The 5 a.m. Update

In my last post, I talked about waking up at 5 a.m. to start my day with journaling and stretching before my kiddos emerged from their room, demanding apple juice, snuggles and picture books.

It was a nice routine. I’m sure I’ll do it again.

But holy crap, I got tired.

Maybe it’s because it’s the end of my cycle and I’m due to get my period any day. Maybe it’s because Nathan and I were watching Season 2 of Making a Murderer and I get rattled easily, so I had trouble falling asleep at my usual 10 p.m. bedtime. Or maybe it’s because I’ve been walking more and more and my muscles need a little extra rest. Who knows? All I know is that last week, it felt great to roll out of bed at 5 a.m. but this week, not so much.

It’s a good lesson. I have to remember that what feels right today may not feel so right tomorrow. My body’s needs are in constant motion. I can never figure things out completely because change is constant. The best thing I can do is pay attention and stay curious so I can give myself the things I need.

And who knows what time I’ll need to wake up tomorrow? Though I think I can safely predict I will never be sort of person who wakes up after three hours of sleep feeling refreshed and ready to climb a mountain. Some people can do that. But not me. There is just not enough caffeine in the world to make that scenario okay.