Start Early… Sew All Day!

I’ve always been a night owl, from my college days all through my professional life as a software developer. Software developers are notoriously nocturnal, but even more so if you are also a working mom. When else are you going to get any work done if not when the kiddos are sleeping? This is especially true for any sewing or quilting projects you have. It’s hard to sew when kids need dinner, homework needs helping, and all of the other tasks that keep a household running need doing.

For years, I’d endured well-meaning but obviously flawed harangues about the merits of “getting up early”, notably from the Goddess of Domestic Endeavors herself, Martha Stewart. She’s famously said on many occasions that mornings are her most productive time of day. How could this possibly be true?

Enter my new husband, a farm boy. As they say, you can take the boy off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy. I was horrified after meeting my online crush in person to find out he was… a morning person. No matter the season, he is up at 5 am with coffee in hand, ready to take on the day. For years I resisted his pernicious ways. It wasn’t until I left Corporate America (when they tell you when to work…) that I discovered the true merits of getting up early to…. (gasp)… work!

I started getting up early to work frankly, because I was now self-employed and my work suddenly seemed important. Moreover, I wanted to do it! There has never been a greater motivator than working for yourself. I’m still not crazy enough to get up at 5, but I can easily get in at least five hours before noon and I’ve never felt more productive. Dishes and laundry and bills can wait for the late afternoon doldrums. If I ever give myself any time off from work, I might even start working on a new quilt!

Blog post by Jen Lopez

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