How to Become an Early Riser: The 7 Strategies I Learned
Want to know How to Become an Early Riser? Learn the 7 simple yet highly effective strategies I learned that will help you become an early riser in no time.
Of the many highly successful people I’ve studied over the years, from the few habits they have in common, waking up early is certainly one of them. If being more productive and having a greater chance at success with your day sounds good to you then read on. Because here, you’ll find 7 great strategies on how to become an early riser that you can start using today to help with an early start tomorrow. Even if you think you’ve tried and failed in the past, give each one an honest try and see if they work for You.
The Night Owl myth
A quick note before getting right into the tips. Although you may not already consider yourself a ‘morning person,’ it’s important for you to know that being a morning person is more of a habit you create rather than they way you’re ‘wired.’ This means it’s entirely possible for you to become an early riser — even if you’re currently a Night Owl.
If being a Night Owl sounds like you, I encourage you to stick with whichever strategies you choose to use below. I’m confident, that if you give the strategies, you’ll learn here an honest 30 days, your life (or at least your mornings) will change. Just remember, getting into the habit of waking up early takes practice and discipline. If you put to work these seven strategies, you’ll learn how to become an early riser in no time.
How to become an early riser
1. Have a good reason to get up
It’s one thing to decide you’re going to start getting up early when it’s the middle of the day, and you’re wide awake and feeling super motivated. It’s another thing entirely to actually get out of bed when it’s still dark outside, and your bed and blankets want to keep you warm and snug. To overcome the temptation to stay in bed when you’re sleepy, you’re going to need to have a good reason to get up.
To do this, the moment you wake up, think about what you want to achieve with your morning hours. Maybe you want to get exercising, maybe you want to get your chores out of the way early so your evenings are free, or maybe you could put in time on that project of yours. Whatever that reason might be, the key is to make sure it’s important to you — and that’s worth getting up for.
Remind yourself of it frequently, and imagine how great it’ll make you feel when you get up and get it done. You’ll have an easier time waking up if your reason for getting up early matters more to you than the extra hour in bed. So, know your ‘why’ and make sure it’s a powerful and compelling one. If you have your why written down on a piece of paper next to you, while you sleep — even better. Because it will serve as a handy reminder once that alarm goes off.
Tip: Have a damn good reason
2. Ease yourself into it
Starting anything new can be exciting! And you may feel that way about your new-to-be morning routine. If this sounds like you and you find yourself feeling this way, just be sure to take it slow and make it last. The thing is, what you don’t want, is to find yourself falling victim to the Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS). You know it, right? When that new ‘shiny’ thing comes along, that get’s us all pumped up! We, as a result, jump in, get involved or, buy it! Then, of course, within a few days we’ve lost interest in it and move on to the next new ‘shiny’ thing — and the cycle continues.
Well, the same can be said when learning how to become an early riser. So, as a word of caution, when trying to transform your morning routine — take it one step at a time. It’s tempting to try to make massive changes all at once. But if you usually get up at 8 am and you start setting your alarm for 5 am, chances are, you’re not actually going to follow through — at least not for more than a few days.
It takes time for our internal clock to adjust. So be realistic with your goals and take care of yourself. Instead, try setting your alarm for half an hour earlier each week or, ten minutes earlier every day. Sure, it might take you a little longer to reach your preferred wake-up time. But, you’ll be much more likely to stick with your new habit if you ease yourself into it, rather than take the plunge right from the get go.
Tip: Make slight daily changes
3. Hit the hay earlier
If you start cutting hours off your morning sleep time without compensating for it, you’re quickly going to find yourself exhausted. Not getting enough sleep is a recipe for disaster. It’ll only be a matter of time before you’ll be ignoring (or sleeping through) your morning alarms and falling back into your old habits.
To avoid this, figure out how much sleep per night is optimal for you. Generally, for most people, 7–8 hours is a good amount. When you’ve figured out your optimal sleep time, set your bedtime accordingly. To form a new habit, you’ve got to be able to live with it long-term. So, getting enough sleep every day should be a priority.
Tip: Adjust to your optimal sleep level
4. Put your alarm out of reach
If you can reach out and smack your snooze button without getting out of bed, chances are, you’re going to stay right where you are and fall asleep again. To avoid that from happening, you need to set yourself up for success. To do that, put your alarm clock as far away from the bed as you can. This will help to force yourself to get up. Then, once your up and out, do whatever you can to stay out! By getting yourself up and moving around, you’ll begin to wake up — and hopefully think twice before going back to bed.
Tip: Set yourself up for success
5. Lights, camera, action!
If you live alone or share a room with someone else who also wants to join the early morning club, flip on the light as soon as you get out of bed to turn off your alarm. Alternatively, you could also try using a light timer to automatically turn on the lights for when you want to get up. If, however, you share a room with someone who isn’t so enthusiastic about waking up early, hop straight into the bathroom and turn the light on right away. Exposure to light signals to your brain that the night is over helping to snap you into awake mode.
Tip: Light it up
6. Prepare ahead of time
Are you in the habit of going to bed with a sink full of dishes? Leaving the bathroom in disarray? Having no clean clothes to be found? Then, it’s no wonder getting up in the morning can feel more painful than it needs to. Stop waking up to this type of morning by changing up your evening routine. Make it an early evening priority to tidy up anything that needs to be done the night before. This way, you don’t have to worry about them the following morning.
Also, before going to bed, consider choosing the clothes you want to wear in the morning. Then, set them out by your newly relocated alarm clock. Feeling extra organized? Set the timer on your coffee maker to start brewing a pot shortly before your alarm goes off. Then, let the aroma help wake up the senses! This way, you’ll be more likely to get up and stay up. Whatever you do, make your morning routine as convenient as you possibly can ahead of time.
Tip: Get organized
7. Stick to your guns
Getting up and going to bed at the same time every day will eventually reset your internal clock. And, in time, you’ll condition yourself to wake up naturally making you become an early riser. Staying consistent with your new sleep schedule can be tough in the beginning. But, just remember, so long as you stick with it, you’ll have a new habit ingrained for the long term.
So stick with it! Do whatever you can to fight off anything that will unravel your hard work. Resist the temptation to sleep in or go back to bed. If, however, you do oversleep one day, don’t beat yourself up about it. Allowing yourself to have a small sleep in here and there is okay! As long as you don’t make a habit of it, it shouldn’t undo all your progress. When it does happen, though, just focus on getting back into your routine the very next day!
Tip: Stay strong
Prepare now, start tomorrow
There’s really no getting around it. You’ll need preparation and willpower to turn yourself into a morning person. To give yourself a fighting chance, use the tips and strategies you’ve learned here. Keep your reasons for getting up early clear in your mind. Make a plan for what you want to do as soon as the alarm goes off. If it’s to start exercising, make a plan to get you there. If it’s to begin working on a project, make a plan to get you working on it. Whatever it might be, just make sure you have a plan that’ll get you up, keep you up, and get you going!
