I am not an introvert, but I do like my alone time. I like to have time without noise or distractions where I can think and just do what I want without interruption. The only time I have available is before everyone else gets up in the morning. I have tried staying up late, but teenagers can always outlast me.
Yesterday, I had a lot of things I wanted to get done. I drew up a list Friday night. I found this works better for me since I usually forget by Saturday morning and then waste an hour or two trying to figure out what needs to be done. In keeping with my post from last week, I tried to keep it to only those tasks that must be done. Still, that quickly extended into a list of a dozen things. From past experience, I knew I was in trouble. I usually can’t get that many things accomplished in a day.
When we were going to bed Friday, my wife asked when I was going to get up. I replied 6:00 to which she laughed. Six o’clock on a Saturday? That helped stiffen my resolve and I made it up by 6:30. That little goading by her probably saved my Saturday. Without the dig, I probably would have been happy to sleep in and give up on my ambitions. Instead, by the time the family was up, I had already completed my weekly review and had taken the car in for an oil change and tire rotation. Two things checked off before 9:00!
The rest of the day went very well and I was able to cross everything off my list except one – this post. By the time I got to it, my brain was too tired and my body too sore to want to tackle it. I felt good about putting it off until today.
Getting up early really helped me focus and get moving before the distractions began. But I can’t do it day after day unless I get to bed earlier. I have two teenagers that thrive on staying up late. That part has to change for me. I have to find ways to go to bed, even when the family does not.
I used to scoff at the people who said they loved getting up in the mornings. I thought it too difficult. I am a night person and prefer staying up late. That part still hasn’t changed, but I do agree with the early risers now. The morning is the best part of the day for getting things done.
