Recently, I have had a few days where I wake up in a mental “deathmatch.” The alarm goes off at 5 AM, and I get out of bed only to find myself clawing upward on a muddy hill in the rain. The other day, I stood between the alarm and bed, while the left side and right side of my brain skirmished like an east versus west coast rap battle. What should I do? Go back to sleep, or stay awake and get after it.
I remember when I left home back in high school and lived at my friend’s house. Similar to a drill sergeant, his mom would wake us at 5 AM to shower, shave, and be ready to go by the time she was out the door. That would put me at school by 6 AM, which was near three hours before school even started. While the doors were locked and no one was around, I had to figure out what to do with myself. Since the track was available, I would run until the athletics department opened, and I could get on the mats in the wrestling room.
#1 - When you have extra time, you must use it to better yourself.
As I grew up and started working as a production artist and graphic designer, the company I worked for was downtown, and the action started immediately at 8 AM. That meant I would have to wake up early enough and find that sweet spot, or window of opportunity to miss the traffic and arrive early. The one thing that kept me motivated even on early mornings after pulling an all-nighter was that I absolutely loved my job.
#2 - When you love what you are doing, you will endure anything for it.
As the years progressed, I began attending more competitions. Finding time with training partners was a challenge. To create training opportunities, I had to do the unthinkable and rise before the sun. This sacrifice gave me additional opportunities to get some “me time.” It wasn’t easy, nor was it my favorite time to train, but knowing that others were waiting on me made a difference in whether I got out of bed or not.
#3 - When you have a group to hold you accountable, you will get up and show up.
Over the last few years, I have been working hard to find myself a wake up time that I could consistently maintain. So far, I have been enjoying 5 AM. This specific time allows me two hours to get moving before the rest of my house wakes up. It has become the most sacred two hours of my day and something that I fight hard to maintain. It is a quiet time around the house where I can read, write, research, catch up, make myself better, and crush more goals!
It isn’t easy to make this happen every day. There are challenging mornings where I just feel like I “can’t” get up, but I do it anyway. I align the three principles from above and I get to work. I create an opportunity for extra time and I use it to make myself better. During this time I pay into myself doing activities, I both enjoy and I know will make me healthier, smarter, and stronger. I do all of this in an effort to be a better man, friend, instructor, and most importantly, father and husband. I hold myself accountable by placing myself in a position where I am needed.
These principles executed consistently will indirectly bring life to new disciplines. These will become a shield that can protect you from the demons of fatigue, loneliness, boredom, depression and more. By getting up and getting into motion, you will build the energy and excitement to slay those demons, win your “deathmatch,” and still get things done. If you are still tired after that, remember what Sam Elliot said in the movie Roadhouse.
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