I made it!! This morning I was up at 5:08 so there was only 1 day during the challenge that I didn't met my goal of 5:30. Although today is the last day, I plan on continuing to get up early. Since I've started school since the challenge began, this time in the morning allows me at least that time to get a few things done if all else gets chaotic. Another habit that I've picked up from the challenge is that I now make up my bed as soon as I wake up. I started doing this to stop me from getting back in the bed

I think the key to success for this challenge was: 1 going to bed early 2. making the decision to get up in the morning even though there were times I didn't feel like it, 3. being realistic and giving myself wiggle room on the weekend

I hope that this a new habit for many of you although you may not have done as well as you think you should have. None of us are perfect, but at least we are trying!!!

I'm happy to report that I have renters again for my property in South Carolina. It has been vacant since March so I'm happy it didn't take too long. This property is paid for so I use that money to throw at my mortgage. I hope to have my mortgage paid off by 2015 but I should own 50% of my home next month(more to come later about that milestone)!

Since my PhD studies started today I'm going to change up how I do the Early to Rise Challenge. Instead of reading the e-book and watching my Joyce Meyer devotional, I'm going to work on my Financial Counseling Certification first thing. That way I will at least get to work on it for at least 1 hour during the day.

So that means I'm going to start reading and listening to the devotional at night before I go to bed. At least that should stop me from watching TV before going to bed

Yesterday was my disconnect day so I didn't visit the forums at all. Unfortunately yesterday was also the first day of the Early to Rise challenge that I didn't get up early The alarm went off but I just didn't feel like getting up so I didn't. Oh well, today is a new day and I got up at 5:04!

Today is also the official start day of my PhD studies. I'm nervous and excited at the same time but I will be ok once I get into the swing of things.

Nothing much to report financially except I completed a Pinecone survey on Tuesday and will get $3 in snowflakes for it. Like I've said many times, little amounts add up over time.

I returned an item to Walmart today for $13 in snowflakes. Adding that to the $51 eBay payment this morning brings my total yearly total to $1229.61 which is 41% of my goal.

A week or so ago I placed an item on ebay but the seller never paid. This past Friday I opened up a case with ebay because I had sent numerous emails to the winner but never heard anything back. When you open up a case, you're not charged any fees if the bidder doesn't pay.

Well to my surprise, when I opened up my email this morning they finally had paid. They sent me an email apologizing for the mix-up because she hadn't realized that she had bid on 2 of the same items. Really??

Oh well I'm glad she finally paid and that's $51 in snowflakes.

How did it go for you this morning? I was up at 05:07; one area that this challenge is helping me is that I don't jump on the computer or turn on the tv within the first hour. How has it helped you? We are already half through the month!! Like the author of the book stated in today's reading "Past (poor) performance is not an indication of future (poor) performance."

So if you haven't done well so far on this challenge, start anew. This month is half over but you have another half to start again!!

As I posted before, it is my goal to have at least one day a month where I disconnect from the internet. Well my next one will be Wednesday 17 Apr. I have to make one exception for this disconnect day and all others going forward. I start my PhD program on Thursday so I will definitely need to access the internet since it's an online program. However, that's the only thing I will do. I will not check email, Facebook, this site or any other site. The only thing that I will do has to be related to my school work for that day. Combining this with the Early to Rise Challenge should lead to a very productive day Others are always welcomed to join me!

I'm still going strong with getting up before 05:30 but the last couple of days have been a little bit harder. I think it's because it's been a bit cooler in the house and I don't want to get out of my warm bed. In the beginning I was getting up at 5:05 or so but for the past 3 days I've been getting up at 5:15. I have to keep an eye on that so that it doesn't get slowly later. I'm glad it's Friday

I happy to report that I'm still doing good on this challenge but I have to admit it was nice to sleep in a little bit this weekend. How's everyone else doing?

Over the past couple of days I've gotten 2 unexpected checks in the mail. One is dental insurance premium refund for $71.97. When I signed up for my retiree dental insurance I had to pay a 2 month prepayment until my allotment started. I didn't realize that I would get the unused portioned refunded.

The second check was for $55.79. It was for the utility co-op on my previous home in South Carolina. I wasn't expected that either but I'll take it.

Also I got refunded $3 for using my USAA ATM on a non-network last month. So my total 6 days into the month is $130.76. I also have an ebay auction ending tomorrow so hopefully that will bring in more snow!

I made it to day 5!!! Woke up this morning at 05:02 and I have to admit I'm looking forward to sleeping in a bit tomorrow although I'm not that much of a late sleeper. Reminder with this challenge, I'm taking the weekends off so I guess it's not a full 3 days. I just felt it would make things realistic and hopefully a greater chance of success.

I'm not sure why I didn't posy yesterday but I'm still going strong. Yesterday I woke up at 5:04 and 5:05 this morning. I tell you Joyce Meyer's broadcasts this week and the Early to Rise book are in step with each other this week. I would like to think it's because I'm doing this challenge and it's what I need to hear but I'm sure it's because they are both talking about habits. I haven't gotten Joyce's new book on habits yet because she's been teaching from it pretty much all week. They both say to focus on things that you can actually change. We can't control certain things or people so we should focus on what we can like what time we wake up in the morning.

Here's the Early to Rise action tip: I know I need to do this because I always watch TV before I fall asleep.

"Pick a song to listen to or a book to read before you go to bed tonight so you go to bed with good thoughts on your mind. In the absence of good input we allow negative thoughts and worry to enter our minds. Find something encouraging to listen to or read and keep it by your bed."

With this month's regular payment, I'm now officially paying more principal than interest!! I still don't have new renters for my rental in South Carolina so that will slow my progress down a bit. I'm not too worried because it's very close to the military base and high move season is quickly approaching. So for now I celebrate this milestone!!

Up at 05:04 this morning. I watched Joyce Meyer broadcast on Ipad and once again I didn't touch my computer until after 7:00. Her topic this morning was the Anatomy of a Habit, part 1 A couple things that stood out to me that she said was "bad habits are your enemies because they take away things that you want in life". She also stated that you should focus on the god habits you want to form and not the bad.

How's everyone else doing??

Good morning everyone!! Happy to report I woke up this morning at 04:54. I was pretty tired last night so I crashed before 9:30 but then I was awakened by the howling wind at who knows what time. I listened to Joyce Meyer this morning and you're not going to believe this. While I was listening, a banner scrolled across about her new book that comes out tomorrow. Guess what it's called... "Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits" I think God is trying to tell me something so I will definitely be checking Amazon today to see if it's available via Kindle.

Another shocker for me this morning is that the author of the book Early to Rise(Andy Traub) actually left a comment thanking me for taking on this challenge and that he hopes his book helps. Now that's totally awesome!!


To help me succeed, last night I went ahead and read the first 6 chapters of the book but not the daily devotionals. Here are a few key points that stuck out to me and what I did this morning.

1. The temptation of start "doing": "when we awake everything that we have to do that day comes running at us". It attacks the part of your mind that brings peace and clarity. If you don't have a plan for your early morning, you'll start worrying earlier than usual. You need to set aside your morning time to just "be" instead of "do" It's very important that upon waking you don't engage with the world for at least an hour. That means no email checking, turning on the TV. Don't go thru your DVR; don't listen to anything that causes u to worry. This is a time for you to fill yourself up, not stress yourself out!!

2. I did not check my emails until after I returned from dropping my daughter off around 7:00. I have yet to turn on the TV, which is unheard of for me!

3. I listened to Joyce Meyer as planned

4. I made fresh celery,apple,and garlic juice with my juicer


I hope the others that stated they are joining me are doing well this morning. Even if u didn't succeed this morning, don't give up!!