Waking up is definitely not my favourite thing in the world: getting out of bed used to be a real struggle, but I got better as I aged (ok, I am ONLY 30). I can understand that the thought of having to leave your comfy warm blanket is not something most people enjoy. However, morning time can be precious. For me, these few hours are the best part of the day, and that is why I like to start my day early. Is that your case but do you still struggle with the whole “waking up early” process? Do you need some help to get you out of bed quickly and (almost) easily? In that case, I’ve got you covered with these few tips that will show you how to wake up early!
No snooze button
If you had to remember only one rule that would make waking up easier, this would be the one! I know it is tempting to allow yourself just “a few more” minutes in bed, but this is the worst idea – for two reasons. The first one is simple: it will make you feel groggy. In fact, one sleep cycle lasts around 90 minutes and we usually have 3 or 4 every night. That means after these cycles are completed, the brain gets to a state where it is ready to wake up. If your alarm goes off and you hit the snooze button, guess what? Your brain will start another sleep cycle!
You will end having to wake up trapped in the middle of a sleep cycle and in a state called “sleep inertia” (which can last for up to four hours). It will leave you feeling foggy and lower your ability to focus. On the contrary, if as soon as your alarm goes off, you stand up, your morning will be easier (I promise). To achieve that, put your phone (or whatever you use as an alarm) far from your bed. If you can’t reach it to turn it off and have to stand up, it will be less tempting to hit that snooze button and go back to sleep.
The second reason is more about your mindset. The fact of delaying your waking up time is basically telling your brain that you don’t really need to start your day and that you’d rather sleep. Overall, your behaviour might be impacted as your mindset will be that you’ve got nothing important to accomplish. It is possibly the worst for your productivity (not talking about the fact that of course, you’ll end up late for work).
Plan the night before
So how to wake up early and easily? Well, it actually starts the night before. First, you should avoid foods or drinks that will give you trouble sleeping. Above all, avoid caffeine from the late afternoon. If you feel like a hot drink after dinner, have an infusion (chamomile is the best). In terms of food, prefer a light diner and try to eat rather early than late. It is recommended to finish eating at least 2 to 3 hours before going to bed. This will make your digestion easier and therefore you will sleep better.
In addition, you can organize everything for the morning ahead that will make it effortless. For example, prepare the clothes you are going to wear, tidy up your bag, make a to-do list for the next day. Do whatever you can to have a calm and relaxing morning.
Lastly, another great thing to do before sleeping is setting your intentions. You should think about why you want to wake up early. Are you sick of being late for work? Do you need time to work out before leaving home? Do you need more time to realize one of your projects?
Be positive
Waking up should not be a burden! On the contrary, you should see it as a reward and an opportunity to do something you love. That is why it is so important to find your “why”: if you think about it before falling asleep, this will be one of the first things you remember when you wake up. There is nothing better to motivate you, and when your alarm goes off, it will be so much easier to get out of bed if you know WHY you are doing it.
So, find something pleasurable that you will look forward to, and that is not a chore for you (if you want to wake up early to clean your bathroom, there are some chances you’ll end up staying in bed). What you need is positivity: think about journaling, a quick workout, or read a new book (whatever makes you happy)! That way, this will be the start of an exciting day and you will not want to waste one more minute in bed!
In short: find a purpose in waking up early. For me, it is mostly working on my blog and having a nice breakfast (and sometimes do a quick workout). Be passionate about what you are going to accomplish. Even better, set a long term goal: let’s say you want to write an eBook. If you break down the task by writing 500 words every morning, this will be small steps to accomplish a big task that you will be proud of. Make the most of the time that you have!
Go to bed early
Of course, waking up early doesn’t go without going to bed at a reasonable time: you can’t just sleep late and wake up at 5. As a reminder, an adult needs between 7 and 8 hours of sleep every night to be healthy. So, let’s say that you want to wake up at 6, you would need to be in bed by 10pm or 11pm at the latest. If you did not rest properly, waking up will be nearly impossible. First things first, put down your phone and don’t go to bed scrolling down on Instagram. If you can’t fall asleep, try reading: this will calm you down and you’ll be asleep rather sooner than later. Of course, if your usual bedtime is currently 2am, you’ll need some time to adapt, so do it progressively.
Another thing: think about what you are doing during your evening currently. Are you watching TV? Are you checking out your Facebook feed? Of course, there is nothing wrong with that. However, it should not (in my opinion) last too long and be the only thing you do. Most of us are generally not as productive in the evening, so getting some rest while going to bed is the best way to counterbalance that.
Wake your body up
After sleeping for 7 to 8 hours, your body could be a little dehydrated which causes your mind to get foggy. The best way to make up for it is to drink a big glass of water (it could be iced or warm; you can even add a slice of lemon). Do it as soon as you step out of bed, it will hydrate your brain and body, making you more alert and awake.
In conclusion, you may know that there is a connection between the way you wake up and your mood along the day, your happiness and productivity. That is why the way you wake up is crucial and should be optimal for you to have the best day possible. Hopefully, these few tips will be helpful for you! You can let me know in the comments if waking up early is something you enjoy or that you are willing to try.