Beauty & Fashion
How to Wake Up Early and Take On the World!
Written by Nicole | March 17, 2011
I’ve always been a night person and waking up early doesn’t come naturally to me. But when I wake up early I feel much more accomplished and ready to take on the day! I’m currently using these techniques to wake up earlier and they’ve definitely helped me ‘rise and shine’. 🙂
1. Get to bed sooner! I often think I can go to bed late and wake up early, but that hardly ever works out. In order to wake up early, you need to get to bed at a reasonable time. Sounds easy enough right? Try shutting off the Internet (yes…all devices, including your smartphone, your iPad, etc etc etc!), computer, and TV at least 30 minutes before bed. Check out my article on how to sleep better.
2. Start slow– Set your alarm for 10 minutes earlier than your usual start time. Then gradually, subtract another 10 minutes until you get to your designated wake-up time. Your internal clock will slowly get adjusted.
3. Don’t put your alarm near your bed! If it’s too accessible to hit the snooze button to keep sleeping, you’ll do so. Put your alarm on the opposite side of the room so you have to literally get up and turn it off. By that point, you’re up and you’re much more likely to stay awake.
3. Absolutely, do NOT hit snooze! Once you fall into the “just 15 more minutes” trap, it’s a slippery slope and next thing you know, you’re running late! Try www.snoozester.com – it’s a free site that sends you continual calls until you wake up.
4. Get out of your bedroom! Once you’ve turned off your alarm, don’t let yourself get back into bed. Force yourself to go in another room, to the bathroom- kitchen, whatever. I don’t drink coffee, but when I wake up I grab a Coke Zero to get some caffeine and help me wake up. 🙂
5. Make it entertaining! It’s much easier to wake up when you have something to excite you. I have TV in the bathroom and its playing in the background while I’m getting ready. That way I can multitask while catching up on the news! Listening to your favorite music will help wake you up, to0.
6. Write it down! It’s one thing to want to wake up early. It’s another actually doing it. Write down the reason why you want to get up early, such as exercising, catching up on emails, whatever. You’ll be reminded of the reason and more motivated to do it!
Do you have any “wake up” tricks that I missed?
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Image: Malcolm MacGregor/JAI/Corbis
Posted by on September 17, 2011 at 18:02
Get up at exactly the same time every single morning, and like Nicole said, no snoozing. This will train your body very well, and you’ll wake up at that time automatically, even without the alarm clock!
Posted by on June 27, 2011 at 21:54
I am not a morning person either. Thanks for the tips
Posted by on June 27, 2011 at 21:15
I’m soooo glad someone else drinks Coke Zero in the morning!! Hahaha. 🙂
Posted by on March 27, 2011 at 15:04
Good to know :)I’m going to try this! #3 made me laugh because I do it all of the time.
Posted by on March 17, 2011 at 20:14
I love getting up before everyone else in my house. It’s when it’s the quietest. Thanks for these tips!
Posted by on March 17, 2011 at 12:08
I always stretch when I first wake up. It makes me feel more alert and less tired.
Posted by on March 17, 2011 at 10:50
whoa! coke zero in the morning? i always make my mom buy my fave cereal. i know my fave bfast will get my butt out of bed!
Posted by on March 17, 2011 at 09:46
Great advice. I don’t drink coffee either!