After my dog grooming shop got crazy busy, I had to lock in a 5 AM workout or lose my mind

I thought working for myself would mean more time for exercise, but the opposite happened. My phone was buzzing nonstop with booking requests and follow-up calls from dawn till dusk. I kept trying to squeeze in evening sessions, but by then I was wiped out from grooming dogs all day. So I made a rule: no checking emails until after I've done my bodyweight routine in the living room. Now I'm up before the sun, knocking out push-ups and lunges while my coffee brews. It's not about having time, it's about making time, even when your job feels all-consuming. If you're waiting for a calm moment to workout at home, you'll be waiting forever. Set the alarm earlier and just get it done, no excuses.

3 comments

3 Comments

ivanross5d ago

So you're trading sleep for sanity, huh? It makes sense when the alternative is losing your mind from constant calls. But what's your backup plan for when the alarm doesn't cut it?

anna_miller5d ago

After my alarm failed for the third time, I started putting my phone on the dresser across the room. That way, I had to get up to turn it off, which woke me up enough to stay awake. I also set a second alarm on a cheap digital clock as a backup. In my experience, having that physical barrier made a big difference, but your mileage may vary. If one alarm fails, the other usually catches it.

ray_miller845d ago

Putting the phone across the room is a solid idea for forcing yourself out of bed. I tried that too, but sometimes I'd just crawl back under the covers if I didn't have a next step. Maybe have a glass of water ready or turn on a light right after you shut off the alarm. That way, you're already moving into your morning routine. The backup clock is smart, but waking up is only half the battle.