Beep. Snooze. Change.

This was the habit I was getting into in December. I was deep into snoozing. 

Letting the constant beep of my alarm ring until it auto shut off after an hour. 

Do you know how obnoxious it is to sleep to a constant beeping alarm? Very much so. 

And yet I was getting in the habit. 

This was hopelessly painful because I knew deep down inside, that really what I wanted was to get my day started with a bit more pep in my step. 

A week ago with these three awesome gals, who said, sure, let's go for a bike ride at the end of December (secret tip: DC is quaint and peaceful at this time), we spent time in a cafe journaling about our 2024 and then went on a ride down to the waterfront in Georgetown. 

While journaling, I reflected on how I didn’t have time for Circle and Spoke because I was snoozing in the mornings. I wasn’t beating myself up for doing this.

I acknowledged this unwanted act was becoming a habit and I knew I could do better. 

And then we went around and shared a reflection from our time journaling and I shared just that. 

It’s so freeing to be honest with myself and others. 

Until that moment, no one except myself knew for December that:

• I was snoozing my mornings away. 

• I was actually sad to wake up two hours after I had set my alarm. 

• I was in a holding pattern that was holding me back. 

But then I spoke my peace. 

And we went on a bike ride and as I pedaled….

• I felt a sense of peace. There was much to be greateful and celebrate from my year.

• I felt thrilled. Biking makes me smile and joyful!

• I felt excitement and pride. People expressed greater confidence in the saddle thanks to riding with other rad women!

And that night, I texted my friend Alison that I was waking up at and getting out of bed 7 am the next morning.

And golly gee the next morning the alarm went off a hair before 7 am and by 7 am, I was out of bed! 

There were Rocky fists in the air. 

And in fact this whole week I’ve gotten up and out by 7 am (okay, for a few days, I was up and out of bed by 7:01am, but I consider that a victory). 

But there were two major things that helped me shift gears into a more aligned behavior that I offer to you. 

1- Accountability: I took time to reflect on how my behavior made me feel and also how my behavior was costing me. I then shared that with others and had someone support me through just telling them what I was going to do differently. 

This wasn’t acrobatics. I wasn’t having Alison come shake me out of bed. I didn’t buy a new snazzy alarm clock. Simply, I reflected and shared with an awesome human in my life, this is what I’m doing differently tomorrow.

2- Connecting to my why: Going on that bike ride helped me reconnect to why Circle and Spoke matters (and therefore why it matters to wake up when my alarm goes off. Snooze for 2 hours = no time for Circle and Spoke).

It’s a lot easier for me to get my booty out of bed if I feel why it matters. 

Now the reality is that I will backslide (I am HUMAN!). In next week’s newsletter, I will be sharing research on how to support yourself in the midst of a backslide.

But in the meantime, who cares if you have now decided part way through January to start a new goal or habit???!! 

It’s your life and you can ring the bell of your proverbial new year to shift gears today!

Wheels up, 

Ellen