Why is it so hard to wake up early?
It’s that time of year again. That dreaded Sunday in which we lose an hour of sleep to herald in springtime. Daylight Savings is upon us. Which means that the task of waking up and staying awake becomes one hour more difficult than normal. But, with a little help and motivation, waking up doesn’t have to be that hard.
I used to not be a morning person. The way I lived my life was: let’s stay up all night watching movies and having deep talks about life, just please don’t ask me to wake up before the sun is up. And even when I did wake up early, I didn’t want to be awake. It felt like every time my eyes would blink, they longed to remain closed. All of that really made sense to me because, just like Sir Isaac Newton discovered, an object in motion tends to stay in motion and an object at rest stays at rest.
However, despite my own personal limitations, the world of business does not work that way. I have learned that he business world honors those who wake up early to seize the day. The early bird is the one that gets the worm, right?
Below are several tips I’ve learned to wake up early and stay awake so that you can get after it!
How to wake up early
1. Go to bed earlier
This may seem obvious, but it is also one of the most effective and important ways to wake up rested and refreshed early in the morning. So, turn off the Netflix or put down your Instagram feed and catch some z’s.
2. Stick to a sleep schedule
Waking up early is done best consistently. If you go to sleep and wake up at roughly the same time every single day (yes, even on days off!!), your body will start waking up naturally at the same, early time every day. Trust me, it will be worth it!
3. Put your phone away 30 minutes before your bedtime
I used to scroll through Instagram or Facebook for about an hour right before I started falling asleep. However, phones and other backlit devices emit blue light from their screens that can prevent you from falling asleep. Put your phone away 30 minutes before you hop into bed to fall asleep more quickly and get better rest throughout the night.
4. Soak up some sunlight
Whether that looks like going for a walk as soon as you wake up, enjoying your coffee or tea out on the porch, or simply keeping your windows or blinds open, getting some sunlight helps you to stay awake in the morning and improves your mood, energy, and productivity for the rest of the day.
Conclusion
Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and there may be other reasons why waking up is hard for you. If you are having serious concerns with going to sleep or waking up, it would be a great idea to go visit your doctor. Ask if you have a sleep disorder such as restless leg syndrome (RLS) or chronic insomnia. If that is the case, just getting some extra sunlight will not do the trick and you should look into other treatments. But, if you are anything like me, I hope these tips help you to make the most of everyday by starting early!
