What waking up at 4am taught me in 2018….
Reposted from Rogue Water (Rogue Water is the communication consulting company founded by the —Arianne Shipley, Stephanie Zavala)
Confession. I like sleep. Actually, I don’t like it. I love it. The idea of spending all day in bed reading and listening to music with intermittent naps—heaven on earth. I also love movies—like REALLY love movies. I saw the movie Gladiator in the theater seven times. At any given moment of any given day something will remind me of a scene in a movie, the musical score of a movie, or some obscure movie quote that Arianne, my business partner, never understands. However, as I’ve learned, sleeping and watching movies take up a lot of time. Time, as I’ve found, is our most precious resource. Yes. The water girl just said time—not water—is the most precious resource. Here’s why.
For the past year I’ve been waking up early. How early? 4am early. It started as 5am, but if your life is like mine and you want to exercise, the only way it gets done is to start early. So 5am became 4am. I’ve talked about my morning routine on the podcast. Arianne makes fun of me about it. I’ve even had several friends say they could never get up that early or they feel like a loser because by the time they are having their first cup of coffee I’ve been up five hours.
Sure, those comments make me feel like some sort of rockstar. It’s nice to have people tag me or forward me articles on LinkedIn about the billionaires and CEOs that also wake up at 4am. But let’s get one thing straight.
Waking up at 4am is a beating.
You’re talking to the same girl that used to run algorithms that would make Facebook proud to calculate the last possible minute I could set my alarm to and still be on time. I’m the same girl whose mother was nervous any time I was forced to have an 8am class in college. I’m the same girl whose sleep patterns could have put a hibernating bear to shame. During most days in the summer when I was growing up, I didn’t begin to stir until well into the afternoon. I scoff at the 7-8 hour sleep recommendations. Give me 9-12 hours please.
My point is, I’m not Wonder Woman because I get up at 4am. I just have something worth getting up for now. I just want something more than I’ve ever wanted something in my entire life.
Time.
I want to revolutionize the water industry through communication. That takes time and an investment in myself. I have a skill to hone. I have people depending on me to bring my A-game every day. I have to have my mind right. I wake up at 4am because no one else is awake. The house is quiet. The email is quiet. Social media is quiet. No one is expecting anything from me. I can read what I want. I can write what I want. I can listen to music. I can pray. I can meditate. I can think. It’s my time and I can use it however I want. Waking up at 4am is a beating, but now when I don’t, I actually miss it. I miss that me time. I miss those two hours I get to invest in myself.
We’re rapidly approaching that time of the year when we inevitably start thinking about goals and resolutions. I wanted to share this with you because I wanted to remind you of something.
You are capable of anything.
Anything.
You just have to want it. You have to want it in your bones. You have to find ways to hold yourself accountable. Cut yourself some slack when you slip up. There is no shame in starting over. Remember you aren’t alone either. There is plenty of inspiration to lean on.
I’ve been told I’m inspiring, but I can only inspire because I’ve been inspired. I’m only the conduit. I’m only adding light to what’s already reflecting through me from other people’s work. There are so many amazing books out there, but these are three that truly lit a fire in me. Add them to your to-do list for 2019 and see if they light a fire in you too.
Start: Punch Fear in the Face by Jon Acuff
Finish by Jon Acuff
When It’s Your Turn by Seth Godin
If you want to learn about how communication and collaboration can amplify your efforts, check out the Water in Real Life podcast hosted by Rogue Water co-founders, Arianne Shipley and Stephanie Zavala.