For many of us, the thought of waking up any earlier than necessary doesn’t sound great. We’ve all heard the saying “the early bird gets the worm” but that phrase doesn’t make it any easier to hear our alarms at 5am.

Although it can be hard to develop the habit, there’s a lot of research to say that it’s worth the effort. Your day can be more productive, you can find some quiet alone time, and it can help you develop health sleeping patterns. That’s why we put together a few tips to help you start your day early.

  1. Ease into It – You don’t need to jump right in. Instead, try waking up 15-30 minutes earlier than you’re used to. If that works well, do it again. Keep creeping your wake-up time back until you find your sweet spot and stick to it!
  2. Go To Bed Earlier – You still need plenty of sleep. If you’re going to wake up earlier, you should also go to bed earlier.
  3. Move Your Alarm Clock – Don’t leave your alarm clock next to the bed. Instead, move it across the room so you have to get out of bed to turn it off.
  4. Leave the Room – Once you turn off your alarm, leave your bedroom. Make some coffee, brush your teeth, or just sit in the living room so you’re not tempted to crawl back into bed.
  5. Make a Plan for Your Morning – You’re more likely to stay awake and avoid the snooze button if you already have plans or goals for your morning.
  6. Reward Yourself – Especially on day one. Make yourself a special breakfast, go pick up your favorite latte, or watch take a nice long hot shower to reward yourself for sticking to your goal.
  7. Avoid Caffeine in the Evening – Even if you don’t think it will affect your sleep, it will. Cut out caffeine by dinner time so you’ll sleep better and feel more rested in the morning.