Last Updated on October 9, 2022 by theworldofsleepstaff
Waking up early isn’t easy. It’s an idea that sounds great in theory, but in practice, you’re more likely to hit snooze and then get up five minutes before the rest of your family needs to leave for school or work.
But you don’t have to always hate waking up early, and it doesn’t have to be so hard. You can do plenty of things to make it easier on yourself. And the best part is most of them don’t require any extra effort on your part.
Whether you need to wake up earlier for work or school or want to get more done in a day, here are some tips on how to wake up early without hating yourself. With these tips, we’ll show you how to make waking up early a breeze.
25 Tips To Help You Get Up Early
1. Get On A Sleep Schedule
If you’re having trouble waking up early, try setting a consistent sleep schedule. Set the alarm for the same time every morning and go to bed at the same time every night. Once you’ve set your schedule, stick with it as much as possible.
It will help your body get used to falling asleep on time, and it will also help you learn how long it takes for your body to wind down before bedtime so that you know when it’s time to turn out the lights at night.
2. Move Your Alarm Away From Your Bed
If you’re having trouble waking up in the morning, put the alarm clock across the room or even in another room entirely. If your alarm is on the other side of the house from where you sleep, it will be easier for you to get up because there’s a bit of a physical barrier between you and the snooze button.
That way, when your alarm goes off, you have to get out of bed, walk across the room, and shut it off before going back to sleep. It’s an extra step that makes it less likely that you’ll just hit snooze repeatedly until it goes off at its usual time, which is what happens when alarms are right next to beds.
3. Avoid Looking At Your Screens, Like Laptops & Phones
Avoid looking at your screen when you’re trying to fall asleep. If that’s not possible due to work or other obligations, then keep the brightness on your device as low as possible so that it doesn’t interfere with your natural circadian rhythm or the body’s internal clock.
The blue light from these devices can mess with your sleep cycle, making it difficult for you to fall asleep at night and wake up early in the morning. When we stay up too late and start looking at our screens right before bedtime, we disrupt this rhythm and make it harder for ourselves to get into slumber.
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4. Avoid Late-Night Snacking
If you want to wake up early, avoiding late-night snacking is best. It’s tempting to reach for that snack after a long day at work, but it will only make it harder for you to get up in the morning.
Snacking before bed can also cause weight gain and high blood sugar levels, leading to diabetes. If you’re having trouble waking up early, try eating dinner earlier than usual, and don’t eat anything else until morning.
5. Sleep With Your Curtains Open
When you sleep with your window or curtains open, it becomes easier for the sun to wake you up naturally in the morning. And if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where the sun comes in through your window, this can be a great way to wake up on time without relying on an alarm clock. Eventually as you go to sleep earlier at night, you’ll start waking up naturally with the sun, and no longer will you hate waking up early.
The light from the sun helps regulate our circadian rhythms, or the body’s natural clock, and makes us feel more alert as we start our day. So if you’re having trouble waking up early and need extra help getting going at 7 am, try sleeping with your curtains open.
6. Avoid Drinking Caffeine Before Bedtime
Caffeine helps people wake up more quickly and feel more alert throughout the day. But caffeine also has a half-life of 5-6 hours. That means that even 6 hours after you drink an energy drink or have a cup of coffee, your body will still be dealing with some of the effects of caffeine.
That means that if you drink coffee right before bedtime, you’ll likely have trouble falling asleep, and then when morning rolls around and your alarm goes off, your body will still be working through some of that caffeine and may not feel ready for its first cup of Joe.
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7. Plan Your Day The Night Before
Plan your day the night before, and then set the alarm for yourself so that you’ll be ready to start working right away when it goes off in the morning. By planning for tomorrow’s tasks and making sure everything is prepared for when you wake up, you’ll be able to start working without wasting valuable time trying to remember what needs doing or where things are located.
And because everything has been planned out ahead of time, there will be less stress associated with trying to get everything done on time. That means less stress overall.
8. Fuel Up With A Small Morning Meal
When you eat a small meal in the morning, your body gets the fuel it needs to help you wake up early. You’ll be more awake, more alert, and ready to take on whatever challenges the day throws.
Breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It just needs to be something that gives your body the energy it needs for that first cup of coffee. A bowl of cereal, some yoghurt, or eggs with toast will do the trick.
9. Go For A Walk In The Park
There’s no better way to start your day than by going for a walk in the park. The natural world has the power to help you wake up early and get your day started on the right foot. Your body will feel less stressed and more relaxed if you’re outside.
The exercise will help keep your mind focused on positive thoughts, which makes it easier for you to start thinking about what you have to do today instead of dwelling on yesterday’s mistakes. Being outdoors gives you more energy and makes you feel more alive than being inside, which means that when you come back inside, you’ll be able to focus on work with renewed enthusiasm and vigor.
10. Make Your Bed Every Morning
Making your bed every morning is a simple and easy way to help you wake up early. It might sound like a small thing, but making your bed every morning can help you start your day off right.
Making the bed keeps you from having to look at a messy room when you wake up. It helps you get in the habit of being organized and tidy and sets a positive tone for the rest of the day. If you wake up and see that your bed is made, it makes it easier for you to make other decisions throughout the day that are good for yourself and those around you.
11. Get Regular Exercise
Getting enough exercise to help you wake up early can be challenging, but it’s worth the effort. Exercise increases your time in REM sleep, the best kind of sleep for memory consolidation and learning new things.
In addition to improving your sleep quality, regular exercise will also help you stay awake during the day. Exercise releases endorphins into your system that make you feel happier, which can help keep you alert throughout the day, no matter how early it starts or how many hours you’ve put in already.
12. Read Your Favorite Web Story Or Book Over A Tasty Breakfast
Reading your favorite web story or book over a delicious breakfast is one of the best ways to wake up early in the morning. By reading something you love while you eat, you’ll associate the act of waking up with something that makes you feel good.
It’s a great way to get yourself out of bed on time, and soon enough you will no longer hate waking up early.
13. Avoid Too Much Napping
If you’re trying to wake up early, taking a nap every afternoon can be tempting. But naps are not always the best way to go, especially if you want to get enough sleep at night. If you feel like napping all day long, try limiting your naps to 30 minutes and no more than twice a day.
Napping too much can make it harder to fall asleep at night. That’s because naps reduce your alertness and make it harder for you to get back into a regular sleep schedule. If you have trouble falling asleep at night, naps may make it even harder for you to fall asleep.
14. Sip A Cup Of Coffee In The Morning
A cup of coffee will help you wake up faster and more effectively than any other method. Coffee contains caffeine, which acts as a stimulant and increases heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. It means that drinking a cup of coffee in the morning will help you feel more awake faster than if you tried any other method like drinking water.
So next time your alarm goes off at 6 am and you feel like crawling back into bed, consider making yourself a cup of coffee instead. It’s quick and easy.
15. Do Yoga
By doing yoga in the morning, you’re setting your body on a schedule of waking up early and staying awake. If you practice waking up early with yoga, then over time, your body will get used to this new pattern, and eventually, it will become the norm for you.
Yoga is also great for helping people deal with stress. It reduces stress hormones and lowers blood pressure levels. These benefits are precious if you’re trying to stay awake during the day because of anxiety or other stresses in your life.
16. Avoid Drinking Alcohol Before Bed
Drinking alcohol before bed can seriously mess up your sleep and your ability to wake up early. Instead of indulging in that final glass of wine or beer before bedtime, opt for some warm milk or tea.
Alcohol is a depressant, and it slows down your brain activity. That means that while you’re sleeping, it can make it harder for your brain to recognize the changes in light and temperature that signal the start of a new day. It also means that when you do finally wake up in the morning, your body is still working at a slower pace than usual, and for some people, this means feeling groggy and disoriented for hours after waking up.
17. Take A Warm Shower Or Bath At Night
Showering at night is an excellent way to unwind after a long day and get ready for sleep. It can also help you wake up early by improving your body temperature and releasing hormones that regulate your sleep cycle.
The combination of an elevated body temperature and lowered stress levels will help you feel more alert when you wake up, which may make it easier for you to get out of bed and start your day.
18. Listen To Music
Try listening to music or singing along while getting ready in the morning. It sets the tone for your day and regulates your sleep cycle so that you’re prepared to take on whatever the day ahead holds instead of waking up in a fog. And if you’re already awake, it can help keep you alert and focused until lunchtime.
Music is also a great way to start your morning by setting the intention for how you want to feel throughout the day. If you know you will listen to your favorite tunes first thing, it’ll be a lot harder to hate waking up early.
19. Pre-Make Your Favorite Smoothie In The Evening
Pre-make your favorite smoothie in the evening to have something to look forward to in the morning. This way, when your alarm goes off and you’re tired and grumpy, you can reach for your smoothie instead of sleeping again.
Pre-making your smoothie ensures that you always have a tasty breakfast option available. And having something ready for yourself in the morning makes it easier for you to wake up earlier because there’s less work involved. You already know what it will be waiting for you when you get up.
20. Get A Pet
It’s not a secret that pets are great for your health. They provide unconditional love and companionship and even help you get out of bed in the morning. If you’re feeling groggy or sluggish in the morning, just being around your furry friend will help motivate you to get out of bed earlier and start your day right.
Pets also help owners stay active throughout the day by encouraging them to take walks with their animals. These walks can help reduce stress levels as well as improve mood overall.
21. Eat A Healthy Diet
A healthy diet will help you wake up early and sleep better at night. A healthy diet has plenty of protein and complex carbohydrates, which are essential for helping you fall asleep. It also contains a lot of water, which keeps your body hydrated and helps reduce stress.
Eating a healthy diet can also help you wake up early because it makes you feel energized and alert in the morning. When you eat right, your body can function efficiently, including knowing when it’s time to get out of bed in the morning.
22. Take A Cold Shower In The Morning
Morning showers are great. They wake you up, prepare you to start your day, and help you feel fresh and ready to go. But sometimes, especially if you’re a night owl, getting up early enough to take a shower before work can be difficult. If that’s the case for you, consider taking a cold shower in the morning instead.
Taking a cold shower in the morning may make you hate waking up early more, but they will help. When we’re exposed to cold temperatures, particularly water, our body temperatures rise to counteract it, which helps activate our metabolism and get us going faster than other methods would achieve.
23. Meditate
Meditation can help you wake up early because it helps calm your mind and body. When we’re awake early in the morning, our bodies still try to sleep, leaving us sluggish. But if we practice calming our minds through meditation before bedtime, waking up with a clear head will be easier.
The best way to get started is by setting aside time each night before bed to spend 15 minutes focusing on your breathing. It will help settle your mind so that when you wake up early in the morning, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on the day ahead.
24. Try A Melatonin Supplement
One way to get out of bed and start your day without feeling groggy or exhausted is by taking melatonin supplements before bedtime. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that helps regulate your sleep cycle by signaling when it’s time for you to fall asleep and when it’s time for you to wake up.
When taken at night before bedtime, melatonin supplements help induce sleepiness so that when morning comes around, it will feel natural for you to wake up without feeling like there was something wrong with your sleep.
Note: Always consult your doctor about the benefits and risks associated with supplements, and whether they could interact with any medications you take.
25. See A Sleep Specialist
See a sleep specialist if you’ve tried everything but can’t fall asleep before midnight. They can help you determine if your body is naturally wired for late nights or if other factors are at play.
You might even have an underlying condition that makes getting enough restful sleep challenging. But once you know what’s going on, you’ll be able to take steps toward fixing it and getting your life back on track.
