The How To of My 5 Whatever

I've received a few questions recently about how I actually do my 5 whatever gal thing, so I thought I'd share how it plays out in my daily life.

• I set my alarm every night for 5:16 am.
  This is a non-negotiable for me.
  

• I try to get into bed by 10:00 pm.
  Realistically, I hit that mark only 3 times a week. The other nights may be as late as 11:00 pm or even later. I am definitely a night owl, as is my husband and most of my family and friends. By default, I live by the concept that people are more important than things or routines, so if the choice is to be with others, I'll do that instead of rushing them out of the house or heading to bed alone. The exception is that my husband supports this 5 whatever journey wholeheartedly, so he doesn't mind if I go to bed without him a couple nights a week. We're still trying to figure out how to balance that and our time together.
  
  
• I get out of bed at 5 whatever.
  The alarm starts ringing at 5:16 am. Sometime I am up by 5:30, more often 5:45; sometimes as late at 6:30 on a weekday, or 7:00 on a weekend. It depends on how late the night was before and how much the Lord is pressing on my heart to spend with Him. This is often when I feel His grace to hit the snooze or His nudging to go be with Him. I've come to learn that if the day is going to be busy, I need that time in the Word and prayer (casting my cares on Him), more than I need sleep.
  
  
• My 5 whatever time looks like this...
  I turn on the coffee, defrost a muffin (from a batch I made on the weekend), and check my email. That gives my eyes a chance to open and body engage. When the coffee is ready, I close the computer, grab my Bible (and or study) and read a few chapters. Then I write out my prayers in my journal and sometimes just sit quietly. Depending on what time I actually got up, I'll spend the next 15 minutes writing a post, send an email to a friend, or visit a blog. Occasionally, I can fit 30 minutes of exercise in, depending on the needs of the family and what time I actually rolled out of bed.

• I make it through the day by...
  Not expecting to get everything done, especially if I am tired, but grateful for whatever work/people the Lord brings across my path. I also use the time in the afternoon, when the twins nap or rest, to put my feet up. Sometimes I nap, other times I work on the computer or read. I occasionally fold a load of laundry or blitz through the kitchen/first floor, putting things back in their place and getting ready for the second part of the day.

I hope that by sharing this with you, you see that it can work, but has a lot of flexibility and movement. It is a routine, but not a rule to live by. The goal is to get with the Lord alone, without distraction. For me, that means getting up before the rest of the family needs me, and since their day starts at 6:45 am, I need to get going at 5 whatever.

I pray that you won't compare yourself to me, but rather pursue the Lord's direction in this area of your life. He knows you, your responsibilities, and how much sleep your body needs. He knows your heart and your desires. Let Him lead you on this journey. It may be 5 whatever, 4 whatever, or 6 whatever, or even 10 pm whatever. Do it His way, and you'll reap the blessings, too!

Because of Him,

Wondering what this 5 Whatever thing is all about?
Click here to read about it and to see how it got started.