10 Tips to Wake Up Early

It’s 6 am, your alarm goes off. You hit snooze. The same happens at 6:09. Then again at 6:18. Suddenly, it’s 6:30 and you’re a half hour behind schedule before the day’s even begun. Mornings like these, when it seems impossible to get out of bed, can ruin your entire day. It’s a feeling we’ve all experienced at one point or another. Many people struggle to wake up early, whether due to poor sleep or lack of motivation. Thankfully, it’s a struggle you can overcome. Simple changes to your daily routine can make a world of difference. It could mean improving your sleep conditions or incentivizing getting out of bed in the morning. Whatever you choose, you’ll notice the change in your overall quality of life immediately. No more groggy mornings or mid-afternoon slumps. Just a well-rested, energized, and happier you. This article lists 10 tips to wake up early so you can get on with your day quicker.

1. Let the Sunshine In

Since the dawn of mankind, our circadian rhythms have been programmed to match the cycle of the sun. As a result, many bodily functions, like appetite, energy, hormone production, and temperature, rely on maintaining a healthy sleep cycle. Blocking out natural light and replacing it with the blue light of our many screens interrupts that cycle. When smartphones are the last thing we see before going to be and the first thing we see when we wake up, it’s no wonder it can be a challenge to wake up early. Recalibrate your energy level in the morning by ditching the screens and waking up with the sun. That means leaving your blinds open a smidge or switching to sheer curtains. The sun will act as a natural alarm clock that wakes you gently so you stay relaxed and ready to start your day.

2. Designate a Wake-Up Time and Stop Hitting Snooze

Waking up with the sun isn’t always an option for everybody, especially when the sun rises late in the winter. On dark mornings like these, it can be especially challenging to wake up early. In this case, the best thing to do is to train your body to wake up at the same time every morning. First, decide on an ideal time to wake up and program a repeating alarm. Next, make sure the alarm clock isn’t within arms distance. Getting out of bed to turn off your alarm decreases your chance of hitting snooze and falling back asleep. Eventually, your body will begin to anticipate the alarm and you’ll find it easier and easier to wake up.

3. Develop a Calming Bedtime Ritual

One of the reasons it can be so difficult to wake up early is because you haven’t had a good night’s sleep. Unless you get enough quality shuteye, no quick trick to help you get out of bed will work. Developing a soothing bedtime routine can help ease your body to a more relaxed sleep so you feel truly refreshed when you wake up. Some activities that encourage better sleep include meditation, taking a bath, and drinking chamomile tea, a natural sleep aid. Whether you choose to incorporate one or all of these activities into your bedtime routine, stick to it. It might become something you end up looking forward to throughout your day, encouraging you to get to bed earlier. Your bedtime ritual will help you get to sleep more easily, sleep deeper, and wake up ready to go.

4. Develop a Motivating Morning Ritual

Maybe you enjoy reading the newspaper with a nice cup of coffee. If you have a dog, consider taking it out for a peaceful early morning walk. If you like yoga, a gentle practice in the morning can be a great way to energize your limbs. It doesn’t matter what you do, all that matters is that it motivates you to get out of bed. Nobody enjoys waking up to a harsh alarm, but having a morning ritual you look forward to makes it much easier to wake up early.

5. Skip to the Loo Before Bed

A key aspect of getting good sleep is staying asleep all through the night. That means no waking up to run to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Pesky pee breaks can interrupt your REM cycle and minimize the amount of quality sleep you get. Prevent this from happening by going to the bathroom right before you settle in for bed.

6. Get Hydrated

Drinking water upon waking up doesn’t just get you out of bed, it will improve your whole life. First, it boosts your circulation, breathing life into your limbs and energizing your body. It also kickstarts your metabolism, encourages healthy weight loss, clears up your skin, and strengthens your immune system.

7. Eat Breakfast

There’s a reason people say it’s the most important meal of the day. When you sleep, your body uses up its store of blood sugar, leaving you irritable and groggy in the morning. Eating breakfast replenishes your body’s glucose, giving you the energy to get you through the long morning.

8. Sleep Well and Sleep Enough

As mentioned earlier, poor sleep is one of the primary factors that make it a drag to wake up early. That’s why the number one thing you can do to make early mornings easier is to improve your sleep. Take measures to overcome whatever is preventing high-quality rest, whether it’s stress insomnia or an old, stiff mattress. In both of those cases, a new, comfortable mattress may be the solution you’re looking for. A hypoallergenic mattress like Happsy will create a healthy sleep environment and prevent sore, puffy eyes in the morning. If sleep trouble is something you habitually deal with, you might consider an EightSleep mattress. It will track your sleep hours and REM cycle so you can make targeted changes to your sleep habits. Over time, this comfortable mattress will help you identify the conditions that make waking up early a breeze.

9. Get Your Blood Pumping

A quick exercise is a great way to boost your energy first thing in the morning. It doesn’t have to be vigorous, just something that will wake up your sleepy body. Take it easy and do some stretches or go full throttle by going for a run. Of course, it isn’t always easy to motivate yourself to work out when you wake up early. To make it as painless as possible, lay out your exercise clothes before going to bed so that all you have to do is change and get moving.

10. Put on Your Favorite Tune

To put you in a good mood. Music has been scientifically proven to have a positive psychological impact. It can lower stress hormone levels, boost your attention, and improve your mood. On mornings when it wasn’t your choice to wake up early and you find yourself feeling resentful, just press “play.” Play it when you’re in the shower, getting dressed, or making breakfast. Sing along for an extra energy boost!

Conclusion

With just a little bit of determination in the morning, you can change the entire course of your day. Apply at least one of these tips into your daily life and notice how much easier it becomes to wake up early. You’ll have a clearer mind, less stress in your body, and a positive attitude to guide you through your day.