Grit For An Early Start

Over the last couple of weeks, I've read many articles about how successful people start the day.  They all have common threads, including an early start, exercise and meditation, and a good breakfast.  While many get up at 4:30am to start their day, I have decided to start with getting up at 6am.  This is my second week of implementing this and it's interesting to notice the resistence to it this week.

Last week, I was full of enthusiasm on Monday and Tuesday, getting up, practicing 30 minutes of yoga, plus meditation, plus journaling.  Then just meditation on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  I had my days planned, I knew what I was doing from minute to minute and I got a lot done.  I was exhausted on Saturday and actually fell asleep on the couch for a couple of hours, something I rarely do.

This week, the enthusiasm has waned a lot.  I admit, it's only Tuesday.  However, I'm tired.  It's harder to get up at 6am when the alarm goes and it's takes me 30 minutes of lying awake to pull myself up out of bed.  I manage 5 minutes of yoga and a 13 minute flowdream (by Summer McStravick, www.flowdreaming.com).  I'm set to sit at my desk at 8am to write my first blog of the day, and start working.

This week is challenging.  I also know that by sticking with my new daily routine, that by next week, I will feel great getting up in the morning.  The yoga routine will stretch to 10 minutes.  My energy levels will increase.  As a holistic therapist, I'm very aware of a process called a healing crisis.  A healing crisis is basically feeling like crap after getting a treatment, having a yoga session, or simply refocusing how I manage time to become more effective.

Sticking with this new practice takes patience and perserverence.  It takes grit.  Why am I sticking with it?  Because I know that my life will change for the better, and the things I'm focusing on will start to grow.  All because I'm managing my time, and my energy, so that my life will go the direction it will go.

Grit is the stubborn refusal to quit - Jonah Lehrer

Have you got grit?