Morning People - 5am work out — when is bedtime?

[Anonymous]

Once you get used to going to bed early it is heaven. My babies would sleep 7pm-7am. I was in bed 8pm -4:30 wakeup. Lotsa my own time in the morning to work out. Just adjusted as kids got older. But I trained my kids to be early sleepers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What in the world are you cooking that requires sweeping and mopping every single night?

Omg THANK YOU. I can’t get past this. Until we had a cleaning lady, months would go by between kitchen floor moppings. Who mops every day?

Actually we do. Or rather, my teens do. With teens, the sweeping is five minutes and so is the mopping. They love the swiffer! It's a chore rotation that earns them their allowance.

[Anonymous]

You need to work out from home, work out while waiting for their activities and also get carpools.

You don’t need too much equipment or space for a strength training workout. You can get bands, kettle grips, jayflex barbell converter and hand weights, door hinges, etc. Use an app for workouts like Sam Sweeney that offer modifications if you are using stuff at home. I stopped working out in a gym and have solely done from home since 2020 and never looked back.

Workout while the kids are doing their activities since it sounds like you have to wait there. I literally have looked ahead at my workout, taken all the equipment I would need in my car and worked out in the parking lot. No one has ever bothered me. If you only have that hour, don’t waste it on commuting. Either walk or do a workout literally in the parking lot. No one cares.

And FFS find some carpools. I have had some activities where not a single parent wants to carpool, but it has been rare. Most sports I’ve found someone to carpool because it works for everyone. Have you tried that to get some of your time back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I run 3 miles every morning at first light , except when it's icy. At 60 my legs are fantastic. 40+ years of competitive, running ...ahhh.

Agree, go for the hills! Keeps your bum well-lifted.

All the lazy arses on this board who won't get up for a 5am workout are the jealous ageists.

Did you even read this thread?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have advice on switching your schedule from falling asleep at 11-11:30pm-ish to 9-10pm? I’m a new poster and would love to start waking up consistently at 5, and have struggled to actually fall asleep earlier after years of being the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have advice on switching your schedule from falling asleep at 11-11:30pm-ish to 9-10pm? I’m a new poster and would love to start waking up consistently at 5, and have struggled to actually fall asleep earlier after years of being the same way.

I find it easier to switch the wake up first so I’m tired enough to go to bed earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once you get used to going to bed early it is heaven. My babies would sleep 7pm-7am. I was in bed 8pm -4:30 wakeup. Lotsa my own time in the morning to work out. Just adjusted as kids got older. But I trained my kids to be early sleepers.

I did too! But I did the opposite - I’d hit the treadmill or elliptical around 8 pm, then be showered and in bed by 10 and sleep to 6:30.

[Anonymous]

I think folks are being too hard on OP. I think everyone can agree that having a 2-career household with multiple kids is hard, even in the best of circumstances. OP, if you are just too spent to work out regularly at this point in your life then... just don't. My kids were terrible sleepers when they were very young, I found it nearly impossible to work out on the terrible broken sleep I was getting, so I stopped trying. Now that we are in the late-elementary to high school years, I have enough energy and mental space to work out again. The first month or so when I got back into it was hard, but it got easier pretty quickly. During those non-workout years, I prioritized sleep, diet, and making sure that I got a bit of movement every day (mostly in the form of walking to work or running errands on foot). It was fine.

[Anonymous]

I shoot for 9pm for a 5am workout

[Anonymous]

30-minute run or bike ride on your WFH days. Do it at lunch, or have your teen stick a casserole in the oven and do it at 4:30 p.m. Do some pushups and situps.

Then work out both weekend days. That is plenty.

[Anonymous]

I think you have to think of a few days of exercise as an absolute non-negotiable. After a health scare, I make my exercise time a priority. You may need to re-arrange your evening schedule to make that happen. Elementary school multiple activities are not more important than your health.

Have your DH be fully responsible for one weeknight routine and then go the gym one weeknight. I would do a 5 am workout Friday since you know you will get rest on the weekend. And then work out on weekend days. Something has to give in your current setup but don't let it be your health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think folks are being too hard on OP. I think everyone can agree that having a 2-career household with multiple kids is hard, even in the best of circumstances. OP, if you are just too spent to work out regularly at this point in your life then... just don't. My kids were terrible sleepers when they were very young, I found it nearly impossible to work out on the terrible broken sleep I was getting, so I stopped trying. Now that we are in the late-elementary to high school years, I have enough energy and mental space to work out again. The first month or so when I got back into it was hard, but it got easier pretty quickly. During those non-workout years, I prioritized sleep, diet, and making sure that I got a bit of movement every day (mostly in the form of walking to work or running errands on foot). It was fine.

Nobody was being hard on OP until she hit back at all of our answers and suggestions by saying we must feed our kids crap and leave them at SACC if we have time to work out. She positioned herself as a harder working and more involved mother so she could excuse why we make time and she doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Your routine will change according to your kids' ages, as well as your own.

Years ago I took a position with hours 7-4. So I only had time to work out for 30 minutes in the morning. (5am wakeup.) I just added 30 minutes at afternoon/night.

Kids don't need activities that last more than 30 minutes at ES level. Don't be indulgent at that age. Toke care of yourself -- it sets you up for the rest of your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I missed the 2X WFH. Are you driving your kids to school? You can work out at 7 when they leave.

Yes we drive our kids to school, so 7-9 is spoken for with kids.

Spouse has the more stressful job, so usually works 8am-6pm; I finish at 430 to pickup kids, make dinner, and get them to sports/music/adhd tutor. Each individual kid only has about 2 activity a week — it’s just the older kids activities run late and the combination means I’m running around all week.

When spouse gets home at 7, handles the kids at home with their homework etc.

Then what are you doing at 7? What are you cleaning at 9? Why does it take 2 hours? It seems like you guys have time but are not using it well.

At 7pm I’m driving a kid to an activity; spouse is handling the REMAINING kids.

We make dinner from scratch every night, so I load the dishwasher, wash remaining dishes by hand, wash counters, sweep and mop before bed. Usually there’s some other chore like laundry or such that is pressing.

I have very similar schedule as you OP (but only 2 kids and even though they have more than 2 activities each it does reduce the load). I need my 8-9 hours of sleep and decided sacrificing sleep for exercise was not worth it. So i don't attempt anymore to wake up super early. I still go to bed very early (9.30 in bed, lights out after reading between 10 and 10.30, wake up naturally at 7).

My solution to your problem is:
- i work out at lunch time or during the afternoon when i work from home. I set up a gym at home. I only need 35 min weight training or go for a 5k run (35 min). meaning i work out minimum 4 days a week (WEs+ 2 days a week). Sometimes i manage to fit in a gym break at work (we have a gym) or afterwork (rare)
- i can go to bed early because i optimized the post dinner clean up. I also cook from scratch every night and clean up as I go, and then after dinner i really have a clock in my head for 30 min clean up max. DH is also in charge of cleaning up dinner as i am the one who cooks. He is super slow and takes forever to do same tasks and then goes to bed late like you and is exhausted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your routine will change according to your kids' ages, as well as your own.

Years ago I took a position with hours 7-4. So I only had time to work out for 30 minutes in the morning. (5am wakeup.) I just added 30 minutes at afternoon/night.

Kids don't need activities that last more than 30 minutes at ES level. Don't be indulgent at that age. Toke care of yourself -- it sets you up for the rest of your life.

Wut