Throughout my life, I have always been a morning person. Even when my days and nights were upside down, I always felt the most energetic, happy and positive in the early hours.. A chill of dawn, a brightening sky, the sunrise, the birds chirping. Waking up early is natural for me.
But I admit, waking up early in the morning is quite easy for me. Not always, but for the most part, that is my comfort zone.
While I do appreciate the romance of awakening nature, I think that waking up early is generally a more positive habit for most people than waking up late. Getting up with the sun in the morning and turning off at night seems more natural. Science actually supports and approves of this notion, although for me proof is unnecessary.
It is good to mention that there are a number of physical, emotional, and spiritual conditions that make waking up early difficult. In addition, there are many people who thrive at night for reasons of inspiration and creativity.
I’ll get to the point now that I’ve been politically correct enough.
Here are some insights and tips for those of you looking to wake up early in the morning to be more productive, practice self-discipline, improve sleep habits, and promote mental health.
Okay, let’s continue.
How early?
I think it’s amazing to see a sunrise in the morning, and dawn is a wonderful time for people to wake up and start their day. On the other hand, early can also be relative in our case.
If you are a 9 AM kind of morning person, 7 AM is a remarkable achievement.
If you are an 8 AM kind of morning person, 6 AM is a brave new world.
You got me.
If you’re used to waking up later, every step back on the clock is a vote for future vitality.
So what are the benefits of waking up early?
The first thing I want to do is let go of an old cliché here – it’s not necessary to get up early in the morning to be successful in life. Good, we’ve got it out of the way.
To be precise, getting up early in the morning is definitely a habit that will benefit many people in terms of productivity, physical health, and mental ability.
Wake up peacefully
If you wake up half an hour before the start of the work day, it may feel like the day is already underway, but they are still half asleep. The transition from sleep to complete alertness takes some time. This type of day is usually cloudy and accompanied by fatigue and a lack of focus. Days like this tend to start out stressful, so we need to do everything quickly to get through. Over time, this kind of behavior results in burnout.
Sit down and enjoy a nutritious breakfast.
I’m the last person to say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Not because I dislike breakfast, but because I don’t believe in universal dietary rules. However, it is critical to get healthy nutrition for your body and mind, and getting up early allows you to eat without having to rush.
Include a period of physical and mental practice
There are things we know will never happen once the day kicks in, even if they are worthwhile and healthy for us – unless we find significant motivation and make it a habit. Exercise and meditation are both excellent examples, as are writing and reading.
Our window of opportunity early in the morning allows us to include things that are meaningful to us without feeling that they come at the expense of other responsibilities, such as work and family.
Furthermore, a morning routine that consists of positive practices is essential for a productive and inspired day.
Become more productive
The kind of productivity I’m speaking of is greatly bolstered by breathing intervals, proper rest, nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle. These elements prevent us from chasing urgent things and allow us to act based on our values and vision.
I have found that all of these sharpen and settle much more smoothly and comfortably when we get up early in the morning.
Be persistent and self-disciplined
Although self-discipline is a rigid concept, I do like it and use it often. To get out of the comfort zone, form positive habits and achieve self-growth, you have to practice. The image of the monk always comes to mind – some may see him as a symbol of suffering and asceticism, but I strongly believe that when we transcend patterns and overcome our tendency to escape into comfort realms, we find fullness in life.
Most of us are not used to getting up early in the morning. The ability to overcome defaults for the benefits listed here strengthens our perseverance. This is a habit-forming muscle.
Quiet time
I’m addicted to morning silence. I have a playful and energetic 6-year-old boy. From the moment he gets up until the moment he heads to kindergarten, quiet is a luxury for me. For some of us, it’s nearly impossible to spend time alone. I’m usually between work, studies, family and friends. Before everyone wakes up in the morning, it’s a great time to spend with yourself.
I get it, waking up early in the morning is amazing. How do you do it?
I always thought you asked good questions.
Get out of bed
Even I, who have been getting out of bed at 5:30 in the morning for years now, occasionally have to reevaluate the concept of waking up early. Especially when it’s cold, rainy, and my action plan includes a 10 km run.
For a moment, let’s talk about the technical side. Alarm clock.
During the early stages of the process, if you know that one watch will not work, do not rely on snooze (we’ll discuss that soon). Instead, use several alarm clocks. Yes, just like that.
It’s also advisable to use an alarm clock at the other end of the room. This will force you out of bed when the first clock rings, and avoid waking others in the room.
Don’t snooze
The snooze button has never helped anyone get out of bed early in the morning. He can even be considered the number one enemy of early awakening and late sleeping simultaneously. He leaves us in this state between deep and pleasant sleep and productive and joyful wakefulness, which prevents us from enjoying either.
Sleeping habits
It is also necessary to keep in mind that this entire story has physical aspects as well. It is much more challenging to get up at 5 AM after 4 hours of sleep. In order to wake up early in the morning, you need to get enough sleep. You should modify your sleeping habits, follow proper sleep hygiene, go to bed at a reasonable time, and treat the factors that affect your sleep quality.
A morning routine (know what you’ll be doing in advance)
When I was still trying to incorporate waking up early as a habit, I noticed it was more difficult for me to get out of bed when I wasn’t sure why I was doing it. Don’t leave it open. Once the morning flow becomes a habit, getting out of bed is much easier.
I run most mornings, so it has become an established habit for me, and it is something I enjoy and am used to. Before it was so easy I made sure to make this statement to myself: “Tomorrow I’m running”. Then it became a matter of washing my face, brushing my teeth, drinking a glass of water, and putting on my running clothes without thinking about it or making an effort.
Having a morning routine helps us to get out of bed in the morning.
Practitioner’s tip: Organize everything the day before so that you can start your activity with the least friction and effort. For example, let’s use my running example where everything is already waiting for me in the morning and my life is simplified.
Try to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day
Keeping regular sleep patterns can greatly improve sleep quality. Regular sleep patterns allow you to make use of your circadian rhythm (perhaps the biological clock is more familiar to you?) to your advantage.
It is more difficult to stay in bed on the weekend for those who get up at the same time every day (even if they sleep the same number of hours or more).
In the end, you’ll find it much easier to wake up at your regular time. Of course, it’s wise to choose a time that suits you and your sleeping habits. If you are a night owl, 5 AM might not be the most convenient time for you. Gradually set your wake-up hour earlier and constantly modify it.
Remember why you’re doing it
Getting up in the morning is pointless without feeling nourished and supported. While you are still experimenting and researching how the early hours of the day work for you, keep in mind that it is all meant to give you more quality time for yourself and hopefully improve your physical and mental health as well.
Think about your morning routine and the impact it has on your day and week. Share your insights with friends and family.
Find a morning partner
When someone is aware of the process we are going through, either as a supporter from the side or as an active participant, we have another anchor. This helps us stay on track. It can be a running partner who helps you stay motivated, or a spouse who reminds you how meaningful it is to you.
Don’t start your day with digital junk
If there is one thing that does not support this wonderful process at all, and deserves to be mentioned in this context, it is the unconscious tendency of most of us (including me) to look at our smartphones when we wake up.
Introducing a few more rules of conduct to get rid of the irritating habit will improve the experience in so many ways.
Leave your phone on airplane mode until after your morning routine is complete. I promise you it will be worth it.
Wishing you many sunrises
Watching the world wake up is magical, even if I’m biased.
Magic happens when we get ahead of the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. We do this by giving ourselves breathing space at the beginning of the day and paying attention to what matters most.
What works for one person might not work for another. If there is something that is meaningful to me that you learn from my blog, it is that all things are possible with the right effort.
The practical part of the article explains simple principles that can be easily applied and can help you cultivate the habit of getting up early in the morning.
Please let me know how you are doing. I would love to hear from you.
Until next time, have a great morning.
