Tips for waking up early to start your day off on a good foot

Articles around the web commonly correlate waking up early to success. Regardless of whether one actually affects the other, starting your days before the sun rises has many benefits.

This article not only explains the benefits of rising early but also provides tips on how to get out of bed as soon as your first alarm goes off. If you can resist hitting that snooze button, you’ll be one step closer to a more productive day.

Why you should wake up early

Waking up at 4 a.m. every morning won’t make you a billionaire overnight. However, you’ll be more productive by starting your day before everyone else — something about an early bird and a worm?

Early mornings give you a distraction-free environment. No text messages or emails blowing up your phone (since most people haven’t yet started their day), and no meetings. This leaves time for the tasks that you usually won’t get to if your whole day is scheduled or full of interruptions. Furthermore, you’re also refreshed. Instead of finding a distraction-free space by burning the midnight oil after an already long day, you’re starting after a long rest.

Workouts are also great for the mornings. By hitting the gym or going for a run right before your workday begins, you can improve your physical and mental energy for the day.  This will help you feel better and improve your productive output.

By putting your workout at the forefront, it can help you make better health-related decisions too. This means fewer temptations towards that second slice of cake. You’re not only improving your work-related goals but also your personal health-related ones.

How to wake up early 

While the benefits of waking up early are plentiful, it’s easier said than done. Setting an alarm for 4 or 5 a.m. isn’t even half the battle. That warm bed can suck you in for a second round of sleep, and the next thing you know, you’ve overslept.

Shifting your schedule

Waking up earlier means going to sleep earlier. It can be hard to go to bed before you’re tired, but it starts with increments. If you usually sleep at midnight, try going to bed at 11:30, and wake up 30 minutes earlier. The next day, go to bed at 11:00 and then wake another 30 minutes earlier.

Try your best not to break this habit once the weekend hits. Consistency is everything, and one late night or morning of sleeping in can ruin a week’s worth of schedule-shifting progress.

Morning routine

Having a good morning routine lets you know your next step the second you get out of bed. More importantly, it can be the motivation to get out of bed. Whether it’s that cup of coffee or that morning workout, having a morning routine helps you better structure the way you wake up.

However, a good morning routine isn’t all done in the morning. It’s important to start the night before. This means preparing the next day’s breakfast, making sure your gym bag is ready to go, and (hopefully) clearing your email inbox so that it’s fresh for the next day. This can prevent last-minute stresses like looking for your running shoes, which can lead to your day getting off to a bad start.

Waking up at 4 a.m. doesn’t mean you’ll be the next Steve Jobs or Usain Bolt, but it can add a lot of value to your life. By shifting your schedule in increments and preparing a solid morning routine, you will find it easier to wake up before everyone. This habit will evidently lead to more productive mornings and a better day overall.