HOW TO GET UP EARLIER
Creating a simple morning routine can really help prepare you for the day ahead. Here are some little tips on how to get up earlier, particularly if you’re not a morning person!
BENEFITS OF GETTING UP EARLIER
There are so many benefits to getting up a little earlier than you need to, particularly if you have a busy home and busy family.
It’s lovely to have some peace and quiet before the rest of the home wakes up so you can get a few things done that will really set you up for the day ahead.
As the quote by Henry Ward Beecher goes, “The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day.”
What you do in the morning and, importantly, how it makes you feel, will set the tone for the rest of your day.
Finding a little bit of time in an otherwise busy day lets me do things that are more difficult, or impossible during the rest of the day.
For example, I can read a book, take a walk, do some exercise, sit quietly with a cup of tea, list my To Do’s for the day, write a gratitude list, listen to a podcast, learn something new…
The list of things I can choose to do with that special first hour or so of the day is endless. I try to fill it with activities that will help me feel better about myself, or that are weighing on my mind. For example, a big work project, a cluttered inbox, a new book I’ve been wanting to get into.
My morning routine varies slightly from day to day, depending on what’s urgent or what I feel needs to be done. But I try to keep it up every day in some shape or form, even if it’s just to read one page of my book, or have a warm drink listening to the stillness around me.
I always feel better when I’ve had a little bit of time to myself and I definitely feel better about the day ahead, no matter what it throws at me!
If you’d like to find out more about creating a simple morning routine, why it can really set you up for a better day ahead, plus some ideas on what you could include, check out these posts below:
- How to create a simple morning routine
- 25 ideas for your morning routine
- How to write a morning gratitude list and why it matters
WHY WE SOMETIMES FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GET UP EARLIER
Although it may be wonderful once we’re up and about, actually getting up can be a completely different story!
You can set the alarm, make it loud and it’ll probably wake you up, but the physical act of getting out of bed, particularly when it’s dark and cold, isn’t always so easy.
And, what about if you’re not naturally a morning person? Getting up and being productive seems like torture and not a great ‘rudder for the day’ as the quote above would suggest!
So, if you find it tough to be up and about early in the morning, but would love to create your own productive and peaceful morning routine, here are some tips on how to get up earlier…
HOW TO GET UP EARLIER
- The evening before – Go to bed at a reasonable time the night before so you get sufficient hours sleep to function well the next day. A productive morning routine actually starts the evening before!
- Start slowly – Start by waking and getting up just 10 minutes earlier for the first week if the prospect of an hour or so is way too daunting. Then try 15 minutes earlier for the next week and so on. You’ll soon find a time that your body clock feels comfortable with and is enough for you to get everything done.
- Move your alarm clock – Pop your alarm clock/phone on the other side of the room, away from the bed, so you have to actually get out of bed to switch it off! Throw open the curtains if you can whilst you’re there. Natural daylight does wonders for waking up brain and body!
- Avoid the snooze function – Don’t hit the snooze button. Once the alarm goes off, take it that it’s time to get up.
- Don’t overthink – Just make a pact with yourself that once your alarm goes off, you’re going to get up and do the things on your list (that’s why a list is helpful). Once you start overthinking whether you do really need to get up, or what you’re going to do with that extra time, then you’re likely to stay in bed.
- Some mornings will be easier than others – Be aware that it’s harder to get up when it’s darker and colder!
- Warm the home up – Set the heating to come on early in the morning if it’s cold outside so you’re not getting up to a cold home.
- Shower – If it won’t wake the rest of the household up, take a shower to wake yourself up!
- Have a plan – Write down what you want to achieve the next morning. It always helps to have a plan and know why you want to do something.
- Create incentive – Don’t just fill your list with boring or important things. Pop something on there that you’re going to look forward to so there’s an incentive to wake up early.
- Little vs big – Work out whether you prefer to get one or two big things done (a full yoga workout/write a report for work) or several smaller things (lunches, laundry, social media, a five minute morning meditation, read a quick chapter of a book) or a mix of both. If one way doesn’t work then try another.
- Put your clothes out – Lay out your comfy clothes or work-out clothes the night before (maybe even in the bathroom or downstairs so you don’t wake everyone up when you crash around trying to get dressed in the dark).
- Get set up – Have your computer already set up in the evening for the work you want to get done the next morning, so once you sit at your desk then you’re all set to start and don’t get distracted by an internet search!
- Listen to yourself – Allow yourself a lie-in every now and then. Getting up early is great, but if your body is telling you it needs rest one day, listen to it.
- Look outside – Watch the dawn sky change from night to day. It can be so beautiful!
A GOOD EVENING ROUTINE
As I mentioned in point 1 above, a good morning routine actually starts with a great evening routine the night before.
If you’d like to find out more about why and how to create an evening routine that works for you, here are a couple of posts which you might find helpful:
If you feel a better morning routine would help you have a better day, why not check out my Morning Routine Planner? Start your day the right way and use this workbook to help you build a consistent, flexible morning routine that really sets you up for the day ahead – whatever that day may throw at you! Click here to learn more…