How to become an early bird
Two types of people -
In life, there are the early birds and the late risers.
The early bird catches the worm - The early birds, by contrast, are thought of as energetic and ultimately more productive.
Reason for hope -
If you are a late riser and you’re wondering how you can join your early bird friends in their habits, there are thankfully some concrete steps you can take.
Start small -
Start by setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier every couple of days.
Exposure yourself to light -
If at all possible, try and get 20 to 30 minutes of light on your face each morning, shortly after waking up.
Don't snooze -
Resisting the urge to snooze the alarm may sound like an insurmountable task, but it is actually one of the things that will help you the most.
Be consistent -
Waking up and getting up at the same time every day, even on your days off, will make it easier to get up, even if it is early.
Use the RISEUP method -
If you’re struggling to remember these tips, you might find it helpful to remind yourself of the RISEUP method.
Avoid caffeine after 3 pm -
Again, this one is obvious but very important. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant that can interfere with your sleep even hours after consuming it.
Eat a high protein breakfast - You might not be hungry straight after waking up, but eating at some point in the morning is important to set you up properly for the day.
Avoid napping -
It can be very tempting to nap in the afternoon, particularly if you have been getting up early in the morning and you are not yet used to it.
Avoid bright light before bed time - Research shows that exposure to bright light directly before bedtime makes it more difficult to fall asleep and reduces overall sleep quality.
Decide the night before -
Many people find themselves going back and forth trying to decide whether to get up in the morning. Try to cut this step out of your process.
Plan your time -
It is a good idea to have a plan for exactly what you will do with the extra time you have after getting up earlier than usual.
Sleep away from your alarm -
One final tip: keep your alarm clock out of arm’s reach. If you can simply reach over to snooze your alarm, you will most likely do that.
All in all - Even if you’re not a natural early bird, there are strategies you can use to make the most of those morning hours.