Rising early is hard and doesn’t feel natural for most people. But many successful entrepreneurs, life coaches and mindset gurus swear by it, attributing their success to an early start of the day.
Even if you’re not a morning person, you should try waking up early and see how it affects your productivity. Here are ten proven tips that help me kick off the day before the birdies:
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1. Keep your phone away from bed
I’ve realised that I tend to turn off the alarm if I can. I do it automatically without overthinking because it’s still early, and I’m unfocused. I don’t want to oversleep, so I avoid wearing my smartwatch or disconnecting it from the phone, which is kept away from me.
Takeaway: Keep your phone or alarm clock far/high enough from bed. This will force you to get out of bed and turn it off. Take off your smartwatch or disconnect its Bluetooth connection to your phone.
2. Wake up with a soft song you love
It’s fun and soothing to wake up to the sound of your favourite tune. It’s so much nicer than the usual Rrrring or Beep sound.
I also set two to three alarms about ten minutes apart because I tend to hit snooze a few times before I actually wake up. This way, I enjoy this little ‘treat’ of getting back to bed while still rising early.
Takeaway: Use a music app like Spotify to set up musical alarms. Also, create two to three consecutive alarms. For example, I could set the following alarms: 4:45, 4:57, and 5:10 a.m.
3. Take a few moments to watch nature
There’s a bonus when you wake up early: You get to see nature in its full glory. Look at the birds flying in droves, the trees waving in the wind, and admire the best show in town — the sunrise with all the beautiful colours it brings about. How can anything go wrong now?
Takeaway: After you wake up, take two to three minutes to watch nature through your window without thinking of anything else. Try to watch the sunrise and see how it makes you feel.
4. Elevate your heart rate
If you still feel like returning to bed, stretch up and start running! If you have the time, run outside for 20 minutes. If not, follow these steps:
Run in place (or on a treadmill) for about five minutes. Gradually increase your speed until you give your all and feel your heartbeat. Then, after one to two minutes, slow down and resort to walking. Then stretch again and enjoy the energy flow!
5. Go to sleep early enough
Duh! It may sound like a canned or no-brainer advice, but it can’t be overstated. You need to sleep for a specific time according to your age for your body and brain to function well and to stay healthy. Countless research proves sleep is essential to brain function, well-being, and longevity.
So, if you want to wake up at 5 am, don’t go to sleep at 2 am — this will never work.
Takeaway: Use a sleep calculator to determine how much sleep you need. Plan your bedtime accordingly, and start your preparations 30–60 minutes before. Bonus points if you can avoid social media and news for about an hour before you close your eyes.
6. Tidy up the day before
Mess is a stealth time stealer.
Some people are used to working in a chaotic environment, but do they realise how much time and focus is lost? Imagine waking up to a clean and tidy home, with a clear desk that has your computer, display(s), accessories and nothing but what you need to get your job done 🙂
Takeaway: Develop a habit of tidying up for 15 minutes before sleep, preparing your work environment for the following day. This way, you’ll be happy to rise early and start hustling!
7. Shower before going to bed
Research suggests that a warm shower or bath before bedtime can improve sleep. I can attest to that; from my experience, this practice calms your body down and makes sleeping easier.
Takeaway: Have a quick warm shower or bath right before sleep and see how it affects your sleep.
8. Wake up with a cold splash
A cold shower has different advantages than a hot one. It helps you wake up and speeds up your metabolism and blood flow, among many other benefits.
Takeaway: Have a cold shower or bath before you start your work day. If this idea makes you shiver, begin with a warm shower and slowly decrease the temperature.
WARNING: Never take a cold shower directly after a workout, as it can potentially put your heart at risk.
9. Have a reason to rise early
Today is your big day, and you’re about to work on your dream project, invest in your dream stock, or shoot that video you’ve been obsessed with for a month!
Now, will you stay in bed or jump out of it even before the alarm goes off?
Takeaway: Before going to bed, plan the following day with purpose. There is no need to get into details. Just write a quick vision that you can’t wait to work on. For example,” I’m going to shoot a TikTok on makeup brushes that will bring me 100 new email subscribers over the following month.”
10. Drink a glass of water
Drinking water in the morning can help you focus, perform better mentally, and improve your mood, among other benefits.
Takeaway: Start the day with one or two glasses of cold water and see how you feel afterwards. Stay hydrated during the day and see how you feel.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your physician for any questions or concerns regarding workouts, medical practices, or health-related issues.
Conclusion
These tips are a great way to start the day early. Which one is your favourite? Do you have any other routines or habits that help you rise early?
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