5 Tips on Waking Up Earlier
Morning person or not, there are times when we need to learn to starting waking up earlier.
There may be a number of reasons why you want to wake up earlier, such as a new job or you love that feeling of getting stuff done while everyone else is still asleep (that’s me!). Or maybe you are looking for some extra time to exercise before work. Whatever the reason, and whatever your current routine, these tips on waking up earlier can help.
Start going to sleep at an earlier time
Simply getting to bed earlier is one easy way to wake up earlier in the morning. You probably already know that. This way, you can still get a full 7 or 8 hours of healthy rest each night, and wake up refreshed and energetic in the early morning hours.
Set your alarm clock out of reach from the bed
Another trick for getting up earlier, and staying up, is to place a noisy alarm clock across the room from your bed. Set the alarm for whatever early morning hours you desire to rise, and the act of getting out of bed, orienting yourself, and walking across the room gives you a better chance at staying up rather than crawling back under your cozy covers. If you can reach out and slap the alarm off without having to get up, you will find that your body can do this in sleep mode!
Start rolling back your wake up time each morning
If you have time to work into the earlier waking hour, start a week before and gradually wake up earlier each day or two until you are waking at the needed time. This gradual method is known to help adjust your internal clock which will help you stay on the new schedule once your body adjusts. If you need to wake up an hour earlier in the morning, start by setting your alarm just 15 minutes earlier tomorrow. Each night, set the alarm for 10 – 15 minutes earlier until you are at the time needed. We use this method about a week before school starts back. It sure makes that first morning less stressful!
Use lighting to help you wake up
Your internal clock is naturally inclined to stay awake when it is light outside, and to sleep when it is dark. Use this biological fact to your advantage. Stop by the home improvement store next time you are out and pick up an inexpensive electric timer plug, and attach it to several bright lights that make it nearly impossible to stay asleep once your alarm goes off.
Spend a few minutes exercising
Studies show that exercising in the morning leads to better sleep patterns late at night. Your morning routine doesn’t have to include a full blown workout, but even 10-15 minutes will lead to improved mental clarity in the mornings.
Studies show that including 30 to 60 minutes of exercise each day are beneficial to both physical health and sleep patterns. Exercising daily not only promotes good health and energy in the morning, but it can help make you feel tired enough at the end of a long day that sleep comes easy and early. Studies do recommend not working out too hard within a couple of hours of bedtime, but light exercise even before bed can be relaxing and help you sleep better.
If you are not a morning person, it will help to remind yourself why you are getting up early. If your reason is big and important enough, reminding yourself of it every morning will help you over come the struggle while your body adjusts to the time difference. You can learn how to deal with mornings even if you are not a morning person.
If none of the above tricks work, there are both prescription and over the counter supplements that you can use for short periods of time. Melatonin
Waking up earlier than your body wants can be a struggle. But the benefits can certainly out weigh the complaints. I use the additional time I gain to study or squeeze in an hour of work on my current project. What tips or tricks have you used to make waking up earlier easier?
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