Get Up Earlier
Getting up early in the morning has got to be one of the most beneficial things that people avoid. Staying up late to make up for sleeping in is just pouring sand into an hourglass with a hole in the bottom, but starting your day right waking up before the sun rises (Or whatever early morning is for your schedule) is one of the best possible things you can do for yourself each day.
"I'm not a morning person," is often heard when someone is asked. As though the person was just born that way and has no choice or ability to change it. We all know how false that is, so let's not waste time with that. Let's talk about the early wake up: How and why.
How
It is true that some people's bodies are just more inclined to being awake at night or even later in the day. What isn't true is the claim that this can't be changed. Much like any other aspect of training your body to do something and do it well, you have to actually train your body. Which means practice, repetition, and dedication.
If you're used to sleeping in til noon and taking another hour to get out of bed, you're probably not going to just starting getting up at 5 a.m. one morning. (Or maybe you will. Prove me wrong!)
Your body and mind aren't used to being awake earlier. So just just as people starting out lifting weights tend to start with the empty bar, you may need to start out small. Maybe you start with just strictly getting up at the same time every day, rather than just "whenever I wake up." This gets your body used to being on a schedule. Then you gradually start setting your alarm back in small increments. How small? As small as it takes. If you can't get up a whole hour earlier, try half an hour. Or fifteen minutes. Or even five. Whatever it takes to you a step closer to being awake in time to give yourself a full day.
Like so many other things we talk about here, this is going to be hard. Your body is going to reject it at first. But just like putting more weight on the bar, sprinting for a few more seconds, or resisting those donuts, you have to push through. The benefits on the other side are too good not to.
Why
The primary reason to get up early is to give yourself time to get in all your beginning of the day wins. Make your bed. Yes, really. Work out NOW, instead of trying to force yourself to do it after a long day. Right now, first thing in the morning, your only excuse is "I don't have time." To which the solution is, right, you guessed it, get up earlier.
Continuing in the vein of more time, getting up early gives you the time to not have to rush. To actually have a proper shower after your workout (ice cold, of course). To shave whatever parts of yourself are appropriate and make you feel professional and ready to meet the day. And anything else you want to add to your morning routine. The point is to stop using "I don't have time" as the excuse by getting up early enough to MAKE time. This has the added benefit of helping you decide what's actually important.
Whatever it is for you and your life, set your alarm earlier, get up, and do it. Stop rolling out of bed five minutes before you need to leave.
What Do You Get Up To Do
As always, I want to hear from all of you. What do you get up early in the morning to do? If you're just starting your journey to become an early riser, tell us why you started! Every story we share could inspire another person.