While most people are fast asleep, one mother is already up and about—and her unusual morning schedule has gone viral on Instagram.
Nat Sleightholm, 32, has shared what she accomplishes long before dawn on Instagram (@nls_active) racking up nearly 500,000 views.
Sleightholm, from York, England, told Newsweek that she goes to bed just after her 1-year-old daughter Eloise at 7 p.m., then wakes up no later than 4:30 a.m.—sometimes even an hour earlier.
The chartered accountant has been documenting her early-morning routine online, including a viral clip in which she runs a half-marathon (13 miles) before her baby even wakes.
“Most people think I’m crazy, but having those few hours before my daughter wakes up makes such a difference,” Sleightholm said.
A Morning That Starts Before Dawn
During the clip, Sleightholm eats breakfast, has a coffee, and reads before heading out at 4:30 a.m. She completes her half-marathon in just under one hour and 44 minutes, returning home to find Eloise still sound asleep.
Even on rest days, Sleightholm is up before 4:30 a.m.
“I’ve always been an early bird! I just love getting a jump start on the day, whether it’s going out for a run, hitting the gym or doing laundry,” she said. “I really enjoy that little bit of ‘me time.”
Many mothers struggle to carve out space for themselves. A Talker Research survey of 2,000 millennial moms, conducted in April 2025 on behalf of Sun-Maid, found 29 percent get less than 30 minutes of time to themselves each day.
Running Through Pregnancy and Beyond
Sleightholm is set to return to work from maternity leave next week, but running has remained a constant. She ran up until the day she gave birth at 39 weeks and five days—including a 5 km run on the very day she went into hospital.
“Being able to run throughout had so many benefits, particularly from a mental-health perspective,” Sleightholm said.
She only began running in 2023, initially insisting she would never attempt a marathon. Yet she has already completed two—at six months and eight months postpartum—and is currently training for her third.
Sleightholm’s schedule includes short, long, and interval runs each week. “Exercising on a morning gives me energy,” she said. “A lot of people assume I nap or drink lots of coffee, but that’s not the case. I never nap, and will only ever have two coffees a day—mainly because I love the taste.”
Mixed Reactions Online
While many viewers admire her discipline, not everyone is convinced.
One commenter wrote: “Please go sleep.”
Another added: “This gives me anxiety even watching it, but love that it comes easy to you, you go girl.”
“The next time someone tries to tell me they don’t have time to go to workout I’m gonna show them this!” said a third.
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