2 layoffs in over 2 years, our finances are too tight to even allow me to buy the book for this challenge right now. However, after he heard my lament, my very gallant and techy hubby took pity on me and downloaded a Kindle app for my Mac computer. I am really enjoying being able to download, and read, e-books now! (psst…Sign up for Crystal’s “e-readergirl.com” site for some great free and discounted titles daily!) Just can’t take them with me. They are stored on Kindle’s Cloud Reader, or to my computer, my choice. The Kindle apps are available to PC users too. (Windows 7 & 8, Vista and XP my brilliant son tells me.) Just go to the Kindle store @Amazon and you’ll see them right below the search box. Click on “free reading apps” and follow the instructions to download. Hope that helps! Much success on the challenge too. 🙂
I’m in! I’m aiming for 7 each morning. 🙂
I’m in!!! Ahhhhhh! I’m going to aim for 5am!!!
I’m in! My wake-up time is 5am. Which, honestly is when I *should* be getting up anyways instead of hitting my alarm for an hour.
Quit “shoulding” all over yourself. You’re gonna do awesome and thanks for buying the book!
I’m in for 6 am! I’m with the other ladies who posted about needing to focus on getting to bed early enough though. I also have an 8-year-old daughter who often doesn’t fall asleep till 9:30 or 10 pm.
Thanks for the challenge Crystal! I hadn’t thought about the time change though.
Isn’t she awesome for putting this together? And she helped pay my mortgage for about three months.
I am committing to get up at 7 a.m. This will hopefully give me time to do my daily Bible reading at the beginning of the day and some extra time with my hubby before he leaves for work.
He’ll like that 🙂
Okay, I’m in! 6:30 am here. Not early compared to a lot of you, and not much earlier than I usually get up. But it would give me some extra time in the morning and I would like to start small and hopefully succeed!
6:30 is PLENTY early. Thx for joining the challenge!
Okay this may seem late but I’m aiming for 7am. I am a night owl and frankly so are my family members. My daughter actually set her own goal for 8am and does very well on that. I had been joining her but I need to get up before her so I can have some me time.
K Quinn, good for you. 7 sure sounds early to me! You can do it!
Thanks Andy! Yeah 7 sounds early for me too Yawn!
Looking forward to it! I am committing to waking up no later than 915 am. If I’m up before great, if not 915 it is! Excited about participating and working on my morning productivity.
Jo Lynn, great to have you in on the challenge!
Looking forward to this challenge! However, I think I need a book called”Early to Bed.” =) I need to make my mornings more productive so I do not have as much to do in the evening. I am hoping to back my wake up/get up time to 6:30.
Early to bed is the key! You’ve got it!
I’m joining in! My goal is to rise at 6:30 each morning. Got my book too! Thanks for the challenge!
Thx for buying it Susan. Excited to have you as part of the community!
I’m in – 6:00!
Sweet!
I just bought the book and I am so excited for this challenge. Just this past Monday my husband and I were talking about needing to get motivated to get up early and get our devotions done and then work out.
What perfect timing.
Thanks!!!
I will be following the post , facebook and Pinterest and also encouraging my reader to do the same.
Thanks!!!! for the accountability.
Anna
Wow Anna, thx for buying the book and for being part of the challenge.
I love starting my day early and am a morning person so I will be up at 5:00 am during the week. I am excited to floow along and add this challenge to my morning routine.
Great to have you as part of the challenge Kelly.
I’m in. My wake up goal is 6-6:30 depending on how I slept during the night. I’m pregnant with #3 and have had lots of insomnia this time around. Being up before my kids is such a treat – I’ve done it before and the time is so precious! Looking forward to this challenge!!
ahhhh its finally here. welp.. i NEED to get up an hour early than kiddoes to get dressed, get hubby’s lunch ready, Bible time, (exercise ?), and get breakfast set up for kids before i get them up. so here we go. times may vary but usually weekdays 6:15am and saturdays (we all sleep in) and sunday 7:00 am! hmmm looks like maybe 6 would be a better goal to get that list done. sticking with 6:15 bc that’s attainable and really want to be able to do this!
good job ladies!
You’re brave. Don’t push yourself too much but I’m proud of you for having that goal. I pray that morning time is precious and sweet for you.
I’m in. 5:30am.
Sweet. My same time. Excited to hear about your progress. Thx for buying the book!
When I was pregnant, my midwife shared lots of neat advice about feeling ones best. When I read your post today, I remembered a tip she shared about vitamin D and waking up feeling rested. She mentioned that most Americans are deficient and would have a lot more energy and pep, especially in the morning, by achieving more optimal levels. God bless you and your readers with at least a million reasons to smile!
I just found out my vitamin D is low (normal is between 30-100 I think. Mine is 8). Just started prescription Vit D. Also going for a sleep study to see if I have sleep apnea. Hoping to figure out why I am always exhausted.
I LOVE MIDWIVES! We’ve been blessed to know and receive care from several of them. We take Vitamin D supplements every day. Thx for being part of the challenge!
I’m in! I have been making an effort to get up early lately, but with three little ones it’s a challenge. I need to start! It totally makes a difference in my day if I have that morning time.
We have three little ones too! How old are yours? We have a 5 and 3 yr old and a 16mth old. The 5 year old LOVES to get up at 6am 🙁
Hey there! We have a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a 7 month old. I feel your pain about the 6am thing. My son thinks that 630 is a fine time to wake up and creep around the house, coloring and the like!
I am excited for the challenge! I always visualize myself getting up earlier than I do and getting things done, having the chance to exercise, doing devotions, and just mentally prepping for my day, but it has yet to happen! Having two little 2.5 yr olds (twins) and a part-time evening job keep me busy all day and desperate for that extra hour of sleep in the morning, but I know I need that hour each morning to have as my own!! I am going to commit to 6:00 am and hopefully a bedtime of 10:30 or earlier. Excited!!
bedtime is key Sara. You can do it!
I’m committing to 5 am!
My goal is to use that first hour to pray, meditate and exercise.
Good plan Tara. Thx for joining the challenge.
I’m in! I typically get up somewhere between 6:30 and 7:00, when the kids wake me. 😉 My goal is going to be to get up at 5:30 every morning so I have time to exercise, shower, dress, and read my Bible before the kids get up.
Good for you! Thx for joining the challenge.
Because I have an inconsistent work schedule, I am commiting to wake up 1-1/2 hours before I need to leave the house.
It takes me an hour to get ready, so the first 30 minutes will be my answer to this challenge.
That’s a great plan. Way to be strategic.
I want to be in…I have the problem of not wanting to turn in at night, so I wait til the last possible second to stagger out of bed and get to work. I need to start doing a little exercise in the mornings! Am I the only one who is dreading the clock change, though? We will be “losing” an hour…that could add a little difficulty!
While we do “lose” an hour, it also means it will be lighter in the evenings, and Spring and warmer weather are coming! That always gives me a little more zip!
Melissa, what keeps you up at night? TV, laundry, Facebook? I hear ya…it’s hard to go to bed sometimes!
Actually, right now, I am away from home 12 hours a day – my husband is a stay-at-home dad, but I work full time with a bit of a commute. So, by the time we wrangle the kids into bed, I really COULD get in bed and go to sleep…but I feel like I should stay up for a little while and actually have a conversation with my husband. He’s NOT a morning person either. I wish I could just get by on less sleep!
We already get up between 4:20 am and 5:10 am depending on my Husband’s hours that day. I pack his lunch and make his coffee while he showers and dresses then I give him the weather report, tell him what I’m making for dinner and kiss him goodbye 🙂
Then I hurry and shower, take my meds, start laundry, pack the oldest daughters lunch and start breakfast before our brood wakes up around 6 am.
I CAN’T sleep in, if I do my day just goes all wrong.
I like getting up early 🙂 But I don’t know if I could do any earlier with a ADHD 8 year old that won’t fall asleep before 10 pm even though we tuck her in at 7 pm and a 2 year old that won’t sleep through the night. I need every minute of my 7 hours that I can get LOL
I’m in! Wake-up time will be 5:30. I look forward to watching the sunrise and spending time with God before the craziness of the day begins. I think I better go figure out how to set the timer on the coffee pot before Friday though…maybe the aroma will entice me out of bed.
We just got some new coffee and it has ABSOLUTELY gotten me out of bed earlier. good call.
6am here. My husband leaves for workat 7, so I am hoping to get to spend some quiet time with him.
awwwww. He’ll like that. thx for buying my book!
I’ve always been a night owl, even as a baby from what I’ve been told. That being said I did have a short period in my life where I changed and became a morning person after my second child was born. I’ve missed those peaceful quite mornings and would like them back. I usually wake at 6am to get the kids ready for school and to get my husbands lunch ready for work. I’m going to try and wake at 5 or 5:30. Thanks for doing this! 🙂
Karla, you’re brave! Thx for joining the challenge.
I’m in! Right now, my wake-up time is close to 8:30am, and I am aiming to wake up each morning in March at 7:00am (that is really early for me!).
Melanie, you won’t be alone though. What are your plans for the extra 90minutes?
I will committ to getting up by 7. I beleive I will be able to accomplish alot more in my day. Thanks for the challenge!
You definitely will. Don’t get too caught up in productivity though. It’s OK to just hang out and sip coffee too. Excited to have you as part of the challenge. Thx for buying the book Allie
5:30 for me…..
I say that knowing Spring Break is just around the corner and was so looking forward to sleeping in a few mornings…..
🙂
You can still sleep in a few mornings. I do and I wrote the book!
I need this accountability! I usually get up between 7-7:30, but I’m setting my alarm for 6 am.
No snoozing! you can do it! thx for buying the book!
Just what I need!! Very excited about this challenge!
My wake up time: 5:30.
I’m in. I just decided this morning to start getting up before the kids on March 1st. My goal is 6:00 on weekdays, 7:00 on weekends. I might give myself one morning a week off, we’ll see.
I’m a big fan of a day off 🙂 thx for buying the book!
I’m in and I’m excited. I plan to rise early at 5 am. I think this challenge and the accountability for 30 days is going to make all the difference. God led me to this challenge since I have been struggling with getting up earlier for a long time.
I’m grateful for Andy’s book and Crystal’s challenge.
I’m humbled by that Marsha. Crystal is so wise to make this a community effort. I’m so grateful to her.
Hello. At the moment I wake at 6 a.m. every weekday morning to get my kids up and ready for school. I’ve always been a night person, even as a baby, but there was one point in my life where I became a monring person for about a year or two. It was after the birth of my second child. For some reason (hormones perhaps) I became an earlier riser and I went to be at an earlier hour too. I liked the stillness of the morning, I loved it actually, and have been wanting to get back to that quite still time that I miss. I would like to wake up at 5 or 5:30 each morning, here’s praying I can get there. Thanks for the motivation! 🙂
Karla, good for you for giving this a chance. You’re wise and brave!
I’m in! I’m going to get up at 6:30 so I can get exercise in before I take the kids to school. Will we get less out of the challenge if we don’t buy the e-book?
Ashley, I think the book will really help you during the challenge. If it doesn’t just email me and I’ll refund you…NO ?’s asked. andy at earlytorisebook.com
Hi! I am in. I am shooting for 5:15am. Time to get a short workout in and pick up the house before going to work!
Way to take care of yourself first! Good call.
Count me in! I’ve been working on backing up my wake-up time since Christmas, and I’ve gotten it backed up from around 8:00 to around 7:00. But now my children are dragging me out of bed earlier and earlier =P and I’m realizing that I can actually do this. So I am setting a goal to be in bed by 11:00 and get up by 6:30. (If I don’t set a bedtime goal too, I’m going to be defeated before I ever start.)
Krysten, you figured out the secret. It’s all about the bedtime. YOu’re gonna do great!
Do you have to purchase the book to participate? We are on a $0.00 spending budget for the next few months due to some difficulties with my husband’s employment but I would definitely like to participate! My heart and home can use this challenge … we really need to set up our days for success!
I commit to rising at 4:45 M/W/F (the days I work outside the home) and 5:15 T/Th (the days I’m home).
Michelle
You can absolutely do the challenge without purchasing the book. However, if you’d like to have a copy, email me and I’ll buy it for you: moneysavingmom @ gmail dot com
email me at andy at earlytorisebook.com
Thank you both for your generosity!!
I will definitely pay it forward in the future, when our finances are in better order.
Michelle
My time to get up every day is 5:45. My husband’s alarm goes off then, although mine has been st 6:00. But his usually wakes me up so I should just get up and get going on my day!
I’m sure he’ll like having you around! Excited to hear about your progress.
I need this soooo much. After over a decade of insomnia and losing my mornings (or even into the afternoons sometimes too!) I need to claim my mornings and have productive days and restful nights not just for me but for my family. So I am aiming for 6am. It would be nice to get in my shower before I have to wake kids up for school and do their routine plus juggle a toddler and have to wake until she naps to get in a shower or anything else for that matter. Lol. The good news is I already pre-started I was up at 645 this morning and haven’t gone back to sleep. 🙂
Jennifer, you’re awesome! Way to get a head start on us and your day. Proud of you. Thx for buying the book.
I recently found the phone app called “Sleep Cycle” and it has been amazing! You turn it on and leave it on all night in the corner of your bed. It monitors signals from your body and can tell you how long you slept, how long you were in deep sleep, light sleep, rates your quality of sleep, etc. You also set a 30 minute alarm period and then it wakes you up softly when you are in your lightest sleep state some time within those 30 minutes. It is so interesting to see how I slept each night and it explains why some days I’m so much more tired than others. I feel much better when I wake up and have not overslept once since I started using it. If you have a smart phone I would really check it out. It’s actually one of the number one apps in many different countries, and I was lucky enough to have a friend tell me about it a few weeks ago.
I love Sleep Cycle too…I’ve been using it about a year and it is so interesting to see the stats! I think it does wake you more gently since it “feels” when you are sleeping lighter – at least most days – sometimes my wake window is during a heavy sleep.
interesting. txs for the tip!
That’s interesting. Is it a free app? I searched for it and found a few with that title. I’m intrigued and don’t understand how it can tell when you are cycling through sleep? Interesting….
The one that I mean is called Sleep Cycle alarm clock by Maciek Drejak labs, if that helps. It senses how much you are moving to tell how deeply asleep you are. I was skeptical but it has a setting to “test” it, so you can be sure it’s sensing you and not anyone else in your bed. In our king bed, it works great – not sure how it might be for those who sleep closer!
I’m in! My goal is 6:15 which should give me about 45 mins before the kids get up (all depending on how the baby is sleeping). This has been my weakness for a long time and I’m looking forward to the challenge and accountability.
I talk about that very app in the start of the book 🙂
Count me in — 5 am is my goal to make sure I squeeze in a full workout before getting my daughter off to school and going to work. I think this will make the rest of the morning (and possibly my entire day) less rushed and last-minute, which is one of my 2013 goals!
Cathy, I can honestly say I’ve never had a day of surprises when i get up early. You just meet the day in such a different way. Thx for buying the book and make sure to keep us posted on your progress.
I have been doing better about getting up when my husband does (6:30) but I would love to have some time in the word and that hasn’t been happening. I am going to commit to getting up at 6:00 am every morning for the next month!
Lindsay, that’s great. I hope it’s a rich time in the Word.
I am going to commit to 5:45 am. The problem will be getting to bed by 10:15 and not hitting the snooze button serveral times 🙂
Ginger.. this is me to a T!!! I am a night owl that wants to badly to be a morning person. I’ve failed countless days of getting up when my alarm goes off and not pushing snooze a million times BUT haven’t given up completely 🙂 Very much looking forward to this challenge and the positive changes for me!
Ginger, you’re dead on. Our 16 mth old LOVES to stay up late so getting to bed early enough can be tough. Thx for buying the book and I’m excited for you.
I’m SO in. I used to be so good about getting up and exercising and reading the Bible, and lately, I just….. haven’t. Not for any good reason. I need something to get me moving again.
I will be waking up at 5am every day (weekends will be the hardest!!) and to do that I need to be done with the day and winding down in bed by 9:30. Here we go!
You nailed it. Going to bed early is the KEY. Thx for buying the book!
I am in. *Yikes* I about need to be up by 4:50am to get my run in and other stuff done before the babes get up. So I will commit to that. Thanks for the push and encouragement Crystal!
Theresa, that’s early! Have a great run and thanks for buying the book.
I’m gonna give it a try! Just bought the book and plan to start reading it daily. My goal is to get up at 5:00 AM. I start work at 7:30 AM so this will give me time for myself, in addition to plenty of time to get ready. I’m prone to sleeping until the last possible minute and then racing out the door and on the highway trying to get to work on time.
Debbie, I think you’ll really enjoy taking your time in the morning. You’ll arrive at work less stressed and won’t be as stressed on the highway. thx for buying the book!
I have never never never been able to wake up early or go to bed early, but I’m doing it this time! Thanks for the challenge!
I’m going to wake up at 6:45am in order to shower and have a cup of coffee with my husband (I normally don’t see him in the mornings) before my kids wake up. Maybe even more important, I’m going to get out the door with enough time to walk my son to school and let him work out some of his extra energy. And NO MORE RUSHING!
Off to buy the book and get started on my challenge!
I am going to commit to getting up at 6:30. Current wake time is usually 7:30.
6:30.
I have a nursing baby waking me at night so that’s the best I can do, but I did get started early (today!).
I am normally up by 6am so going to aim for 5 for the challenge. I skimmed the book until I realized I didn’t need it, I have already experienced how life changing it is to get up early and this has been pretty routine for a while now. Best time to exercise!
Thx for speaking to the power of rising early! Way to go!
After reading everyone’s posts, I will just stick with one time througout the week and if I don’t have to at Starbucks, I will be productive with the extra time!
My time is 4:15! 🙂
Brooke, if you get up any earlier you may not go to bed! Make sure you go to bed early enough. That’s the KEY. Thx for buying the book!
I want to get up at 8. I almost don’t even want to participate because it seems stupid. Everyone else is getting up at 6. I wish I could. I LOVE getting up that early. But if I do I don’t get enough sleep and I get so sick. My husband works 2nd shift and we don’t go to bed until midnight. But I do want to be more diligent to devotions etc. This will help.
I don’t think it seems stupid at all! We all have to do what works best for us and our family situation. 🙂
I was going to put 8 too but didn’t because if all those posting earlier times! You aren’t alone! 🙂
You’re not alone. 🙂 We all need to do what is right for our families and ourselves and we shouldn’t judge one another! I’m sure there are a LOT of people out there aiming for that time frame but just don’t want to post it. There are so many factors that go into this and we can’t compare. 🙂 I’m aiming for 6:15 so that I can spend time with my hubby before he goes to work but I have a feeling it may be more like 6:30. 🙂 There were plenty of times in my life that it was 8:00, though!
Catherine, let me address your comment as the “guy who wrote the book on getting up early”. It’s NOT about what time you wake up. It’s about changing habits and taking care of yourself. You get up at the time that works for you and your family. No judging here! You can do it!
Count me in! This challenge has come at a time when on my own I had decided to make the most of my mornings–perfect timing! 5AM wakeup for me. 🙂
5am! Sounds crazy but it’s gonna be great. Thx for buying the book.
I definitely need to be more intentional about my mornings. I usually get up around 6 a.m., but want to start getting up by 5:30. When I get up earlier I am able to enjoy some quiet time with my husband while he is having breakfast and getting ready for work. I can also make his lunch and would like to have a more consistent Bible time during this time.
You nailed it Vanessa. IT’s about being intentional with the time. I’m excited for you. Thx for buying the book!
I am going to get up at 5 a.m. every day in March. This is an hour earlier than I’m currently waking. My plan is to use the time for yoga practice. Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed? Is that new position I haven’t heard of? That sounds like one I could actually do! Thx for buying the book.
I’m not joining the challenge since I’m due with our fifth baby at the end of March. I’m going to sleep in as late as possible each morning and nap as much as possible (amidst caring for my four littles) until baby arrives. At least, this is my goal, along with lots and lots of freezer cooking! 🙂
thanks for posting this, Charity. i am a wanna-be morning person, and i know i need to get up earlier than i currently do. but, i am pregnant with my 4th child. not sleeping well at all. have been waking up every hour or two to use the bathroom or because i am not comfortable.
trying to take naps daily when my kids do.
i was tempted to push myself to try this challenge, but seeing your post reminded me that i need to focus on taking care of my body and baby right now, and i can start a challenge like this after the new baby gets sleep figured out. 🙂
excited for all you others who are taking the challenge! you can do it, and i salute you!
I’m sure any woman reading here who has been pregnant, and especially pregnant while caring for small children, would agree that given our situations they’d do the same thing. I’m with you on being up every hour or so at night and not resting well. I’m 36weeks pregnant and I know at this point I better rest all I can, so if that means staying in bed a bit later in the morning and catching naps where I can, then so be it! 😉
Congratulations on your pregnancy and I hope that everything goes well for you!!
YOU GET A BIG OL’ PASS! You rest up my friend. Way to go and keep up the good work.
My whole family is on a late to bed, late to rise schedule. If I could have everyone up before 7:30 a.m. weekdays, that would be great!
Lauren, what about YOU? Can you just get up earlier than them? Wouldn’t that be heavenly? thx for buying the book!
I’m in for this challenge . . . my wakeup time will be 6 am. 🙂
thx for buying the book Hilary. You can do it!
I’m not a morning person but I’m trying to become more of a morning person. I started going to bed earlier which makes it easier but not easy. I’ve tried restructuring tasks to make use of the morning and be productive while respecting my personal clock. I’m looking forward to more tricks and tips.
I”m not a lottery winner but if I won I’d get used to it! That’s what becoming a morning person is like. It seems hard till you experience it then you’ll love it. Thx for buying mybook.
I have started a 5:45am Jazzercise class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am good about getting up those days, but need to get up on the other days at the same time to be able to get more done. Starting Friday, I’ll be getting up at 5 am every morning. Promise.
Rebecca, now you have hundreds of other women helping you stick to that promise! Thx for buying the book.
I’m committing to a 5am wake up time everyday. Getting up an hour before my household makes a huge difference and makes for a much smoother day. This is an awesome challenge and I can’t wait!!
Good for you Michele. Thx for buying my book.
I’m in!! I so need to rise earlier; I’m going to go for a 6:45 a.m. wake up. However, we are going on vacation the 3rd through 8th so I’m going to opt out on those days, since we enjoy our lazy family mornings on vacation 🙂
Sarah, TRY a few early mornings on vacation. You may find it to be extra special time. Have a great trip either way and thanks for buying the book!
Okay, I’ll shoot for 6:30am on every day except Wednesday and Saturday. 🙂
Good call. I take a day off at least once a week too and I wrote the book! thx for being part of the challenge.
I am in! 6am!
Way to go Monica.
I am in! Mornings are incredibly difficult for me. Hubby is up and out of the house for work at 0530. My 1st alarm goes off at 0600 🙂 My 2nd alarm goes off at 0620. Typically, I ignore both of these alarms and end up rushing around trying to get the kids ready for school and myself ready for work.
I commit to wake up at 0530 and get myself ready for the day before getting the kiddos out of bed!
Get rid of the backup alarm! You can do it! Thx for buying the book my friend.
This is our family exactly. I’m committing to get up at 5:45am when my husband leaves for work. I too really struggle through multiple alarms. And then we all end up yelling at each other and frantically trying to get to school with not a minute to spare.
Thanks for doing this! It’s just what I needed. I will be waking up at 5:30am.
Yen, that’s my target time too. Thx for buying the book.
I am IN! I am really excited about this challenge I am not a morning person at all but after 2 kids and having to be at work at 7:15. It makes for a long day when I just have to drag myself out of the bed and rush. I usually wake up at 6am, my goal will be 5:30 every morning.
I HATE feeling rushed. NOT feeling rushed almost feels strange. Excited for you and grateful that you bought the book.
I’m in! My time will be 6:30 am which I’ve been keeping to quite consistently for the past few months on *weekdays*. On weekends though, I revert back to my old habits of sleeping very late and then I end up feeling miserable when my bright and chirpy daughter walks in around 7:00 am to wake me up. I will use this challenge to wake up at 6:30 am everyday – weekends included.
Sumitha, good for you! I need to take a morning off every week but it sounds like you’re going to go for it all 7 days. Keep us posted on the progress.
I’m in with a goal to be out of bed by 6:00.
Is there merit in participating if we don’t have the book?
Unfortunately we are on a $0.00 spending budget this month due to some unforeseen complications with my husband’s employment so even $4.99 isn’t feasible … but I definitely think I could use this routine and time to “set up my day for success”.
Michelle, I’m in a similar position, and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to buy the book. I’m planning to participate anyway. I think the book will be helpful when I’m able to purchase it, but I think the group aspect will still help motivate me. Maybe the same will be true for you?
Sarah, send me an email andy at earlytorisebook.com
I’m going to do the challenge without reading the book – even if I don’t get everything out of the challenge, I know I will gain something, so its worth it for me. 🙂
Meghan, send me an email andy at earlytorisebook.com
Michelle, send me an email andy at earlytorisebook.com
Right there with ya Michelle! My car was our reason for no spending 🙂 Plus with having a 3 month old, I am not sure if I would be able to do the challenge anyways. I’m just going to “stalk” everyone and see how they do & work out the challenges. Just know you aren’t alone, it is ALWAYs nice to know that in any area of our lives! Especially for me and new mommy! 🙂
I am commiting to 7:00 am. I really needed to do this. When my morning start smoothly the rest of my day seems to follow. I also need to have a no computor or phone policy for the mornings. I end up wasting so much more of my day then I plan on it when I use these things. Looking forward to this challenge. I think I will get a head start and begin tommorow!
Sarah, look at you overachiever! Thx for buying my book!
I think this will be a great motivator for me. I am a morning person anyway, and sadly so are my two little girls, so getting up before them will be my challenge. They get up between 5:30 and 6:00 usually, so I am going to commit to get up at 5:00. I want to give myself at least 45 min before they rise. And really I need this to give myself time to spend reading the Bible, doing my daily devotions and having a prayer time before the craziness of the day sets in. Thanks so much for doing this!
I’m excited about this! My goal is to get up at 6am. My kids usually get up around 7 so I’m looking forward to a good hour of productivity beforehand!
Can you give them something to keep them occupied? My kids are the SAME way. They get up VERY soon after I do.
I am in. I do really well during the week. It is the weekend that throws my schedule off. I’m committing to 6am.
Weekends are toughest for me too. You might consider taking one day off too.
I am commiting to getting up at 530 every morning. I am so excited about this challenge. I have been wanting to “makeover” my mornings for a long time. Sometimes I truly lack self motivation :). This will be a great way to get me going!
Jessica, way to go! Excited to see the changes that come from your being in on the challenge. Thx for buying my book.
I am committing to waking up every morning at 7:30am cst. It addition to committing to waking up early to be productive I am committing going to bed at 11:30pm so that I can get the sleep cycles that my body needs. I am the type of person that likes to work backwards from when I want to go to bed which means that my night needs to be done by 9:30 or 10 pm.
That is where I am going to need to most accountability. I don’t like stopping my day until everything is done and sometimes that might keep me up til 2am.
I will be getting up by 4:30 everyday. I normally have to do this a couple times a week to take my husband to work. Now, I’ll just use those hours on other days productively. This also means that I have to create a bedtime for myself.
Lidsay, I am right with you on that one! I actually love getting up early when I am able to make myself go to bed at a decent hour, but that is the hardest part!
You figured out the trick…it’s about the bedtime!
I totally agree! Bedtime kills me and I definitely need accountability in this area!
I can’t decide between 5:30 and 6am! I’m in, though. Will settle on time later today.
Your “time” may move around. Don’t be too tough on yourself. Excited to have you in on the challenge. Thx for buying the book!
I will get up at 5am every weekday. My goal for my morning challenge would be to do 15min of exercise and 15min of general pickup of the house prior to getting showered and dressed for work.
You can do it Tammy!
I am really looking forward to this challenge. I have been trying to wake up early, but it is hard without a “reason” or “commitment”. I am going to wake up at 6:30 each morning.
The reason is for YOU! Excited for you to see the changes that will come from this.
I’m in! I’m setting my alarm for 5:30! I usually try for this anyway but I’ve been slacking on the alarm part :). My husband leaves for work at 5:30 so this way I can say goodbye at least!
He’ll like that. Way to go!
I am in. My wake up goal will be 6:30.
I’m going to give it a try! My current wake time is around 5:30, I’m going to push it back to 4:45. I’m usually up at that time anyway, but I lay in bed and be lazy until my alarm goes off, which is definitely not the most productive start to my days!
Whoops, my reply was meant to be a reply to this post, not to this specific comment – I’m sorry!
wahoo!
if the prednisone lets me I am aiming for 6:00. I’ve been getting up at 6:30 since I started them as opposed to 7:30 before my allergic reaction so this shouldnt be too much of a stretch for me – I hope. good luck to everyone, may we all be successful!!!
I need to do this–my mornings function *so* much better when I get that little bit of extra time at the start of my day!
Question, though, my kids tend to be early risers and it’s kind of pointless to get up a half hour earlier and they end up getting up with me and demanding breakfast!
I had that problem. I ended up getting up early enough that they were still sleeping heavily and I had to get the kids on a strict bedtime and morning routine. My kids aren’t allowed to get out of bed until 7:15 and they get breakfast at 7:30. No earlier 🙂
For our early riser, we bought an inexpensive alarm clock and put it in his room. We told him that he had to wait until the clock said 6-0-0 before he could get up. This really depends on the age of your children, but any child who knows their numbers could be taught to do this.
Or you can put a sticky not with the desired wake up time and tell your child the numbers have to match. Someone gave me that suggestion for my early riser that was too little to understand the clock 🙂
I am going to try to be up by 6:30. I say try, because I have a one-year-old and I am pregnant and sleep lately has been, well, inconsistent.
You just do your best my friend. No one hits the target 100% of the time.
Thanks, Andy! That makes me feel better.
I have been waiting for this post all day! I am IN!
Michelle, you’re gonna love it!
I’m in! But I can’t post a my *wake-up* times will be different depending on Starbucks… or is that the problem – the inconsistency in my wake-up times??
Or I could just pick one time for a Starbucks morning and one time for a non-Starbucks morning? 🙂
I’m super excited about this challenge though!
The way I set mine up is what is that earliest I need to be up during the week. That is my every day wake up time. If I find that I am too tired on the other days then I push my bed time earlier. Or I might take a nap when my daughter does 🙂 That is how I am going to do this challenge. We will see how it works for my family in April but I can commit to try it for one month.
The goal is not a time, it’s changing habits. So do what works for YOU! Excited to have you in the challenge.