The year 2018 was not a good year for me. Two things that will send someone into a crippling depression happened to me... As I am still healing from this most recent one, I don't want to go into much detail. But for the rest of this post to make sense you'll need to know that Vincent and I are no longer together, after 8 years.. As time goes by I expect I will be able to open up about it.
The past few years I have been stagnant. I still started a Master's program and got a new job as a manager, but I was just existing. I wasn't actually living my life. At the beginning of October I started a 6 week fitness challenge at a CrossFit gym in town. I lost 15 pounds and began to love myself again. But I still wasn't happy.
It took the earth shattering, heart breaking, event to make me realize that I needed to do something about the way I have been living. I was one of those people who got up, went to work, came home and sat on the couch watching TV and waiting for the next day, just to do it all over again.
Nobody wants to live like that. It's not living, it's existing. I decided that I would start saying "yes" to new experiences. I wasn't going to be a "yes man" ...or woman. But I was truly going to try new things with new people.
I downloaded Tinder, not as a way to hook up with people, because that's not who I am, but to meet new people and try new things. I'm still having trouble getting out and about with people, because if you've ever been on Tinder, it's a little creepy some times.
On Sunday, my accountability coach from the gym I go to reached out to me to see if we could meet. This was exactly what I needed. I instantly said yes, and we planned to meet up Monday (yesterday) before a class started so that we could talk and then I could join in on the class. Which I did, and I worked my butt off, it felt amazing. I also beat my personal record and did a 55 pound shoulder press!
Back to the important part, my coach told me about his sleep schedule and how he wakes up at 5:30 am every day. He then sent me a video that talked about some of the benefits of waking up at 5:30.
The benefits from the video were:
The past few years I have been stagnant. I still started a Master's program and got a new job as a manager, but I was just existing. I wasn't actually living my life. At the beginning of October I started a 6 week fitness challenge at a CrossFit gym in town. I lost 15 pounds and began to love myself again. But I still wasn't happy.
It took the earth shattering, heart breaking, event to make me realize that I needed to do something about the way I have been living. I was one of those people who got up, went to work, came home and sat on the couch watching TV and waiting for the next day, just to do it all over again.
Nobody wants to live like that. It's not living, it's existing. I decided that I would start saying "yes" to new experiences. I wasn't going to be a "yes man" ...or woman. But I was truly going to try new things with new people.
I downloaded Tinder, not as a way to hook up with people, because that's not who I am, but to meet new people and try new things. I'm still having trouble getting out and about with people, because if you've ever been on Tinder, it's a little creepy some times.
On Sunday, my accountability coach from the gym I go to reached out to me to see if we could meet. This was exactly what I needed. I instantly said yes, and we planned to meet up Monday (yesterday) before a class started so that we could talk and then I could join in on the class. Which I did, and I worked my butt off, it felt amazing. I also beat my personal record and did a 55 pound shoulder press!
Back to the important part, my coach told me about his sleep schedule and how he wakes up at 5:30 am every day. He then sent me a video that talked about some of the benefits of waking up at 5:30.
The benefits from the video were:
- The Time Boost: Getting extra time, or more time than most people. Steve Jobs used to wake up around 5:30 and used his extra time to get a head start at Apple.
- Fitness Consistency: Go to the gym in the morning, when you have your energy. As opposed to going after a long day at work or school, when you come home tired and hungry. The time boost gives you the flexibility to work out before you exhaust your brain.
- Creativity Hours: How do you normally spend your time after 10pm? Late hours of the day are almost always spent unproductively. When you wake up early you're able to focus and spend time and energy on things that really matter to you. (Goals, Dreams, Ambitions)
- The Lone Wolf: Nobody is awake at 5:30am, there won't be anyone or anything to distract you from accomplishing your goals.
- Habit Construction: Since nothing happens that early you're free to dedicate your time to building habits, which takes consistency.
- The Money Grind: You can create a side income, by creating a stream of income based around a system that generates money automatically. Things such as investing, starting a website, a popular instagram account, or even a youtube page.
After watching this video I had to give it a try. I woke up at 5:30 today, made breakfast, did dishes, made my lunch for work, and looked into some financial things that I normally wouldn't have been able to attend to after work. The whole day I was more awake than everyone, more energized, and I was even happier than I have been in a long time.
I've decided to continue waking up this early, and see how the consistency effects my goal setting/achieving, productivity, fitness and of course, my happiness. Who knows, maybe all waking up at 5:30 will do for me is make me go to bed sooner, but as I stated above, I'm sick of existing. I want to live, and if trying something as crazy as getting up at 5:30am helps me, then why not?
What are your thoughts on the 5:30 am theory? Any questions or comments about anything else going on in my life? Let me know!
"You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously."
So, so proud of you, Sam! I’m so glad that you’re writing and goal planning and doing things to truly live life! I am so excited to hear more about your journey!!
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ReplyDeletegosh...I can relate to almost all of these emotions. We need to talk...we are so very much alike. I love you and am here for whatever you need
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