Do you struggle to wake up early? Maybe you’ve tried everything and still can’t shake that groggy morning feeling.
I know how you feel.
I struggled to wake up early for the first half of university. Every morning felt like Groundhog Day: snooze my alarm, scramble to lectures, pray I don’t fall asleep during classes.
Something had to change.
Luckily, I learned to unlock the secrets of morning success. Waking up early isn’t about willpower—it’s about designing a life that makes it easy for you to wake up early.
In this complete guide, I’ll give you the 10 best steps to waking up early that work!
Let’s level up your mornings.
1. Craft a Powerful Reason ‘Why’
You need a reason why you need to wake up early.
Do you want to exercise in the morning? Meditate? Have time to yourself before everyone else is awake?
Pick one or a few reasons and use them to build a damn good reason you should wake up early.
For me, it was quality “me time” and prioritizing exercise.
My why kept me motivated to roll out of bed when my brain wanted to sleep for ten more minutes.
Write down your reason and post it somewhere you’ll see it every morning (and night). Constantly remind yourself why you wake up so early!
Read also: 10 Peaceful Life Goals
2. Start SMALL
You won’t wake up early overnight.
Pick a wake-up time that’s 15–30 minutes earlier than your normal schedule. Jumping out of bed 2–3 hours early is insane!
Your body has its own schedule called a circadian rhythm. When you wake up slowly, you’re allowing your body to adapt to its new schedule.
3. Practice Your Nighttime Routine
Successful mornings start the night before.
You need a routine you practice each night to condition your body to wake up early every day.
Your nighttime routine should:
- Be consistent. Go to bed at the same time every night.
- Remove screens at least 30–60 minutes before bed. Phone and computer screens emit blue light that suppresses melatonin, your sleep hormone.
- Journal or meditate before bed.
This simple routine conditions your mind and body that it’s time to sleep—and eventually, time to wake up!
Read also: 10 Nighttime Behaviors to Do Before Going to Bed
4. Make Your Bedroom Your Sleep Sanctuary
Your bedroom should be a sleep haven. Fewer things will kill your morning than waking up to a dark room full of clutter.
Here’s how you can improve your bedroom:
- Make sure your room is dark. Your body produces melatonin at night to help you sleep. Dark bedrooms = more melatonin.
- Keep your room quiet. I use a white noise machine at night to block out city sounds.
- Only sleep in bed. Fight the urge to work or scroll through Instagram in bed.
When your room promotes sleep, waking up is easy.
5. Place Your Alarm Clock Far Away
This tip will force you to get out of bed.
Place your alarm across the room from your bed. You have to get out of bed to turn off your alarm clock.
I like alarm clocks that you can take with you places. That way, you can place them across the room and not be able to reach back over to sleep.
Read also: 50 Quotes About Career Growth Mindset
6. Have a Morning Routine You Enjoy
No one likes horrible mornings. If your mornings are awful, you’ll fight waking up every single day.
Take back your morning with a routine you look forward to:
- Make your favorite coffee or tea.
- Listen to music or podcasts.
- Stretch or meditate for 5–10 minutes.
Our brains associate things we enjoy with waking up. Create a morning routine that you look forward to!
7. Hydrate & Move Right When You Wake Up
When your alarm goes off, drink a full glass of water and move.
Water energizes you by hydrating your body and jumpstarting your metabolism. Then, do some kind of movement.
- Stretch
- Make your bed
- Open a window for fresh air
- Take a walk outside if you can
Hydration and movement work better than coffee to wake you up.
8. Eliminate “The Snooze”
Stop snoozing your alarm!
When your alarm first goes off, your brain releases adrenaline which gives you that warm rush of energy. The snooze button just kicks that adrenaline buildup back a few minutes.
Once you open your eyes, commit to getting out of bed.
You can couple this step with placing your alarm far away and enjoying your morning routine. The more fun you associate with waking up, the less you’ll want to snooze!
9. Get Some Accountability
Would you pay someone to call you out if you lie in bed? Yeah… me neither. But that doesn’t mean you can’t leverage external sources of accountability to keep you honest.
Here are some ideas:
- Tell your friend you’ll be waking up early each morning. Ask them to check in with you each morning.
- Join a morning running group or subreddit.
- Track your wake-up times with apps that reward you for consistency.
Don’t rely on willpower alone. Get yourself some outside accountability.
10. Be Patient & Reward Yourself
Remember: slow and steady wins the race.
You aren’t going to wake up at 5 AM tomorrow because you read this article. Your body needs time to adjust.
Track your wins and reward yourself. As you build up consistency, waking up early will become easier & feel natural.
Become an Early Riser!
Use these steps to finally wake up early each morning. Soon your mornings will be the best part of your day.
Save this article for when you need a morning boost.
Tell me in the comments: What are your biggest struggles with waking up early?
FAQ
Q: Can I become an early riser without changing my bedtime?
A: No. You have to sleep more to wake up earlier. Otherwise, you’ll be tired and groggy all day.
Q: What should I do if I work night shifts?
A: Try to have as consistent of a wake and sleep schedule as possible. This will vary from person to person, but doing something is better than nothing.
Q: How long does it take to form the habit of waking up early?
A: Consistency is key. It can take anywhere from 21–60 days to form a new habit. Stay consistent & accountable.
Q: Should I drink coffee to wake up?
A: Coffee can help. But drinking water right when you wake up followed by movement will work better.
Q: How do I stop being so groggy in the mornings?
A: Drink water right when you wake up, move your body, and get some sunlight. Your body will adjust to your new schedule.
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