There’s a 7 O'Clock in the Morning?!
Posted on August 30, 2007
Filed Under Uncategorized |
For as long as I can remember I’ve never been an early riser (by choice, anyway). I’ve always had a tendency to be a bit of a night owl and this was reinforced by my routine whilst studying at university, especially in my final year (2005).
I either had to work at the bottleshop or attend a lecture or tutorial every single day of the week but none of my obligations were scheduled for before 4pm (except on Sundays where I usually had to work the opening shift). As a result I became accustomed to waking up around 11am, doing some push-ups/weights for 30 minutes or so and then having breakfast. I would then crank up my stereo, safe in the knowledge that most of my neighbours would be safely at work, and do some homework (or not!!). I would cook up lunch around 2pm, get my bits together and head off to work or uni at 3pm or 4pm.
I would get home around 10pm or 11pm every night unless I went out with friends. Once at home I would do push-ups/weights for 30 minutes or so and then cook up some dinner, perhaps watch an hour of TV and then settle into my comfy camping chair out on the balcony and either study or doodle in my notepad til 2am or 3am. I was keeping something of a vampire schedule but at least I was getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night and it was a workable routine.
Since graduating uni and commencing full time work in early 2006 I’ve struggled to shift my body clock into alignment with the rest of the 9-5 rat racers. I’m still staying up late which makes for a struggle trying to drag my carcass off the mattress in the morning.
The reason I’m writing all this is that today I came across a blog with the unambiguous title of How to Wake Up Early which is essentially a collection of tips for becoming an early riser. The site has 31 tips so far and are as follows:
Tip #1. To Wake Up Early, Go To Bed Early
Tip #2. Go To Bed And Get Up At The Same Time Every Day
Tip #3. Give A Promise To Wake Up Early
Tip #4. It Takes 3 Weeks To Make A Habit
Tip #5. Let The Music Wake You Up
Tip #6. Take A Nap In The Afternoon
Tip #7. Sleep With Fresh Air
Tip #8. Ask Someone Who Wakes Up Early To Wake You Up
Tip #9. Create A Reward System For Yourself
Tip #10. Do Not Eat Before Going To Bed
Tip #11. Have Important Things Planned For The Morning
Tip #12. Use Multiple Alarm Clocks
Tip #13. Start Slowly But Start Now
Tip #14. Practice Waking Up
Tip #15. Put Yourself Under Time Pressure
Tip #16. GTD For Early Risers - Create A Morning Ritual
Tip #17. Avoid Alcohol, Tobacco And Caffeine
Tip #18. Wake Up Tricks Of The Trade (Video)
Tip #19. Put Your Alarm Clock Far Enough From Your Bed
Tip #20. Wake Up From The Inside
Tip #21. Weekend Lie-In Does Not Make Up For Long Hours. Beware The Consequences.
Tip #22. Start Your Morning With A Puzzle
Tip #23. How to Wake Up Early by Creating Right Associations
Tip #24. Track Your Early Wake Up Progress
Tip #25. Use Wake Up Call Services
Tip #26. Understand Sleep Mechanics
Tip #27. Advertise Your Early Wake Up Habit
Tip #28. Do Not Go To Bed If You Do Not Feel Sleepy
Tip #29. Wake Up And Smile!
Tip #30. Outrun Your Thoughts
Tip #31. Invest in Your Early Wake Up Habit
Whilst a lot of it will be common sense to a lot of people, that’s obviously not who the blog is intended for. This blog is intended for people like me who are sick of waking up feeling like shit every morning and may have forgotten their good habits. Although I haven’t the time to read them all properly right now, it is definitely an area I want to improve and will be checking out when I get home tonight.
How To Wake Up Early - Self-improvement site for early risers - how to sleep well, wake up early and what to do then.
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