I’m lying in a recliner, the sound of white noise and a red light surrounding me, when my wrist starts to vibrate. My Garmin tells me it’s 4:55 a.m. – time to wake up for my workout.
I slowly peel myself out of the chair where I was reading books to my one-year-old ten hours ago and tip-toe across the floor out of his bedroom. He is teething and has been in and out of sleep all night.
“Am I really doing this?” I think to myself. After a crap night of sleep, I have every excuse to crawl into my own bed and at least close my eyes for a few more precious minutes. And yet, I’m in the bathroom splashing water on my face, pulled by that feeling of accomplishment I’ve come to crave after a pre-dawn exercise routine.
When I first moved to Fairfield County with a four-month-old and learned there was a group of women waking up before the sun to squat and lunge their way into the day, I thought, “No f*cking way.” My baby was still up half the night, and my toddler slept even worse. There was nothing you could do to get me out of bed when I didn’t need to be. But as we slowly pried our way out of the baby stage and our kids started sleeping (mostly) through the night, I began to consider.
As a working mom, it is all I can do to get my kids out the door to daycare with brushed teeth. Even when I have time during the day, the motivation and energy seem elusive to lace up and exercise. The idea of completing something for myself before even making the boy’s breakfast was appealing.
I joined a wellness program that involved six weeks of three early morning workouts a week. To my surprise, I never missed one.
Despite the offense of setting my alarm with a four at the beginning, I started to notice things change. I would come home at 6:30 in the morning, a much happier, more joyful mom. My body felt tighter, and my energy actually improved. Every once in a while, my husband and I would even get a beautiful 15 minutes to talk and be together before the pitter-patter of feet began.
I am not saying this routine is for everyone. When you’re in the throes of sleep deprivation, nothing is more important than your head on your pillow. But, the benefits of pulling myself out of bed have been worth it.
If you’re even still reading at this point, I will bet you are at least slightly interested in joining the 5 a.m. club. Here are three things that have helped me be consistent.
1. Go to bed!
Some nights I am in bed by 8:30 p.m. with lights out by 9:30, 10 p.m. at the absolute latest. I have mostly swapped nighttime TV for reading a book in bed, which helps me avoid unnecessary late nights. I know those hours after the kids are asleep can feel like the only time we have as parents that is our own, but if you go to sleep instead of scrolling or binge-watching another mediocre reality show, the mornings could become that time for you. And I have found I’m much more productive at 5 a.m. than at 10 p.m.
2. Turn on the lights.
I’m lucky my husband and I both like to get up early now, so most mornings I can turn on the bedside lamp as soon as my alarm goes off signaling to my body that it’s time to wake. If he wants to sleep more, I immediately go to the bathroom, turn on all the lights, and splash cold water on my face. It can feel impossible at first, but usually, by the time I leave my bathroom, I am alert and ready for the day.
3. Coffee.
Again, it’s not for everyone, but I love a cup of coffee before a workout. I set my coffee maker to brew the pot automatically, so it’s already brewed when I come down the stairs. I also drink a full glass of water before caffeinating, but that little extra boost helps me go for the extra rep in class.
Another huge piece of the puzzle for me was finding a community of like-minded crazy people wanting to do this together. Rather than streaming a workout at home, physically driving to the workout with other live bodies waiting for me has helped me stay consistent and, weirdly, get a little addicted to this routine.
For workout classes and wellness options in Fairfield County, check out our Guide to Fitness, Health, & Wellness in Fairfield County. Wherever you find your sleepy-hours crew, I promise you’ll be glad you did!
