Parents always complain that there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. That they don’t get enough time to themselves. So, is getting up at 5 am the only solution?
If you’re a mum of a newborn or are still getting up for night feeds you wouldn’t look twice at this trend, but if you’re at a stage where you’re regularly getting your eight hours, you might be intrigued. But still... getting up at 5 am?
There are successful people out there (mums included) that swear it makes them extra productive and gives them a head-start on the day. They also say you feel more in control and are more positive.
However, I for one am not convinced. Here are some reasons why.
Exercise vs. sleep
One reason that people like to get going extra early is that it gives them time to exercise before they face the day. This does seem logical – you’re more likely to be up for a workout at the crack of dawn rather than when you’re ready to crack open a bottle of wine. However, if you’re a parent and you own a pedometer, you’ll know that looking after kids is akin to running a marathon. I’d choose extra sleep over extra steps. Any day.
Be extra productive?
I do like the idea of having the house to myself for a couple of hours before my two monkeys rise and shine. Theoretically, I could savour my hot cup of coffee, mop the floors and then make a start on the laundry pile. The reality is that I’d wake everyone up faster than you can say "Nespresso machine". Having 3 hours to kill before we dropped my eldest to school would not set me up for the day…
Food, glorious food
I’m someone that gets hungry the minute they wake up. So, if I was getting up at 5 am, I would be sticking my porridge in the microwave by 5:15. Trouble is, where would that leave me when it comes to lunch? I normally eat at 12, rewind that by two hours and I’d be wanting to eat my sandwich at 10. Following that, will I eat my dinner at 3?? Most of us have done that when we’re catching an early flight to a far-flung destination; I don’t think I could make up for being out of sync by downing a few cocktails every evening though…
Aaaannnddd... relax
If everything goes to plan, then as soon as my two boys are settled in bed we try to switch off and put on a series for a couple of hours. It’s something I look forward to every day. It also means that I’m relaxed by the time I go to bed. Getting up early means going to bed early and I wouldn’t sacrifice chilling in front of Netflix for doing extra cleaning first thing. I might not be caught up with all my chores, but at least I’m caught up with all my favourite shows!
