Yesterday was a very rainy Monday. It also was the day David and I decided to put a new habit into practice. We are currently on day two of this new routine so it’s a bit soon to call it a new habit I suppose, but here I am, talking about it on the internet anyway.
I’ve written a lot about how the past year was a very chaotic time for our family between home renovations, selling, moving temporarily, then moving into our new home right at the holidays. My personal mantra to myself during this past year was simply “I’m doing the best I can” sang to a boppy little tune on repeat inside my head on most days.
Now we’re here on the other side of the craziness, settling happily into our new space, gaining some normalcy, and ready to begin creating new routines. One thing we’d noticed is our bedtime, or should I say go-to-sleep time, creeping back a little further over time, and without any real purpose. Sometimes it was scrolling, or watching a show, or just dillydallying, but the result was it being harder and harder to hit that early wake up time we strive for. So, we decided to do a hard reset and just jump full into the new habit we wanted to establish- an early wake up and morning workout. So, here we are, giving it a go!
Establishing New Habits
For a whopping two days in a row now, we’ve gotten up at 5:30 and headed to the gym. The commute is quite reasonable so that helps. Jokes aside, after working out in our crawlspace for four years, the upgrade to having a dedicated home gym still blows my mind every time I walk in the room.
The hope/plan is that we get up, get in our 30 minute workout, start the coffee, then I have the ability to get a little computer time in before walking the dog, showering, and starting the day with the kids. Right now it works because the kids are on the loose system for school. We’re finishing up math books and reviewing over the next two weeks and that will finish up our year. So this is what it looked like yesterday:
- workout
- blog
- shower
- quick Finley walk
- checking on the garden and collect the first “harvest” of kale!
- math (magnatiles have been a staple in our home for 10 years and are still being used to help illustrate volume concepts)
- how to win friends and influence people for teen girls book club with the girls – I read this aloud and we go over the concepts together, role playing and discussing situations we’ve been in. I leave out parts that I don’t like or aren’t applicable to our tween/teen situation.
- leftover spaghetti and cake for lunch with a little read aloud of The Hobbit
All that and it was only about 12:45.
Around this time, kids showed up at the door to play and they all took off. I started laundry, picked up the living room, cleaned the coffee maker, and debated a couch nap. I felt like I had been awake for a full day at this point! Though I’m sure the rain didn’t help.
We usually do afternoon workouts, so knowing that was already checked off, I had a full rainy afternoon ahead of me without much of a plan. Now, there were things I could have done, like start painting the wallpaper prep in the powder room or wrapping K’s birthday presents, but my energy was low. Was the rain to blame or the early wake up? I’m not sure.
A friend stopped by to bring her daughter a sandwich and I did everything but chain her to the chair to make her stay and chat with me and I realized I might be craving some social interaction. There was a break in the rain and I joined two neighbor friends on a walk until the rain really returned in a fierce manner. The kids thought the rain was a playground and I spent the rest of the late afternoon watching them play, washing eggs I picked up from the coop, and prepping dinner.
Evening
Eventually the evening came and the kids, soaking wet and happy about it, dispersed to their homes. I used the kale from the garden to mix into our pasta with the old trick of straining water over the greens to wilt them. Then we ate our chicken picatta (I omitted the heavy cream since I didn’t have any) and salad.
The kids went to shower. David finished up some communication on the cabins. I cleaned the kitchen. Then we all watched a special on the Edinburgh Castle in preparation for our upcoming Scotland trip, but honestly, I could barely keep my eyes open. I felt like I had been up for 24 hours, so it wasn’t long until I was tucked into bed, heading off to dreamland by 9:15 or so.
Now it’s morning again and I’ve knocked out day 2 of the earlier wake up and workout and am feeling quite good about it. I’m hoping my body continues to adjust and my afternoon energy is a bit better today. We shall see! I’m curious…
How do you fit exercise into your day?
Are you currently working on establishing any certain habit?
Do you have a person that motivates you to make certain choices/pursue better habits?
I draw inspiration from a lot of places, but most recently it was a podcast with Dean Graziosi that kicked me into gear to make this change. And I’m lucky that David and I are on the same page with a lot of this, always wanting to level up if we can. I appreciate he’s always game; accountability helps!
Amber says
I’m up early for runs! I find it is REALLY hard to want to workout in the afternoon so I do all I can to get it done in the morning. I will say that for some reason I can run easily in the morning but lifting is hard for me in the morning. Maybe because I like to run more? With that said, I have a goal of starting to lift more and run less so maybe I can start that alongside your new morning workouts 🙂
As far as the afternoon energy slump.. I seem to have it regardless of if I wake early or not and if I workout or not. I think it is the constant interaction of homeschooling/life that is a lot for me as an introvert. I try to take walks in the afternoon to help with the slump. Interested to see what you find.
I’m loving your blog posts lately! (and lets be real, the last 10 years!) Have a great day 🙂
Grateful Kae says
So funny how people are different! I’ll generally happily lift in the morning, but the thought of doing intense cardio/running/ sweating too much right when I wake up sounds SO unappealing to me!! We need to somehow rub off on each other I think. Ha.
Grateful Kae says
Argh, this is an ongoing “thing” for me. It would really, really, REALLY be helpful if I could just get up and do my workout first thing. But, my strength workouts usually take closer to an hour. And my older son leaves for school by ~7, so I try to be around with him between 6:45-7 as he’s getting ready, etc. I just have the hardest time getting myself out the door to the gym in the 5:00 hour! I’m extremely envious of your big home gym! Also, over the years, I have adopted a quiet morning routine of tea, some reading, planning, sometimes blogging, etc., and I obviously don’t have time before 6:45 to do an hour long workout + my quiet time! It’s a constant conundrum over here. I have been aiming to go to the gym on my lunch hour 2x/week, with evening workouts the other days + weekends (Fridays I often just take off, or do a short yoga video). But I often get pretty sweaty on my leg day (Tuesday) so I am not really loving doing that on my lunch hour…. another reason a.m. workouts are great- it is much more practical to just workout, then take ONE shower and be done for the day. I also have to fit in walking our dog Charlie in the morning, too. Basically I just need more hours in the day, or to mutate into someone who only needs like 5 hours of sleep. HA. Perhaps now that’s summer/ light out I should join you in this 5:30 a.m. workout quest, though! Hmm. Food for thought. 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
I’ll second your need for more hours in the day, please! Though what you said it spot on, taking just a morning shower is pretty nice. I actually find myself wearing real clothes, too, instead of putting on workout clothes in the morning and wearing them all day until I workout.
What strength program do you do? Do you love it?
Grateful Kae says
I just recently switched back to doing Emma Montgomery’s EmPowered Fitness workouts. I had been doing them for quite a while, then switched up this past year to Sohee Lee’s ‘Momentum by Sohee’, and now just switched back to Emma’s! I DO really love them! This recent switch back has felt really good. I enjoy the style so much. What do you do? Do you write your own? I feel like I totally could, but am too lazy mostly. lol.
Brittany Dixon says
I’ll have to google that! I’ve used Madeline Moves app for years. It’s so easy and has 5 new workouts each week that each have a 30 or 60 minute option. Sometimes we talk about switching it up just to try something new but I love the convenience of Madeline’s set up!
Grateful Kae says
Oh, I have never tried Madeline Moves! Hmm that’s intriguing! I do like the 30 minute option. I usually aim for a full 60, but sometimes it just does NOT fit in my day and would be nice to have that 30 minute option right there, too! I am currently just re-doing some old Emma workouts that I had saved (no current subscription), so maybe I’ll consider joining Madeline Moves for a while! Thanks for the tip!
Laura says
Hi Kae I just saw your comment about your strength workouts taking close to an hour. I used to do the same thing (55 minutes of body pump) but have found breaking that same workout into three 20 minute sessions has worked much better for me. I find I lift heavier and more intensely because I know it’s only 20 minutes. It’s also easier to fit in the 20 minutes and make it a daily habit. I used to miss my hour long strength training regularly because I often didn’t have the time for it. Now I’m way more consistent, and on the rare occasion I do miss I know I’ll pick up again the next day. Anyhow, just my two cents! I hope you find a rhythm that works for you!
Esme Sarkar says
I’m currently an afternoon workout gal, but I want to switch to mornings. I don’t like to workout in a fasted state, so I will have to have something before working out. How do you do it? Do you workout fasted? How long do you wait after eating in the morning and working out?
Brittany Dixon says
I’m still figuring that out since I’ve been an afternoon workout girl for so long. Right now I’m working out fasted, but with less preworkout than usual. I usually like that preworkout boost but it’s a bit much for me first thing in the morning!
Right now I’m doing fasted + 1/3 preworkout scoop and creatine + workout + Greek yogurt and chia seeds right after + real breakfast about an hour later.
I don’t think it’s perfect so we’ll see what it develops into.
Kathy says
Good job on the new routine. For years now, like 20+, I have been working out at 5am. But it helps that I have an accountability partner. I have always been a morning person, so that does help too. It is so hard for me to do any kind of workout later in the day. It is like my body does not even want to move that way. Now that spring is here, I am also trying to walk outside every evening. I am also trying to get to bed earlier. I am just shy of getting 7 hours of sleep and I would like to increase that but it just hasn’t happened. :/ I need to work on that.
Again, good job on your new focus/routine. And AGAIN, I am loving that you have been blogging every day. 🙂 Also, can you share that recipe of the cake your girls made that you shared on IG? That looks so delicious.:) Thank you!
Brittany Dixon says
Happily! It was so good and spring-y!
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/lemon-blueberry-layer-cake/
And I’m impressed with your consistency of 5AM for so many years. Inspiring!
Kathy says
Thank you for the recipe. 🙂
Laura says
I’ve had a really good system the past few years at my current job but undoubtably will have to re-evaluate when I start my new one. I do body pump for 20 minutes on my lunch break (12:20- 12:5) 3 times a week, and Pilates the other two days. Then at the start of 6th period (my 55 minute planning period) I go on a 1 mile trail run loop right out my classroom door (most every day). I eat lunch and work then change when I get back (luckily I don’t sweat too bad in the dry Colorado air). Being on a school schedule (where there is a literal bell to tell you if you are late) keeps me accountable, because I’m not so great at maintaining a schedule on my own. And it helps that the weight room is connected to my classroom. I’m not sure if it’ll be easier or harder at my new job, but all I know is that I’ve reaped the benefits of a consistent workout schedule and I know I won’t drop the ball on it at this point in my life. My school starts 20 minutes later (7:30 instead of 7:10) so I’m open to the idea of knocking out a morning lift, although it’d be in the living room.. It is nice to do the run right after though since it minimizes cloths changes.
By the way- I’d love to hear more about your Scotland itinerary/ plans!
Brittany Dixon says
Where do you do body pump during your lunch break? That’s impressive commitment!
Laura says
My (old shop) classroom is huge! I project the workout (I have a Les Mills online membership) onto the big screen, turn off the lights, shut and lock my door, and lift. It’s a pretty sweet set-up. I even have a few other teachers that join me.
Laura says
And change my clothes in the tool room- HA!!
Taryn says
Good for you for trying something different! I have always been an exercise in the morning girl. 3 days a week I go to the gym and twice a week run. All from 6am – 7am. 6 months ago I started waking up 20 minutes early (5:10am) to sneak in my Bible reading time. I am reading the entire Bible in 2025 so that quiet dedicated time is key for me to get it in (and actually understand what I am reading). It definitely took awhile to get used to the earlier wakeup time, but honestly I am exhausted at the end of each day no matter what time I wake up so…
Brittany R. says
Hi Brittany! I’ve loved your blog for years! I use the SimplyStrong app. The woman behind it just changed its name to that. It was fhm+. It’s so good! Been using it since December. She offers 3, 4, or 5 day options as well as either 30 or 45 mins. Focused on progressive overload so you are repeating the workout for 4 weeks straight/1 month which is pretty cool because by week 3 or 4 your form really improves and generally you are able to increase in either reps or weight! The app is amazing, walks you through movement to movement with a proper warm up and cool down. She also has a “simply strong” facebook community too that she is very active in. Her name is Tami Smith- and also with the app there are endless recipes too. If you’re looking into a change I couldn’t recommend the app enough!! She is super caring and puts a lot of heart into what she does. Have a good weekend!!
Brittany Dixon says
Ohh… SimplyStrong sounds really interesting! I love Madeline Moves but might look into it to just bring something fresh in to try/switch it up. Thanks for the rec! 🙂
EmilyS says
have a blog post idea for you! give us a tour around your gym, what equipment you have, what you use the most, etc. I’m designing my home gym right now and am at a loss for what all to buy!
Brittany Dixon says
I need to do this but keep holding off because it’s not “done.” However, I’m starting to learn that done is an illusion and every room in my house is a work in progress, so I’ll put it on my short list!