How It Affected My Mental Health
Within the first five minutes of every morning, watching the sun rise and feeling the warmth on my skin, I felt a wave of calmness and joy wash over me. I had no responsibilities, no one needing me, nothing to do but just be. I could lose myself on the country road, completely alone (not counting the cows, of course). It felt so good doing something just for me, to sweat and breathe deeply, knowing it was not only benefitting my physical health, but my mental health as well.
Having alone time first thing in the morning allowed me to set my intentions and positive mood and wrap my brain around my to do list. I felt more prepared having that time to think and process my emotions and tasks. I felt accomplished having gotten my workout done before 7 a.m., and was energized for the day.
My husband also noticed that I came home with a smile and an upbeat mood, and that overall, I was more loving. Alone time made me a kinder partner and a more compassionate parent, and I'm so glad I remembered that and decided to take this time for me.
The Power of Solitude in Nature
To be honest, having my alarm go off that early in the morning sucked every time. I would have much rather stayed up late and slept in, but when I felt like hitting the snooze button, I immediately thought about how good I would feel during that hour, and how necessary it was. Even though I might have been feeling exhausted in the moment, if I could gather the energy to pull on my sports bra and sneakers, I knew I'd feel excited as soon as I set foot out my front door.
There’s something almost magical about being outside when the world is still quiet. No honking cars, no blaring TVs, just the sound of birds chirping and the occasional moo from a cow in the distance. It’s like nature’s version of therapy—no copay required. The fresh air, the movement, the silence—it all worked together to reset my brain before the chaos of the day kicked in.
The Balancing Act: Alone Time vs. Relationship Time
I also realized that if I was planning to get up early, I needed to plan to go to bed early. This affected the alone time I had with the hubs, though, and not getting enough of that also affected my mental health. Since he understood how important my morning alone time was, we tried to get the kids in bed by 8 p.m. so we could spend an hour or so together playing guitar or watching TV.
It was a delicate dance—figuring out how to prioritize both my need for solitude and my need for connection. But here’s the thing: when I took care of my mental health first, I had more to give to my relationships. I wasn’t snapping at my husband because I was overwhelmed, or zoning out during conversations because my brain was fried. Instead, I was present, engaged, and actually enjoying our time together instead of just going through the motions.
When One Hour Wasn’t Enough
After two weeks of my morning hour alone, I learned that one hour alone every morning was awesome, but it started to not feel like enough. So for the last two weeks, I started setting my alarm a little earlier and went out for an extra 15 to 30 minutes. I used this time to walk after my run, and on the weekends, I'd go even longer since everyone was sleeping in.
It’s funny how once you start prioritizing yourself, you realize just how much you’ve been neglecting your own needs. That extra time wasn’t just about moving my body—it was about giving myself space to think, to breathe, to just exist without any demands. And the more I did it, the more I craved it. It wasn’t selfish—it was survival.
Rolling With the Punches (and the Rain)
Over this month of morning alone time, I also learned that the weather was inconsistent and some days it was 70 and breezy, while other days it was pouring rain and a truck would drive by splashing buckets of dirty water all over you and into your mouth (yep, that happened!). It's helped me deal with the ups and downs and curve balls life has thrown at me with a little more patience and grace.
Life isn’t perfect, and neither are my mornings. Some days, I’d step outside and immediately regret my life choices as the wind whipped my hair into my face. Other days, I’d get halfway through my run and realize I forgot to charge my headphones. But here’s the thing—even on the bad days, I never regretted going. Because even when it sucked, it was still time for me. And that made all the difference.
The Ripple Effect of Prioritizing Myself
Who knew something as simple as this, something I could do every day, could have such a huge impact on my life? I'll definitely try to keep this up! Because here’s the kicker—when I took care of myself first, everything else fell into place. I was happier, more patient, more creative, and just generally more fun to be around. My work improved because I wasn’t running on empty. My relationships deepened because I wasn’t resentful or checked out.
It’s easy to think that taking time for yourself is a luxury, especially when you’re juggling a million responsibilities. But the truth is, it’s a necessity. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you can’t show up for others if you’re running on fumes. So if you’re feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or just generally blah, maybe it’s time to steal a little time for yourself. Even if it’s just five minutes of quiet before the chaos begins—it might just change everything.
So here’s to early mornings, muddy sneakers, and the occasional cow staring contest. Here’s to stolen moments of peace in a world that never stops moving. And most of all, here’s to remembering that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s the foundation for everything else.
