This Is Why Parents Can't 'Just' Get Up Early

If you are a parent who is working from home while simultaneously taking care of your kids, you know that it’s no walk in the park. Managing work and house is no mean feat. But if you just wake up early, not only will it give you a head start workwise, but you’ll also get some time to yourself to sip your morning coffee in peace or meditate. After all, that’s what all the sleep gurus and work-at-home guides recommend. But is it really that simple? And if so, why doesn’t it work as often we want to?

I’m not saying that waking up a few hours early may not benefit you. But when you have two kids, waking up early and getting stuff done might seem like a real challenge even though you want to.

When I first came across this mantra of working up early, I was extremely confident that it would work for me. After all, everything it said made sense. You wake up a few hours before, have your morning cup of coffee, maybe even squeeze in a quick 20 minutes workout, and get started on work.

So, the next day, I set my alarm for 4:00 in the morning. Even though I’ve barely gotten 5 hours of sleep, I thought it was worth it. In my attempt to start a productive day, I brewed a cup of coffee in my coffee pot while I went to freshen up. And right when I sat down to have my morning cup, my youngest daughter came looking for me. And there went my chance of getting any alone time.

Image: Shutterstock

While getting up early might be worth giving a shot, there are several scenarios that can stop you from having a productive day.

  • For one, one of your kids will wake up in the middle of the night because she had a nightmare, heard some noises, or simply misses you. So, now your sleep is ruined, and you will be too tired to wake up early in the morning.
  • Your 3-year old who usually sleeps like a baby, suddenly experiences sleep regression, causing you to stay awake for the most part of the night.
  • Your little one will begin teething and will refuse to sleep. You will fail in any attempt to soothe him. And when he finally falls asleep after what seems like forever, you will be 30 minutes away before your alarm starts ringing. Now you’re too exhausted and frustrated to get any rest whatsoever.
  • You wake up at the right time, do your morning rituals, and finally sit down to peacefully drink your coffee when one of your kids decides to wake up, thus ruining any chances of you enjoying a quiet morning.
  • You can’t hide anything from your kids; they will figure out that you’re waking up early and trying to do some things alone. So, now that you’ve just established an early morning routine, your kids will begin to wake up along with you. You move your wake up time one hour back, and further and further until you look like a zombie.
  • Eventually, you will be so tired of being constantly interrupted by your kids either in the morning or at night, which will prevent you from having a productive morning, causing you to finally give up.

I’m not telling you that you shouldn’t aim for a productive day or that you’re never gonna get there. But when you’re working from home and taking care of your kids, there may be days when you can’t stay on top of everything. Because let me tell you, it’s not a normal situation at all. But what’s normal is to fall behind and sometimes not having a productive day for days (or weeks) on end. Remember, it’s not your fault. You’re doing the best you can.

Image: Shutterstock

So even if, despite your best efforts, you are not able to do certain things the way you intend to, don’t beat yourself up. But don’t give up either. I wish I could tell you that it will get better with time. Some days, your kids will come in the way of work or alone time, but there are also going to be days when you will be able to do at least some of the things you hoped for. The important thing to remember is that it’s not your fault. And you may find your rhythm and a schedule that works for you in time. Or maybe you won’t. But that’s okay too.

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