For many of us, the “early to rise” part of Benjamin Franklin’s famous advice is the hardest. But if you want to be healthy, wealthy, and wise, you can’t lie under the covers all day.
To get an early start on a productive day, try these strategies:
• Give yourself a good reason to get up. Choose something important to do first thing in the morning—something you enjoy and feel passionate about. Think about this as you go to sleep, and you’ll be more eager to get up the next morning.
• Practice good sleep habits. Avoid caffeine or alcohol, both of which can disturb your sleep patterns. Getting enough sleep is key to waking up on time.
• Don’t just hit snooze. Set multiple alarm clocks, and place them across the room so you have to get up and get moving in order to shut them off.
• Have a buddy system. Schedule an early-morning activity with a friend (like a walk), or just a phone call to ensure you get up on time.
• Develop a consistent habit. Get up at the same time every day, regardless of what you’re doing. Your body will adjust to a fixed routine.
• Drink some water. A glass of cold water first thing in the morning will revive and refresh you.
• Keep track of your success. Motivate yourself with a diary of what time you get up every morning. After a while, your desire to sleep will be outweighed by the knowledge that you’ll have to log a later waking time.