Stepping out of bed with my right foot must have done something this morning because so far, it’s been a great day!
My post-orientation lasted about two hours and I received pretty much the best news ever—
I don’t have to work at 2 am!!!!
The bakery manager changed the time to 4 am, which while still incredibly early, is soooooo much more do-able than 2. It also means that I don’t have to flip flop my schedule around! My plan is to just go to bed at 8 every night and wake up at 3:15 every morning. I’m off at 12:30 and have the rest of the day to relax, practice yoga, work on my book and blog. It also means that on my days off I won’t naturally be up all night, which I was getting really anxious about. Now I can have some sense of normalcy to my life! Does anyone else do the 4 am shift? What time do you eat breakfast??!! My mind instantly goes to food, obviously.
I start tomorrow morning at 4 so it should be very interesting. I get a cute little locker and there’s a fridge and a microwave for employees that bring food so I know I’ll be using that! Unfortunately, like I said before, no photography of any kind is allowed in the store so I’ll just be photographing my packed meals/snacks beforehand.
I got home around 11 from the store and then started on my carrot ginger soup. The recipe is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Yogi in the Kitchen, and it contains no cream or anything—just carrots, celery, ginger, onions, ghee, veggie stock and fresh orange juice! Seriously, if yall are in the market for a great new cookbook, you should definitely check this one out. I’ve made mostly all of the recipes from it back in college and have never been disappointed.
Here’s a lovely shot of the veggies cooking:
My bowl for lunch—
Along with a half piece of hot whole wheat naan sandwiched with provolone cheese:
I’m going to relax for the rest of the day. I wasn’t going to do yoga but now I’m not sure…I might go to a 5:30 class. I need to wear myself out so I can go to bed super early tonight!
See you for dinner!
Jenna 2
January 12, 2009 at 11:47 amThat is awesome news! Your eats look great….
Is naan similar to pita’s in taste/texture? i’ve been wanting to try it buy my grocery store only has white no whole wheat.
Victoria
January 12, 2009 at 11:54 amThat’s great news! That does seem much more normal than 2am. Looking forward to seeing how your first day goes!
BethT
January 12, 2009 at 11:55 amGreat news!
My sis in law works at 4:30 a.m. She eats something small on her way to work (i.e. a granola bar and fruit) and then takes a breakfast break at work, which is allowed by her employer. For her, this is easier than eating a larger breakfast at 3:30 a.m. If you’re allowed breaks perhaps you could do a “second breakfast” and zap something at work?
Anna
January 12, 2009 at 11:56 amThat is SUCH great news! Gosh, *I* feel relieved knowing you won’t have to work such a wonky shift.
Mel
January 12, 2009 at 12:00 pmYay for not having to start at 2! I’ve done the 4 am shift and 5am shift before and I almost always had something light before work and ate a more substantial meal at break time. It takes some getting used to, since I am almost never hungry that early.
Meghann
January 12, 2009 at 12:00 pmThank god its 4am instead of 2! That just seems more like morning time, rather then just really late at night.
CLB
January 12, 2009 at 12:04 pmHi Jenna,
I go to work out at 4 am and start work at 6:30 am. I usually get up at 3:45 and will eat about a 1/2 of some sort of bar. Once I anm home I have a big cup of coffee with 1/2 cup of milk. Once i get to the office I end up eating my overnight oats at about 7 – 7:30 with another cup of coffee and 1/2 cup nonfat milk.
Good luck
Maureen
January 12, 2009 at 12:09 pmHey Jenna, that’s fabulous news! The hardest part of working early is that, even though you can adjust your sleep schedule, the rest of the work is still awake from 8 am- midnight. I worked 6 am-3:20 pm and I was constantly getting phone calls from friends & family after 10 p.m. I’m like “Guys… EARLY SHIFT!!!”
Weirdly, even though I ate breakfast at around 5 am, I was never hungry for lunch until after 12.
Betherann
January 12, 2009 at 12:10 pmMmmm naan! My favorite since traveling to Malaysia. Where do you get your naan? Our local equivalent of Whole Foods has frozen naan, which is fairly good (one is by Tandoori Chef), but not like the real thing. Do you make your own?
jenna
January 12, 2009 at 5:01 pmBetherann,
I’ve never tried that frozen naan but always wondered about it! i found this at Greenwise and it is whole wheat. I’ve never made my own but I would love to try sometime!
Joy
January 12, 2009 at 12:13 pmwhat wonderful news! 2am, while doable, would definitely take a loooot of adjustment, 4am isn’t too bad! my dad has gone to work everyday at 4 for as long as i remember and yeah, he usually goes to bed at 8 and watches tv or reads for a half hour then dozes off. you’ll do great!
Erica
January 12, 2009 at 12:14 pmYay for your better schedule! God saw your anxieties and was watching out for you, for sure. I’m tickled for you! And off at 1230? That’s awesome! I bet you find that you will really like this schedule.
junghwa
January 12, 2009 at 12:14 pmI LOVE YOGA!
hahah we may be addicted yogis ;]
your eats look amazing like always!
Ashley
January 12, 2009 at 12:25 pmthats great news! What a relief 🙂 and now you’ll feel like you have a whole day left to do what you like!
polly
January 12, 2009 at 12:35 pmoh Jenna YEAH!!!!!! That is HUGE! Dan used to work at 4am, a very active job in a bakery of all things! He’d get up at 3am, eat breakfast and head out. We would eat supper together at 4pm and he’d be in bed by 8pm. Abbi was just little then, so it worked.
XOXO Yay for time for yoga and book writing!
justjen
January 12, 2009 at 12:38 pmYay! That’s great news for you! I am sure your eating schedule will fall into place once you see how you feel at work for a few days.
Julie
January 12, 2009 at 12:38 pmYippee – that’s a much better start time! What a relief for you, huh? I don’t know if I said this before, but, between you and Kath, I’m really getting more into yoga and it’s so great! Thanks! This morning I even did a 20-min Gentle Hatha class from yoga download before I got ready for work in the morning!! I’ve never been able to do a morning workout, and it’s such a nice change! So, thanks again for your inspiration!
VeggieGirl
January 12, 2009 at 12:42 pmHooray for a better working time!! And hooray for soup 🙂
Adi
January 12, 2009 at 12:43 pmGlad to hear no 2am mornings! I hope you figure out a routine that lets you stay healthy, rested and happy. Good luck with this next chapter of life! 🙂
ryan
January 12, 2009 at 12:46 pmYES THANK GOODNESS FOR THIS NEW SCHEDULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Might actually get to see you, though I guess getting home at 8 wont’ work anymore and I will just have to start waking up earlier.
Beadie
January 12, 2009 at 12:49 pmJenna, I somehow missed that you are writing a book! I am writing a book, too! What is your book about?
Meredith
January 12, 2009 at 12:51 pmCongratulations on the good news!!! I used to work a 4:45AM shift, and I would eat breakfast as soon as I got up at 4 . . . which meant lunch was like at 9 or 10 AM! It’s super nice to get out so early in the day though — it makes you feel like you have so much free time! Good luck with your first real day at the new job!
Kate
January 12, 2009 at 12:53 pmThat is so exciting-I’m happy for you. I can’t even get up at 4 let alone BE somewhere then! Kudos.
Natalie
January 12, 2009 at 12:59 pmGreat news Jenna ! I’m so happy for you! 🙂
Justy2003
January 12, 2009 at 1:01 pmCongrats on the changed work schedule! I agree, 4am sounds MUCH better than 2AM! And maybe you can even make it to the yoga class you had wanted to attend? I forget though, that may have started at noon. Either way, 4:00 sounds way more do-able!
Sarah M
January 12, 2009 at 1:02 pmI think the 4am thing will be hard for the first week or two, but then it would be awesome. You’ll be getting out of work just as the afternoon kicks off! How great will that be? And if you think of it- during the week not too much goes on between 9 and midnight most of the time anyways.
Beadie
January 12, 2009 at 1:07 pmCrud. I also meant to say congrats on getting an easier schedule! You are going to do great!
Kat
January 12, 2009 at 1:09 pmI actually used to do a 3 am – 1 pm shift and so i would eat a Lara bar or something about 4 am and then eat a “real” breakfast at 9 am when i had my break and then I ate lunch and dinner as i normally would. I just kind of looked at it as having my mid-morning snack now before breakfast and since I was eating breakfast later, there was no need for a snack between that and lunch. Have fun at the new job; can’t wait to hear all about it!
Moran
January 12, 2009 at 1:16 pmGreat news, Jenna!!!
mh
January 12, 2009 at 1:20 pmHey Jenna and others,
I just started doing yoga this week (well I’ve done it in the past, but I always do it for a while and stop for a while) and I love it!! Thanks Jenna!! I did a few sessions last week (ranging from 30 to 60 mins) but only cardio one day. What are y’alls thoughts about how often you should rotate some cardio with yoga b/c I really only want to do yoga now! haha!
Thanks!
Mel
jenna
January 12, 2009 at 1:29 pmmh,
I often refer to this article when thinking about the great yoga/cardio/weights debate. Really, if you have a solid yoga practice, its the only exercise that you need.
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/739?page=1
Beadie,
Hmmm well I’m keeping it all very secret right now but it does involve food… 😉
Sharon
January 12, 2009 at 1:24 pmWow, that is super awesome that you don’t have to work so early! GREAT!
rachel
January 12, 2009 at 1:31 pmhey jenna! i used to work a 5am shift at a coffee shop. i dont have good advice though! I couldn’t eat that early, and so I’d end up getting totally wired on espresso. Don’t do that!
Shelby
January 12, 2009 at 1:45 pmAwesome news! That good that you don’t have to flop, that might have been a hard trasition.
Good Luck!
ashley (sweet & natural)
January 12, 2009 at 1:50 pmAwesome news! That will make your life so much easier!
ModelBehavior
January 12, 2009 at 2:02 pm4 am sounds rough enough, 2 am would be terrible! Glad that worked out for you! Also just wanted to let you know that i’m doing a giveaway on my blog this week, so stop on over if you want to enter!
http://www.modbehav.com
fitforfree
January 12, 2009 at 2:26 pmThat’s wonderful news! I envy you having so many daylight hours free 🙂
Sarah (now in FL)
January 12, 2009 at 2:34 pmI agree with the former coffee shop employee 🙂 I used to start shifts at 5 at a coffee stand, and I would wake up at 4:30 and go to the store. From 5-6 I was always there by myself getting stuff set up-I just turned on my praise music and watched the sun rise, and I packed a little baggy of cereal to munch on when I got hungry. I always found that eating a REAL breakfast at that time was not appealing and would make me nauseous a lot of the time, so I would just have my cereal a few handfuls at a time, drink some drip coffee, then blend a banana and soy milk a few hours later or pack a yogurt for when I felt better about eating. Anytime I skipped the cereal and just had the coffee I’d be sick, and anytime I didn’t have the coffee I would feel dead, so there is a delicate balance you must learn!! This time is WAY better though and I am so excited for you!!!
Mariposa
January 12, 2009 at 3:00 pmohhh! good deal! you dont have to get up so early! that is good news.. maybe i should try getting out of bed right foot first although i just sort of fall off the end of the bed.. my BF sleeps on the outside- i sleep against the wall. i wake up earlier than he does, so im usually just flopping over him.. lol
Becca A
January 12, 2009 at 3:33 pmHi Jenna,
The days I intern at the hospital bakery I start at 4 am. I usually eat a portion of my breakfast before going and then we get a break around 7:30 or 8 where I eat the rest of my oats and usually some non-fat milk and some additional fruit. I’m not all that hungry before I go but I know it will be a few hours before I get to eat anything and I also drink some coffee and I don’t want just that in my belly. I actually love the time frame because you still have such a good portion of your day to accomplish things! Best of luck to you!
Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter)
January 12, 2009 at 3:50 pmYou are right Jenna. 4 AM is much better than 2, and getting off at 12:30 will be great. You’ll be able to get errands done, and still have a life before bedtime. Can’t wait to hear about your first day on the job. Good luck!
PS – Soup and cheesy Naan looked delish! Carrot/OJ sounds like a good combo. Lots of Vit. C & A. Yum!
mh
January 12, 2009 at 3:56 pmThank you for the article Jenna about yoga! I agree!! have a great day
am
January 12, 2009 at 4:02 pmI have worked the 4am shift before- I ate something very tiny (around 100 calories or less) as I drove there so that I wouldn’t feel nauseated from being up so early, and then ate a typical breakfast at a more reasonable breafast hour (usually 6:30 or 7), and followed a typical eating schedule from there on out.
Good luck!
Sarah (Tales of Expansion)
January 12, 2009 at 4:33 pmcongrats on the lucky schedule adjustment! i read a couple of the books you recommended a while back — bread alone and baker’s apprentice i think? — and your (work) life is totally starting to remind me of the main character. it never even crossed my mind before that bakers would have to work overnight/so early in the morning!
Brittany
January 12, 2009 at 4:35 pmI’m excited for you. Good luck on your first day!!
Sarah (lovINmytummy)
January 12, 2009 at 4:36 pm4 am seems a lot more like morning than 2 am, which just seems like the middle of the night!
Homemade soup and bread with cheese??? Nothing could be better!
K
January 12, 2009 at 5:24 pmCongrats on 2 more hours of sleep!! Every little bit counts 🙂
The melty cheese just killed me – yum!
Fitness Surfer
January 12, 2009 at 5:35 pmI did a while back and I got use to it. Ironically I was a chef at a small hotel which had a buffet style breakfast at 5:00am, and lunch around 12pm. I loved being done at 2pm and having the rest of my day for whatever. However if I was planning on staying out late I had to take a nap to get more energy. If I worked the next day I just went to bed early.
Hubby working with people on the east coast and over seas has conference calls that get him up that early. I tried going to the gym at 4am while he was getting ready for work, and I’ve only tried it once sense. I could do it, but would definitely have to be to bed around 10.
Ashley H
January 12, 2009 at 5:39 pmHi Jenna I am so happy for you that you wont have to wake up a 2am
A few posts back you were talking about your acne and said you swear by the medicated face wash. I have had acne my whole life and tried everything. I am currently on differin .7% and this is the only thing that makes a difference. I was wondering what you use.
Thanks!
jenna
January 12, 2009 at 6:40 pmAshley,
The face wash I use is this generic no-name stuff I get by prescription only from my dermatologist. However, I HATE it! I mean, it works , but its so harsh and drying and I would love to not to have to use it anymore! My goal is to heal whatever skin issues I have from the inside out because acne/skin rashes are really an imbalance of something inside of you that is manifesting itself through the skin. Once you get to the root of the problem inside, you shouldn’t have acne anymore. I will keep you posted on my findings!
Mara
January 12, 2009 at 5:54 pmYAAAY!!!
M
January 12, 2009 at 6:18 pmHi Jenna,
That’s great…4 o’clock seems a little bit more reasonable than 2. I’m sure you’ll make it work whatever time it is! 🙂
I just wanted to share with you and all of your blog readers that today at the grocery store I found Kozy Shack Pumpkin Pudding(http://www.kozyshack.com/prod_puddings_pumpkin.html)! I tried it the minute I got home and it’s delicious!!!! I highly recommend that you look for/try it!
~M
caroline
January 12, 2009 at 6:29 pmBook, huh!? Awesome!
Good luck tomorrow, you are such an inspiration!
-Caroline
Jennifer
January 12, 2009 at 8:27 pmWell… I sure know what it’s like to have a crazy work schedule! I have to be at work by 5am til 8pm most days and then every fourth day work 5am until 1pm THE NEXT DAY. The glorious days of being a pediatrician on call 🙂 I can’t always eat at 3:30am (ha… although you do get into a routine!) so I take something like Kashi cereal dry + fruit and then try to do coffee + anything else around 8:30am when we have conference to attend. You really will get into a groove… but it may not be *your* personal favorite groove. YOU CAN DO IT!