Getting up early...an experiment in discipline (and caffeine?)

Being off work for two weeks over the holidays has wreaked havoc on my sleep schedule. I love sleep. I never outgrew my teenage love of sleeping in. On the flip side, mornings are my most productive (assuming I can drag myself out of bed). I can stay up late every night, but I also want to get up uber early each morning to seize the day. Are you sensing the problem yet?

I recently read a tip from Jeff Goins that one should get up early in the morning to write. Start your day by accomplishing your writing, and it will give you a boost throughout the day. I really love this idea. It would be a great way to tackle my thesis. But can I do it? In an ideal world, I’d get up at 4 or 5, write for an hour or two, then shower and go to work. But, that means going to bed by 9 – maybe 10 at the latest? And by getting up that early, I’m sure I’ll be exhausted by the time I get home at 5 or 6.

Sure, I can supplement with copious amounts of caffeine, but I need to cut back on that. Plus, I read recently about everything the brain does developmentally while you sleep – only affirming my love for sleep. So I sit at a crossroads…how do I make the most of my time? I’ve always hated the cliché that you make time for that which is important you to. But unfortunately, it is true. It’s time to really discipline my days. That thesis is not going to write itself, Megan.

I'm starting an experiment by waking up at 4:30am tomorrow.  Hopefully I’ll write.  Soon, you’ll know.