How Waking Up at 4:00am Changed My Life And How It Can Change Yours Too!

How Waking Up At 4:00am Changed My Life And How It Can Change Yours Too!

That sounds crazy right? Waking up a few hours earlier than normal can’t really be life changing, can it?! Well for me, it absolutely was.

Last year was probably one of the hardest years of my life. My family and I relocated to a new town where we hardly knew anyone besides a few family members, along with my kids and I starting over at a new school and a new job for myself. I was in the process of finishing up my Educational Leadership degree along with navigating my new job and school. And to top it off, my dad passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly. I was trying so hard to keep my head above water and to stay positive for myself and my family but mentally, I was drowning. This, of course, took a toll on not only my physical health but every other aspect of my life.

I was slowly losing who I was and I could feel that spark that kept me so happy and motivated slowly start to dim. I had to do something.

As moms, we often times neglect our own needs to put the needs of others, especially our children, first. That’s just how we are made- call it Mama instinct! I was so engulfed with ensuring that my kids were happy and adjusting to their new life that I never stopped to ask myself- “How am I adjusting to all of these changes? How am I feeling?” I just kept pushing along as most parents do, not taking a moment to pause and truly focus on my emotions. Slowly but surely, I was losing who I was.

I’ve always been really big on exercising. It’s done wonders for my mental health and going to the gym was part of my weekly routine. However, in the midst of moving, that routine got put on the back burner. There was just no time! I realized that maybe part of my mental struggle was the fact that I was not taking the time to exercise- but when was I going to go the gym?! There was no possible way to fit it into my already jam-packed schedule! That’s when I decided I would have to do things a little differently. With a lot of encouragement from my coworker who is now one of my best friends, I started a routine that I thought I could never do. I started waking up hours before I had to to take some time for me. It was not easy by any means as I thoroughly enjoy my sleep! I am the type of person who usually sets about ten alarms that are all five minutes apart just to ensure that I am actually out of bed by the time I need to be. However, once I got over the hard part of getting into the routine of waking up so early (4:00am to be exact) it has now become such a big part of my life that I actually look forward to it! Slowly but surely, with this new morning routine in place, I felt like myself again.

Something so simple ended up being one the best decisions of my life.

Here are the steps that I took to get into the habit of my new morning routine.

I started this in January of 2023 so it has now officially been an entire year me making this change. Now I would be lying to you if I said I stuck to this routine all 365 days of the year! However, on the days that I did sleep in or allow myself to take a little break from that 4:00am wakeup call, I absolutely noticed a HUGE difference in my mental health that day.

So remember part of having a routine is sticking to it- no matter how uncomfortable or tiresome it can be at times!

1. Get in bed EARLY!

2. Exercise.

have to rush back home in time to get both myself and my kids ready for school. I decided to purchase an at home streaming fitness program that worked great for me! I also had accountability partners who woke up with me and helped to keep me motivated and on track! I normally do a 30 minute workout as that time frame fits perfectly into my routine. Also, take your gym/workout clothes out the night before. I put mine in the bathroom, that way I have to get up and physically walk there, wash my face, and get dressed for my workout!

3. Time with God.

4. Coffee and a protein-packed breakfast.