What's the earliest you've had to get up for work?

[FellowGlower]

I've just got a new job and two days of the week I have to get up at 4:30am. I've been staying positive about it but now thinking have I made a mistake. Im usually up at 6 on a normal day so hoping the 1.5 extra hours won't make too much difference.

Would like to hear of others experience with early starts and any tips to make it more manageable.

DH used to work crazy shifts. The only thing I can suggest is that you sleep whenever you can, you’ll probably need a nap on those early days.

I was going to say 4:30. I used to work at McDonald's from 5am. It was good in some ways as you get a lot of time later in the day, but it was also knackering because I never went to bed in time to get a full night's sleep

On occasion had to get up at 5 but would only be 1x per week but could be every week for a few months at a time. had a job where would travel alot so eg if I had to go from north West to Midlands and drive there and back in a day would be up at 5. As a "one off" or very occasionally it's fine.i think I would struggle now with 2x a week every week

I had to get up at 4.45 or 5am every day for a very long commute. It was either a drive then a train, or a long drive if I was visiting a different location. It was hard and didn’t get easier over the three years I did it. Before that I had to be out the door around 5.30 for a long drive at least weekly in another job.

My tips are practical:

The obvious one is go to bed in time (I’d be asleep by 9.30)

Shift as much as you can to the night before ie choose clothes and have your shower before bed not in the morning)

Prepare lunch and breakfast the night before. My breakfasts were all portable eg nut and seed bars that I could eat on the train.

I don’t know what time you’ll finish work and be back home but in my case, I wasn’t home til around 7 so I had no time for anything social during the week. It was home, tea, bath, sleep and repeat!

I couldn’t do it now and honestly I feel much healthier now I don’t do that early start.

Luckily for me, 6am. However, a few of my colleagues actually start at 4.30am. Different things work for them, some are in bed by 9pm, others work, then have a nap.

Hope your new job goes ok.

Dh gets up at 4.30 every morning for work. Gets home 6.30 ish. Bed at 9.

5:20 was the earliest, 5 days a week, my body time clock got used to it eventually but Monday mornings were always tough.

In bed light out by 9:30pm or I would be knackered the next day.

I used to get up at 1:45 to go do a cleaning job at 3:00. It was awful. 4:30 wouldn't feel so bad but that's because I'm used to my toddler waking me at 5😅

During Covid, I was managing a online grocery delivery warehouse. We normally began 'picking' items at 4am, but because we couldn't keep up with demand we were told to start at 2, so woke up at 1 🥱 I don't know how I survived, but I did for over a year!

• Figure out how much time you need to sleep, and work backwards to ensure you get enough sleep. For some weird reason, I could sleep 4h 10m, but if I stayed asleep longer than that I could barely wake up!

• A classic, but put your clothes/bags out the night before. It helps!

• Play loud, hype-y music in the shower/on your way if that's your thing. I did a lot of Macklemore, show tunes, Taylor Swift, Coldplay. No classical or slow music!

• Use some the free time you'll have later in the day (because of the earlier start) to do something YOU want to do. I used to feel guilty about this but honestly, it's technically your sleep/rest time. Vegging out in front of the TV for a 45m episode of something does wonders.

• Get a good coffee travel mug 😂☕️

I work in retail & start work at 6am on 3 or 4 days of each week so this means I get up at 4.30am.
I don't like it in winter, frosty mornings etc but it's quite nice in spring & summer when the mornings are lighter.

I work Flexi hours by that it's upto me what I do pretty much at one point it worked for me to do 4am start so I was up at 3 always amazes me how your body gets used to it.

I've been up at 4.30 to travel, but only very rarely. I can do early starts it's late finishes that I can't do

I meant to say too that my breakfast is prepped & my work clothes sorted too the evening before. This way I don't disturb DH or the pets too much while I get ready to leave.
Oh & check my work bag/stuff is all together. I sound a bit OCD but feel more "ready" if I'm not rushing about looking for keys or things

I get up at 4 if I'm on early shift. Start at 5, 15 minute drive away. Could get up later but I need my coffee at home before I leave. It's a killer. Thankfully I only have one or two a week. Some people do it everyday.

Used to be 4:30 but been 5 the last couple of years since they changed the opening time of the shop. I make sure I get everything lined up ready to go. Kettle is filled, coffee, sweeteners, mug etc on the worktop. Clothes ironed ready to go. Make up is lined up on the table too, which I put back in the bag as I go. Lunch and snacks also ready to go! I can be up showered and ready to go in about 45 minutes now!

Used to get up 4.30am x 5 days a week then do a physical job and was awful. Now just do it twice a week, still awful but not as bad.

I get up at 5, 3 days a week. Working in a supermarket Bakery, start at 6. I go to bed between 9.30 and 10. Occasionally I do 5 early shifts a week when colleague is on annual leave. The good thing about it is, it's easier to meet up with a friend for a cuppa or if you have an appointment duch as dentist, you can book it for late afternoon without needing anuual leave.

A 20 min nap when you get home helps to survive the evening and then I'm in bed by 9pm

During the 2012 olympics I had to catch a 5am train to get into London for a 9am start 😂 despite having distant views of Canary Wharf from my bedroom window (just to show I didn’t live that far away!)

I used to be cabin crew, so there isn't an hour I haven't got up at! 😂

You learn to be able to sleep at any time, any where. If you are going to bed earlier, or catching a nap later in the day, an eye mask and ear plugs are great. Just set your alarm really loud! Sadly it's not the same now I'm older and I long for those days of being able to sleep in strange places at any time of the day.

I couldn't do that long term, I'm a terrible morning person and hate the process of getting up whatever the time but early is awful. It would seep into my whole week, I wouldn't enjoy the evening before because I'd be resentful of the early start. I'm not sure what my earliest was, I would suspect about 6.45 as it was my longest commute but was only for a year.

03:15
I used to work in an airport, that. Pretty normal for any airport staff.

3.45am for a 4.45am start

DH has a five hour drive, to start work at 9am. I'm the softy that gets up to make his flasks while he's in the shower!
Fortunately its just Monday mornings, he gets home on Thursday nights.

When I was commuting, I'd be up at 05.00. You'll probably find it easier to get up at the same time everyday tbh. It does mean an early bedtime though. I used to aim for 22.00. Trouble is, it's hard to then lie in at the weekend as you tend to wake up early.