I always have been a night owl. I don’t know why, but I like staying up late. I feel like I am able to get more done in the wee hours of the morning because my house is finally quiet and clean and I can do what I want, watch what I want, listen to what I want and maybe sneak a few “secret” treats without the kids asking for a bite (not that I mind sharing…).
This year, I have made it one of my goals, to go to bed earlier so that I can get up earlier. It would benefit my kids as well as my health and I think that if I made of habit of getting up earlier then I would be able to get just as much done in the day (including working out – another one of my goals). I have made a list of 10 tips for Waking up Early and I wanted to share them with all of you insomniacs as well as others who may need a boost in the morning.
10 Tips for Waking up Early
- Be active – if you are active throughout the day then your mind and body will be tired when its time for bed and you should be able to fall asleep quickly. It is also a great way to wake yourself up in the morning. You will expect to drag a little at first as you are getting used to your new found routine. Get active and wake yourself up.
- Develop a routine – Just because we are full grown doesn’t mean we don’t need a “bedtime routine”. It is a great way to tell our body that it is time for bed and get our minds in a state of relaxation. This could include washing your face, brushing your teeth, writing in a journal, praying, reading, etc. I usually allow about 30 minutes for this. It has worked pretty good.
- Don’t hit Snooze – Set your alarm clock and get out of bed when it goes off. Hitting the snooze button wastes time because you are not getting deep restful sleep. Get out of bed and get moving. Shower, exercise, walk the dog, etc. Something that will really wake your mind and body up.
- Be dedicated – It will take some time for your mind and body to adjust to the change, but if you are dedicated, it will happen.
- Go to bed early (earlier) – For some people going to bed early would be 7-8 pm. Going to bed early for me is 1 AM. I really want to change that so I am in bed no later than 10:30 pm every night. “Early to bed, early to rise” is part of the quote that my mother used to tell me all the time. It is true. You have to go to bed early in order to wake up early and not feel like your body is going to crash at 2 pm. I hit that wall a lot and I am tired of being tired. It’s time for a change.
- Start small – It you are used to staying up late – don’t expect that you will all of sudden be able to go to bed early one night and be able to wake up at 6 am the next day. Your body is not used to it. Instead set your alarm for 15-20 minutes earlier than normal – and after a few days of being able to do that, move it another 15-20 minutes. Over the course of a few weeks you will be at a much earlier time and you will have had a chance to adjust to your new morning routine.
- Eat healthy – you might be surprised to find out what certain foods do to your mood and energy levels. Eat healthy foods, and stop eating about 3 hours before you go to bed (goal is no later than 7 pm).
- Move your alarm clock – If you are like me – you set your alarm on your phone and put it right by your bed. This is a terrible habit that I need to break. I need to get an alarm clock or move my phone across the room, so that I actually have to get up to turn it off in the mornings instead of rolling over and hitting the snooze button and going back to sleep.
- Unplug – Keep electronics off 1 hours before bedtime. This will give your mind a chance to “relax” and you will not fall asleep browsing Facebook or staring at a TV screen. Relax your mind and body by reading or mediating. I have a terrible habit of playing on my phone. I need to get back to reading or mediating to fall asleep. I also feel more rested when I fall asleep that way.
- Keep a log. If you are not sure of your schedule – get a notebook and keep track of it. Write down when you wake up, exercise, eat, nap, are on your phone, computer or watching TV, when you fall asleep, etc. It will be a great way to track your habits and get into a better routine for not only falling asleep but eating better and being more active.
I would love to hear what tips and tricks you have for waking up early. It is going to be a challenge for me, but I am ready.
Cindy Brooks says
I’m working on this, too! Thanks for the tips.