Challenge (Week 13): Wake up 30 minutes earlier than usual each day this week. Baseline Goal: 4 of 7 Days.
If you’re like many people, you sleep until the last possible minute and start your day in a rush. Waking up 30 minutes earlier can offer a myriad of health and productivity benefits, depending on how you use the extra time.
Benefits of Waking Up Earlier:
Stop rushing – If your morning routine is currently packed with things you have to do quickly, an extra 30 minutes will allow you to tackle all these tasks at a more leisurely, relaxed pace.
More time for self-care – Use your extra time to take a long shower, meditate, exercise, do yoga, or just relax with your morning coffee.
Plan your day – The mornings are a great time to set goals for exactly what you want to get done that day.
Get your home in order – Some extra time in the morning can allow you to take care of any chores you weren’t able to get to the night before.
Prepare a healthy breakfast – Instead of grabbing a sugary muffin, you may now have time to whip up a healthy, delicious breakfast.
Tips for getting up earlier:
Go to bed earlier – Perhaps you’re already getting too much sleep, but if not, it’s best to pair waking up earlier with going to bed earlier. To make going to be earlier a habit, it can be useful to set an alarm or phone notification to tell you to start getting ready for bed.
Get a gentle alarm or sleep tracking app – Being frightened awake by a loud alarm when you’re deep in REM sleep is a surefire way to wake up groggy and stressed. You can utilize smart alarms with sleep tracking apps that will wake you up at an optimal time in your sleep cycle. You may try out alarms that gradually increase in volume or sunrise alarms that slowly increase the brightness of a light (over 15 to 30 minutes) and finish with music if you’re not already awake.
Make waking up a perk rather than a chore – Waking up earlier will be an easier habit to keep if you make it about YOU time. Do things in the morning that are relaxing, fun, make you feel good, or give you something to look forward to each morning.
