Have you ever struggled to wake up early and maintain a consistent routine?
Over the past year, I embarked on the journey of starting my own business, drawn by the allure of entrepreneurship, a new lifestyle, and the freedom of being my own boss.
But reality painted a different picture. I toiled for over 10 hours each day, juggling tasks like emails, website building, finances, marketing, and tending to customers. Even during family TV time, my mind raced with thoughts about the next day, birthing new marketing ideas.
As the day drew to a close, my mind continued to whirl, making it hard to fall asleep before 3 AM. This sleep deprivation took a toll on my well-being and productivity, a problem that had persisted even when I worked full-time and studied part-time.
Somewhere in my mind, I'd toyed with the idea of waking up early for about six months. The aim was to begin my day with journaling and meditation, setting a positive tone. Despite various attempts, like setting alarms and even incorporating it into my daily hypnosis, success eluded me.
In April, I made some changes. I cancelled my Netflix subscription, realizing it offered little of interest and often kept me up late watching TV. Simultaneously, I dusted off my old alarm clock because, surprisingly, my Apple Watch, while consistent at waking me up, seemed to make me even sleepier.
Then, recently, I came across a book called the "5 AM Club." In it, I found the missing piece of my puzzle—a structured morning routine. I finally grasped that my lack of direction in the early hours hindered my progress. I often felt lost, uncertain whether to have breakfast first, take a shower, or dive into meditation.
After just two days of reading the book, I naturally woke up at 6 AM on the first day. As I continued reading and learned how to structure my morning, by the third day, I woke up at 5 AM, and on the fourth day, I was up before the alarm even went off.
While it may seem simple, I had conditioned my mindset for six months. When the right moment came, everything fell into place effortlessly.
In the fourth and fifth weeks, challenges emerged.
Adapting to My Body's Needs: Being a woman, I realized that my body underwent physical and hormonal changes. During my period, when I felt exhausted and my mindset was clouded, I allowed myself to rest. I used this time for more journaling, reflecting on the progress I had made in the past three weeks and identifying areas where I could improve.
Mastering the 5 AM Club has been a transformative journey for me. I've learned
information we find in the market may not always fit everyone. There's no one-size-fits-all solution.
Flexibility and listening to my body and emotions have been key to making things happen effortlessly.
And there's no such thing as failing; it's all about learning and growing. If I can't wake up at 5 AM today, then I aim for 6 AM or 7 AM and try again tomorrow. The important thing is to keep trying, never giving up.
It's not failure; it's persistence.
One day, I'll master this routine flawlessly.
And so can you for whatever you would like to master.