Not a morning person? It might be time for a wake-up call
Here’s why you shouldn’t sleep on your goals.
Is the sound of the alarm clock in the morning enough to send you back under the covers? While you may be more of a night owl than a morning person, if you’re snoozing through the prime hours of the morning, you could be missing out on not only an important factor in building your business, but even more importantly, dedicated time to take care of your well-being.
Take it from the Queen of Mornings herself, Kyley Chymko. Kyley is a business owner, fit entrepreneur, and mother of three who’s also studying to become a personal trainer. She fits all of her pursuits and responsibilities into each and every day starting at 3:30 a.m. (yep, you read that right).
“Morning are enjoyable for me,” she says. “They became even more important after I had my first daughter almost 17 years ago. I realized I needed some time to myself. Time to just be me.”
Kyley says that previously, she experienced guilt prioritizing her own needs during time with her children. “I’m sure other working mothers feel the same pressures,” she says. “By starting my day so early, it allows me guilt-free time to do what I love without disrupting my family.”
The Schedule
Kyley hits her alarm at 3:30 a.m. and begins each day with a moment to get grounded. She sits at the edge of her bed and visualizes positivity. “With a clear mind and razor-sharp focus, I’m ready to start my day,” she says.
Next, she gets dressed, makes sure to hydrate, and takes the Advanced Genetics supplements she swears by: Athlete’s Superfood and GP3 EVO. Then it’s time for breakfast and studying before heading to the gym for 5:00 a.m.
Her workout is done and dusted by 7:00 a.m., at which time she’ll take the dogs for a walk and get school lunches prepared. Her girls are up at 7:30 a.m., and out the door and on the way to school by 8:40 a.m., giving Kyley about 10 minutes to get ready for her first client’s arrival, just in time to start the workday
Troubleshoot Your Morning
Let’s face it: Some mornings are harder than others and clocking another couple hours of sleep likely sounds preferable. When you’re just not feeling it, Kyley recommends not sleeping on your goals.
“Setting a goal, and remembering your ‘why’ and who you’re doing this for will be key,” she says. “My ‘why’ is to show my girls that you can do anything you set your mind to.”
Kyley also places motivational notes around the house and in her day planner as reminders to stay focused. Additionally, she finds it helpful to talk to other women who are struggling to balance their own schedules, and she says communicating about what works for her is a strong motivator.
The Wind-Down
So you’re up at 3:30 a.m., and decidedly wishing you could hit the hay by 6 p.m. An early bedtime never hurt anyone, but Kyley says being prepared and planning ahead can make a world of difference in the wind-down process.
For her, the work-day finishes at 5 p.m. when she collects her youngest from daycare, and prepares the kids to get ready for their extracurricular activities. “Next step is dinner, baths, and bed,” she says.
She’s a big believer in meal prepping, which happens ritualistically on Sundays and Wednesdays. Substantial time and effort can be removed from eating when the guesswork is taken out of the equation, and your focus can be placed simply on assembly.
“My youngest is usually in bed by 7:30 p.m. which allows me a bit of time with my older girls. Generally, we are all in bed and fast asleep by 9:30 – 10:00 p.m.,” she says.
Leaving a jam-packed day behind, she’s ready to wake up and do it all over again the next day. But that’s what’s so rewarding about her schedule: Every hour is used to its full potential. “Instead of focusing on the hours you don’t have, focus on the hours you do have,” she says.
