The Struggle of Getting Out to Bed
As you open your eyes by the alarm you’ve set at 5:00 AM,
your body doesn’t feel like moving an inch.
That feeling when you know you have to exert herculean effort to drag your body out of bed.
And that moment when you get sooo tempted to hit the “snooze” button.
Trust me… been there, done that…
I had like five alarm set in my phone just to hit the “snooze” every time it surprises the hell out of me.
But that was when before I discovered that…
“Once you go snooze, you loose.”
Mindful awareness is so important, because most of us are not aware that we’re building a bad habit.
This is how it happens…
What we decide from this exact moment, and in every moment, have the greatest impact in our future.
Sometimes we develop this mindset of “I’ll do better next time. For now, I’ll procrastinate.”
But what we do now determines our future, because what we do now every now and then will become a habit.
There is no better time than now,
and once you make that decision of “next time” or “just this once” will likely still repeat which will eventually become a bad habit.
So, the first helpful step is to be aware of this fact whenever you think of hitting the snooze button and going back to sleep.
Now, let me share with you why I decided to build the habit of rising early morning.
Why I Decided to Become a Morning Person
Believe me, I loved being a night person so much that I was proud of it.
I would proudly say, “Most artists are a night person.
I can think and work better late at night.” So, how did everything turned around?
It was when I started doing my activities early morning that I was able to truly compare how beneficial being a morning person is.
I find early mornings “soul restoring,” “healer,” or “rejuvenating.” – urrmm I can’t find the right words – especially when you start the day with your healthy routines.
Early morning has become my favourite part of the day.
It’s the best time to do the things what I want to do or what I want to learn.
Whenever I run early morning, meditate, read a book, write, paint, and so on, is the best and most fulfilling time I can find to do them.
I now proudly say, “I’m a morning person.”
9 Ways I Made Waking Up Early Easier
#1 | Mindset before sleeping.
Despite of my sleeping hours, I wake up early. I have set my phone alarm and usage limit of gadgets from 10:00 PM bed time and 5:00 AM wake up time. But sometimes when things get busy, have important matters to deal with, or I have a hard time sleeping, I still wake up 5:00 AM regardless of sleeping hours I had. “Lack of sleep” is definitely just a mindset. Before sleeping, if you think you can’t have enough sleep because you went to bed late, you’ll wake up sluggish and lazy. But if you set your mind that you have just enough time to rest, you’ll wake up motivated.
#2 | Counting From 10 to 1 strategy.
This is one of my favourites because it is so effective. If you have a hard time getting up from bed, try counting from 10 to 1. Your mind will force your body and take action before your counting ends. Try this out and you’ll find out.
#3 | Never let your mind start to wander.
This is kind of tricky because thinking about memories while lying on your bed is addictive. But the moment our mind wanders just when we wake up, there’s a big chance that you fall back to sleep. To avoid letting your thoughts cloud up your mind, you need to get out of bed right away. Get your body moving before your thoughts get through you.
Related Posts:
The Miracle of Rising Up Early
How to Build Habits The Right Way
#4 | Drag your body to turn on the lights.
When you force and engage your body in movement, it will naturally help you wake up and be active because motion creates energy. Our body is like a remote control of our mind (just like the other way around). Whatever your body is doing, your mind and emotions follow through.
#5 | Lights will wake you up.
Your melatonin is a hormone that helps you sleep, and turning on the lights when you wake up will help decrease its production. That’s also the reason why you should never use phone or gadgets before you sleep as it can cause insomnia if done habitually.
#6 | Don’t wait for motivation.
Don’t rely on motivation and wait for the moment when you’re in the mood to wake up early if you want it to become a habit. Relying on motivation never works because motivation is a feeling. Feelings are unreliable because it’s changing. So motivated or not, you must do it anyway.
#7 | Drink water.
Sometimes when feeling sluggish, we thought we needed more sleep but all we truly need is to hydrate. Make it a habit of frequently drinking water to help your body system regulate well.
#8 | Morning gratitude.
Whenever I think about the things I’m thankful about, it gives me sense of excitement and I look forward for the day. When you’re mentally and emotionally optimistic, your body follow through and become proactive. Decide every morning to look for things that you’re grateful about.
#9 | Repeat numbers 1-8, everyday!
Once waking up early becomes a habit, there would be no need for some of these steps. Things will become easier and waking up early becomes easier for you. The main core why the hard things to do before will eventually become easy to do is because we made them a habit. By repetition of these 8 steps, with persistence and self-discipline, it will become your healthy lifestyle. It will become natural to you as blinking your eyes. You become the morning person you want to be.
I’m starting to wake up earlier gradually. I start to wake up at 7:30 a.m. and then eventually will start on 7 then 6:30 then 6 then 5:30 then 5 having a toddler makes it it very difficult.
I think I’m more of a morning person. My body automatically wakes me up pretty early so I can get a lot done in the morning.
These are great ideas. I haven’t had an alarm for years and wake up early automatically. But I still remember when I did use an alarm and constantly used snooze.
nice list. i don’t have troubles with getting out of bed thankfully but i find that after sleeping whether overnight or a nap — a glass of water is always very refreshing and helpful.
These are really nice suggestions as I really need to wake up early every day to do my work and to exercise too! Thank you for these!
I am a morningperson, love the quiets in the morning. But I am not a peopleperson in the mornings 😛
I always wanted to be a morning person, but this lockdown has make me stay up late all the time. Thanks for these tips
I totally get that, Paolo. I, too, sometimes have those days of not being able to sleep earlier ever since the lockdown. We just have to accept that there will be those inevitable days, and that’s fine.
Those are all really good advice to wake up early I need to do it more. Every time I do get up early I always get a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.
I really haven’t ever had a problem waking up in the morning. A lot, of those things on your list I have already been in a habit of doing. Early to bed and early to rise makes us healthy wealthy and wise! lol 🙂
I totally agree with your last sentence, Matt! 🙂
I needed to read this morning motivational post at the moment. Since self-isolation started because of Covid-19, I literally have to drag myself out of bed each morning.
I can totally get that. Covid-19 has made it more challenging to keep our good routines.
I can certainly relate to this issue of getting out of bed and will try these suggestions.
Waking up early helps us be more productive. Also, we can do more activities and schedule them appropriately.
My favorite is never let your mind wander. That is my biggest weakness!
Same, Jessie! Especially with the pandemic we are all facing today. I am actually still on the process of practicing it.
I am not totally a morning person but I taught myself to become one starting the day that I became a wife and a mom and it’s gives me a good feeling because I can do a lot of time such a me time while while the kids are still sleeping.
That’s awesome, Gervin! Thanks for sharing that with me. I, too, was not a morning person until I experienced continuously how it gives us good energy. It is indeed the best time for self growth.