I’m an introvert. I love my alone time.
But I stay at home with my family and they like to climb all over me.
I have an infant, who obviously needs me–a lot. I have a cuddler who likes to be as close to me as possible as often as possible; I feel bad when I have to ask her to move out of my personal space, because I know it hurts her feelings sometimes. I have a 6-year-old-going-on-15, who wants to talk to me about all the things, and then gets offended, deep in her being, if I don’t hear or answer her as she desires. My husband works from home half the time, which is wonderful and a blessing. To top it off, we have two large dogs, who like to be underfoot. Literally.
All of this closeness means I have very little space in which to process life the way my brain likes to.
So to save my sanity, I have learned to wake up before the rest of the crew.
1 – I love coffee, and I love it best when I can enjoy it alone, uninterrupted, and can finish the whole cup while it’s piping hot. That’s not to say I don’t love coffee with company, too. I really just love coffee.
2 – Early morning is my best time to be quiet with my Bible. OK, with my Bible app on my phone. Wycliffe would be so amazed. But regardless of the medium, having even 5 minutes to read the word in the morning changes me and my perspective and purpose in all the hours that follow. There might not be a specific revelation that comes each day, but my spirit is fed, and I am better equipped for the rest of the day.
3 – I can write. This is when my creativity is loosed. I have to be deliberate to write, but there are not many quiet hours, especially in the summer. All my thoughts can be put down more easily when people aren’t asking if they can make slime, or when Wild Kratts isn’t blasting from the TV.
4 – I take my time first. When I have my early morning time on my own, I find myself less inclined to be in self-preservation mode through the day, grasping for rest when I really should be focusing on what is happening around me. This makes me less frustrated by my family when they just want me to be present and available. And honestly, I feel more rested when I get up earlier, order my day, and do what I intend to; feeling afraid that I’m already behind, and something I ought to do is hanging over my head, is so draining.
5 – I can get more done because I’ve prioritized the day. I learned this from the Hello Mornings crew, over the past many years. (If you need help with this whole getting up early and preparing for your day, hop over there and find motivation, accountability and some really helpful tools.) Sometimes I even accomplish some of the day’s chores before the rest of the family gets up and moving.
6 – I make myself go to bed earlier. I am by nature a night owl. This creates a tendency to burn the candle at both ends. But getting up at 6 something means it’s necessary to go to bed before midnight when my infant will be up a couple of times to nurse. When that’s the case, I just can not stay up past 10. My eyes don’t let me.
7 – I’m ready. When everyone else gets up, one by one, or all at once, I am ready for them. Rather than glaring at them from my warm pillow, and resenting their audacity to wake me, I can actually greet them and welcome them into the day. There is a sweetness in the morning when I can set the tone by being prepared.
Speaking of… the kids are up. Sam is up. But I already had time, so I’m ready for the day. And that’s a good thing, because we have a play date scheduled this morning!