Keys to Waking Up Early

Crawl out of that bed and face the day.

While it is a noble concept to want to wake up early, it is not always an easy task. Cold winter mornings, daunting tasks or lack of sleep the night before will keep many people in bed. There are some keys to waking up early to become the productive, healthy person who has many daily accomplishments. With these tips, you too can become an early riser.

Make Mornings Productive and Make Plans

Be productive in the morning by planning work for the morning hours. Plan meetings and appointments in the morning as well, to give yourself an excuse to get up early. If others are depending on you, it is more likely you will wake up early to avoid missing important morning activities. If there are no appointments or work available, plan a recreational activity for early morning, such as working out at the gym or indulging in a favored hobby.

Use an Alarm Clock and Ditch the Curtains

You will tend to wake up with the rising sun if there are no curtains covering your window, helping you to wake up early. Using an alarm clock also helps, even if you become accustomed to waking up before the alarm clock. The security of having a system to wake you up will also help you sleep better. Avoid the snooze button, however, opting to get out of bed as soon as the alarm clock sounds the first time.

Get Out of Bed

Get out of bed immediately. Do not take a minute to wake up while lying in bed, as this increases the chances of falling back asleep. If necessary, walk out of the room. Standing, walking and moving increase blood flow and help speed the waking process. You will be able to wake faster and be more productive if you get out of bed as soon as you are awake.

Go to Bed Early and Sleep Well

Make sure the pillow and mattress are not contributing to nighttime wakefulness, which will inhibit your ability to get up in the morning. If they are, replace them. Decide how much sleep you need to feel rested and productive and go to bed on time every night. Lack of sleep leads to sickness due to a weakened immune system, so missing bedtime and not resting well will contribute to illness, which will in turn keep you in bed.

Review the Day's Accomplishments

At the end of the day, review what you accomplished during the day. Compare the accomplishments to a scenario where you had not woken up early. Congratulate yourself and allow yourself to be proud of your accomplishments. A sense of pride in the day's work will encourage you to repeat the process and rise early every day.

References

• Dave Cheong: Waking Up Early -- 15 Tips That Work