Whether you’re a morning person who has lost their early to bed/early to rise mojo or a tried-and-true night owl who needs a schedule change to help them feel more rested, these tips will help you wake up easier!
Move Up Bedtime
If you’re regularly hitting the hay at 11:30, aiming to fall asleep at 9:30 in one night won’t get you anywhere. Instead, spend several weeks gradually pushing up your bedtime to your desired target (ideally, 7 – 9 hours before you have to wake up). Start by aiming for 10:45 for a few days, then 10:30 for a few more days until you’ve hit your desired bedtime.
Set a Night Routine
To help with winding down at the end of the day and pushing up your bedtime, create a calming nighttime routine. It can be as short or long as you want, but the routine should include nightly care tasks like washing your face, brushing your teeth, and putting your phone down for the evening. Instead of scrolling social media or the news before bed, keep a book on your nightstand and read a few pages until it’s time to hit the hay.
Get Some Sunshine
Exposure to bright light as soon as you wake up will help you feel alert as you kickstart your morning. If there isn’t enough natural light in your room at your wake-up time, get a light therapy alarm clock that uses simulated “natural” light to wake you up gradually with a simulated sunrise.
Move Your Alarm Clock
Hitting the snooze button is far too easy when your alarm is right there on your bedside table. Give yourself a headstart by setting your alarm clock across the room so that you have to get out of bed to turn it off. Alternatively, you can try an alarm app that forces you to complete a puzzle or activity to wake your brain up before you turn off the alarm.
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Treat Your Morning Self
Planning a small treat to enjoy each morning can help motivate you to get out of bed when your alarm goes off. Maybe your treat is upgrading your coffee setup to locally roasted beans and a new machine, a delicious breakfast that you prepped the night before, or a new car from Lee Buick GMC that you get to drive to work each morning. As long as you have something to look forward to, you’ll have a much easier time taking that first step out of bed!