What do you do if you get up really early?

[Domoresteps]

I was up before 5am this morning. Teenage dc is up too so no chance of going back to sleep!

I have made a cup of tea, put the dishwasher on and about to read my book.

Wondering what people do at this time of the morning if they are not getting ready for work.

My LO is my alarm clock, I don’t get my own morning time before the chaos begins, it’s all go go go for me. However, I get some downtime when she’s down for a nap in the afternoon x

Buddleia my DH and I are always up before our DS on Christmas Day ... we've never been woken early ... perhaps being an only child he wasn't as excited as children with siblings!

Those of you getting up at 4:30/5 What time do you all go to bed?!

it depends on how busy work has been, but on bad days/weeks I can't keep my eyes open after 8.30pm

normal weeks I'll go to bed anytime between 9.30pm-11.30pm

Worriesome I feel your pain DS1 was always a ridiculous early riser and was full on, I never had anytime even to just gather my thoughts and felt run ragged.

It does pass eventually though, and you'll properly be conditioned into early mornings by then, and hopefully appreciate the lovely peace the rest of its early risers get.

Work day - coffee, social media browse, bits and bobs of housework, cook breakfast to send dc's off with full bellies, packed lunches, laundry.
Weekends- coffee, social media browse, laundry, you tube.

I naturally wake up between 5am and 7am, and am usually in bed by 10 - ish.
I have most energy in the mornings.

I force myself to stay downstairs until 8:30-9 ish then go up and read/ mumsnet for a bit. Usually asleep by 10, awake naturally around 5am

I was never an early riser until I had children and now I have kind of got used to it. I go to bed about 11ish.

I get up at 5am every day. I empty the dishwasher and reload, put a load of washing on, prepare a packed lunch, wake up DH then go swimming before work. I'm useless in the evening though. DH is an owl as is our eldest they stay up late chatting

Since WFH got the past year I login at just after 6.00am most days - while my brain is fresh I can work uninterrupted on more complicated tasks and reports for a couple of hours before getting pestered by emails and zoom calls - also means I don't have to work into the evening to keep on top of things.

I have my alarm set for 6am, but I'm always up before 5.30am. I get up, shower, have breakfast, get ready, walk the dogs and then I wake youngest up for school at 6.45. Make sure he's eaten and dressed by 7.30 and then I drive him to the bus. Home by 8am and that's when I start work. I love having this much time before work.

morning 👋

Morning all! I'm sitting with a coffee and watching the rain. It's lovely and fresh. I've always been a lark too. I have way more energy in the mornings so I like to have a shower and then get on with the day.

@AmIPeriOrAreYouJustAnnoying

Those of you getting up at 4:30/5 What time do you all go to bed?!

About 11:30, I’m not a good sleeper.

Have you all always been early risers?

I need to be up at 6 but really struggle, despite being asleep by 10.30 most nights.

Please share any tips to make early starts my new favourite part of the day!

Would love to be an early riser. Currently struggling at 7am… also lay in bed on my phone for ages upon waking. Not a good habit.

no rain here yet and it's still warm, so I've been sat in the garden drinking coffee.

Have you all always been early risers?

I don't think so, I've always had reasons to have to be up early like jobs and stuff, can't say I found it easy. Having an early riser DC for many years is probably what has now set my body clock.

I love my 2 hours in the morning before the world wakes up. Just me, my cats and my coffee. Right now I’m lounging in the hammock in the garden enjoying the cool air. It’s supposed to get to 32 here today (not in UK).

I normally wake from 5 to 6 and do journaling, meditation and yoga. Some mornings I just browse on the internet and enjoy my coffee. I am in bed by 9:30 most nights.

I'm always up by 5. Live alone so no one else to wait for. I have read a bit, eating my breakfast now and then will run up the fell outside my house before coming back and starting work.

I've always loved being up early, but was sometimes defeated by the actual getting up. I grew up on a farm though, and had chores before school and no long lie ins at the weekend. I was still involved with all that when my first child was born too. She just came with me.
So with children and work, plus dogs, it's been forced. Even as a teen I was ready for bed by 9.30, unless I was out. I suspect I'm a natural lark and I'm grateful as circumstance required it.
I'm not good for anything much after we have dinner around 6pm. We clear up from that, and watch a bit of telly/read etc.
Just me and DH here now. He'd sleep his life away if he could, he loves bed! But my eyes ping open at first light in the summer, and usually by six winter, and so I embrace it.

@LoonyMoony it's tough if you're not a natural I've read a number of blogs that suggest a good before bed routine (it's so helpful to have clothes/food/ coffee pot etc ready as it cuts decision making when you're too sleepy for it) It's definitely easier to get out of bed when you're not avoiding last night's washing up too, so we make sure that's done.
Setting your alarm 5 mins earlier each week can help too i think, if you've got the chance to do that and you haven't already started your new 6am routine.
If I could go back in time I'd take my own advice there, as when my children were primary age we all got up at 7am and it was chaos!
In my next life I plan to be super organised and get up before the rest of the household!

There's also a lot to be said for getting up 15 mins before you must, so just a little bit of time for yourself - slow tea, meditate, read.
The blogs I mentioned all suggest leaving your phone off until you've done your morning routine. I'm still working on that one - I have a guilty MN habit. I'm careful about what topics I look at though - only peaceful ones at this special time ♥️

I got up at 5.30 this morning, 2 cups of tea in,bit of cat pandering, repotted some plants, and I really ough5 to go fo a walk before work …lazy arse.

Not quite as early but looked over my to do lists, used my stepper and did a Jo Wickes workout.

And learned that baby dormice are as small as a raisin, sadly can't find video online to verify this fact.

Read the newspaper/play with Milo. Eat my breakfast and also pray at the same time too. I also check that Milo has not done anything unwanted.

I would love to get up at 5am, but am a total night owl and find it really hard! I did manage to get up and do a 20 minute hiit session before 6am last week, but my hay-fever is so bad at the moment its knocked me for 6 so no chance of getting up!

@Fnib thanks. It’s definitely not my natural rhythm. Would love to change it. Would you mind sharing the blogs you talk about please?