1. Q: How many years young are you and what is your living situation?
1. 57 years young! I am happily married to an amazing man. (My girlfriends all want to clone him) We have two beautiful daughters (college senior and college sophomore) who both live 4.5 hours away at different ends of the state of Florida. (Miami and Tallahassee). We have a very nice, comfortable single family home in a quaint coastal town called Dunedin, Florida. Our biggest challenge and change in life occurred almost 3 years ago when my 87 year old, very independent, sweet mom suffered a massive stroke which caused partial right side paralysis and speech defecits. After 6 weeks of hospital and rehab, my husband and I brought her home to live with us. Because she is unable to do any ADL’s (activities of daily living), I/we are now caregivers and managing all of my mother’s care. She is extremely happy, and not only surviving, but thriving, and we are blessed to have her.
2. Q: What's the biggest challenge you faced in changing your morning routine? How have you dealt with it/got over it/are still dealing with it?
2. My morning hurdle as I will refer to it, started slowly creeping in about 2 years ago. My biggest challenge was getting myself to get out of my bed! Now that our youngest daughter was off to college, I was finally able to sleep in a bit. But soon, I was just soooo loving my deep morning sleep, it quickly became a crutch and hindrance.
3. Q: What time did you wake up and go to sleep before you started using the Morning Sidekick Journal, and what time do you wake up and sleep now?
3. Before journal bedtime was fairly consistent around 10, because I was usually pretty tired. Wakeup: anywhere from 7:30 – 8:30. With journal: Bedtime: Still about 10 – 10:30. Wakeup: 6:30 with my desire to back it up as journal suggests to 6:15 or 6 as I increase my morning goals.
4. Q: What did your mornings look like before you started using the Morning Sidekick Journal? What do your mornings look like now?
4. My mornings were stressful because I never allowed myself enough time to do anything. I scrambled getting showered, dressed, and out the door…in between frantically checking emails from clients who often worked late into the night, or from our night staff with updates, issues or concerns. (I am a 30 year veteran Print and Marketing Sales Consultant for large commercial printer, so we basically are always “on” and always on deadline). I rushed the dog outside with no walk, and ran around trying to make the house “nice” for my mom’s nurse to arrive.
5. Q: In one sentence, what's your favorite thing about the Morning Sidekick Journal?
5. Now, just a little over 2 weeks into the journal, I am already noticing an immediate effect. My body clock changed almost immediately back to my previous 35+ years of early rising. However, what is different this time, is that for the first time in my life, I am allowing myself to actually enjoy an hour or so in the morning to do the “little” things I either didn’t do before because of lack of those “early morning” hours, or because what time I did have was always focused on anyone or anything in my life, besides my own well-being.
6. Q: How long have you been using the Morning Sidekick Journal?
6. Just 2 weeks!
7. Q: How has using the Morning Sidekick Journal and doing your morning routine impacted your life overall?
7. I initially went searching for a way to help my oldest daughter (21) combat her own sleeping late issues. When I discovered your journal, I decided I could also use a jump start, and so I bought one for both of us hoping we could share this journey together. How fun to have mom and daughter lift one another! (She has been slower in getting on board than me, though). The journal has truly given me my mornings back, and better than they ever were before. Here is a great example: When I slept in, my husband and I rarely ever saw one another in the morning. He would usually be gone before 6 am. So my drive to work would often result in a call interrupting his day so we could “chat”. Now, what gets me out of bed in the morning, is knowing I will be able to cuddle up to my husband on the sofa and enjoy a cup of coffee together, some conversation, and a little bit of early am news. I now take time to prep caregiver notes for mom, do a morning stretch / exercise, and finish with a quiet meditation/affirmation. Even my 13 year old white Westie, CJ (who also loved to sleep in right next to me) is getting up early too! He knows he now gets a walk instead of being shoved outside in the back yard.