If working in early morning news doesn’t make you an expert in getting up early, I don’t know what will.
That’s me dressed with hair and makeup AND ready to GO at 4:28 AM! It’s SHOWTIME!
I have been doing the morning gig for over 6 years now. I can’t say I’ve necessarily gotten used to the early wake up call over the years, but I have found some ways to make the process of getting up and out the door a little easier. So I thought I’d share some of those tips I’ve picked up on to help make your early morning process as smooth as possible. Whether you have to get up everyday at the crack of dawn or just every once in a while for something special, I hope my experience can help you some.
1. Set multiple alarm clocks.
(oh… and I might play little mind games to make myself think I’m getting up later than I am… hence the 2 different times on the clocks. I didn’t realize how bad it was until I looked at this photo in the afternoon!)
You are more likely to sleep well if you are confident you will get up on time. You know that uneasy feeling when you wake up an hour before the alarm goes off and then you worry that you will oversleep? I know someone out there has had an early flight and felt that panic.
I set my regular alarm clock, a cheap battery backup and my phone. More than once in 6 years the 3rd alarm has been the only one to go off. But the combo hasn’t failed me yet. Knock on wood.
2. Rethink the snooze button
I know there are some people that just cannot do this… but if you can make yourself get out of bed on the first alarm, you will gain more uninterrupted sleep. If you are getting less than 8 hours a night, those extra 10 minutes can be pretty valuable. And beyond that, I can’t imagine what the hubby would do if I let my alarm clock go off 3 or 4 times in the middle of the night. He would not be happy!
3. Plan your clothes and accessories for the week on the weekend
So this is where a little prep work goes a LONG way. If you are getting up super early, it can be near impossible to figure out what to wear. If I had to pick out my outfit everyday in the middle of the night I would always be late. I find I can be VERY indecisive when I first wake up. Check the weather and pick out your outfits for the week ahead on your weekend. Hang any belts or special undergarments you need on the hangers with the outfits. I have a special corner of the closet for the week ahead. If you don’t have extra closet space, you can buy an over the door hanger just for these outfits.
Don’t forget the shoes!
I also keep a drawer with dividers for each day of the week. I put the jewelry I plan on wearing that week in the containers. I also add anything else I need to get ready in the morning like my contacts & medications. Make it easy for yourself in the morning. If I don’t do this, I will inevitably forget something.
Side tip—I keep an inexpensive necklace and earring sets in a zip lock bag so I don’t lose the earrings.
4. Prep a travel breakfast the night before
Must eat breakfast!! It’s the most important meal of the day… or so they say. I like to get out the door and moving first thing in the morning, so I bring a breakfast with me. I keep a variety of EASY and packable breakfast items. I take them with me and much through the morning that way my sugar levels never tank. Small, highly nutrient food can keep your energy up when you wake up before dawn.
Some of my favorite breakfast ideas….
Protein Bars
Belvita cookies
Greek Yogurt - Can use in overnight oats or with granola & fruit thrown in a Tupperware
Fruit – Apples, Bananas, Grapes, berries (Just prewash them and make sure they are easy to grab, Put grapes or berries in baggies ahead of time)
5. Have your travel coffee/ tea mug ready
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Oh and did I forget the caffeine? I don’t drink coffee, but I’m a slave to my tea. I have it all ready to brew the night before. If you have a regular coffee maker you can do the same thing by getting your cup out, putting the filter, grounds, and water in the pot. Set a timer or just have it ready to hit brew button. Any time saved getting out the door is longer you get to sleep!
Finally, A smile goes a long way in the morning to improve your sleep deprived mood. Put on your best positive attitude, even if it is fake, and eventually your mind will wake up and catch up to your body.
Good luck!
Your turn!
Do you have any tips for waking up early?
What time do you get up for work?
Shelly says
My easiest fix to make sure I get early is so simple, diabolical maybe but ever so simple. Have a large glass of water just before going to bed. Works every time...lol
Jeani says
Great tips!!!! I was a habitual snooze-button addict & have been habitually late!!! I decided to put my keurig on my nite stand & hit that button instead.....gives me a couple mins to stretch & then wallah! Nice yummy coffee to help me get going, no more dirty looks to endure or excuses to make. Literally cured a lifetime of agony lol
JulieWunder says
Haha! If only all problems could be solved by the keurig!
Dan Steadman says
I'm with ya on the set the clock fast...mine's around 15 min fast, and set it on a music radio station, I think one of my kid's sabotaged mine once and I had it on a gangsta rap station...talk about getting ya moving...it depends on the day as to what time I get up for work...running workout, 5am, going to the gym 5:30, rest day, unknown time...another tip (esp. if you have kids), clear a path to the closet, bathroom, kitchen, etc. so I don't wake up anyone on the way out (early waking kids or wife doesn't make my life easy), oh and have keys and wallet by the door.
JulieWunder says
Great ideas! Sounds like your kids like to have some fun!
Katie says
What a great post! I've read tips in running magazines for years now about how to become a morning person, and they've never stuck. So, I didn't expect so much new (and practical) advice that sounds like it will be my ticket to earlier mornings. I'm definitely going to start doing the "plan and lay out the wardrobe, including accessories" trick. Thanks!
JulieWunder says
So glad you found something useful in the article! Congrats on your killer crossfit WOD! I'd love to try that one day.
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Julie, your photo of multiple alarm clocks made me laugh so hard! Great tips, but for me I think I would need to add, "Go to bed at 4 in the afternoon." 😉
JulieWunder says
heh. heh. It takes a little bit of OCD to pull off my schedule.
Bob in Greenville says
Someone once told me it's dark at that hour. Is that true?
That has to make it harder.
I hope I never have to find out.
JulieWunder says
Dark. Very dark.
John says
One trick I used in college was to put the alarm clock across the room, and set it loud, so I had to get out of the bed to turn it off. Once up and out of bed, it was harder to try to go back to sleep.
JulieWunder says
That works too! My brother always had to do that.
Walter Wright says
I'm a morning person also , I am motivated by not wanting to missing the morning news, I love seeing y'all in the morning and y'all always brighten my day no matter what the weather is . and also I have 3 kids to drop off at 3 different schools before I go to work =) !
JulieWunder says
Yay! Glad the news gets you up!
Danell says
I would like to know what overnight oats are. I'm always looking for fast, healthy breakfast options!
JulieWunder says
Ok Danell- I'll work on a blog post for that! It's basically oats, milk (or almond milk), greek yogurt and toppings...
Madeline St Onge says
I am up at 1am to go deliver newspapers for the Times News in Hendersonville, some morning I am back home by 6am and can catch another couple of hours of sleep, thankfully I don't have a regular job so it all works out
JulieWunder says
OH man!!! That is EARLY too!!!
Jay says
Great ideas! I don't get up quite as early as you do, but 0630 comes awful early at good ole Mission, and being prepared makes the world of difference!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Jay!
Jaime says
I used to wake up at 6:15 in order to leave the house by 8 (remember, I also have a toddler to get ready and out the door.) I don't have to be at a job now, but I still finding myself waking around 6:15 so I can work out, do some computer things uninterrupted, etc. It's kind of nice!
JulieWunder says
I imagine the toddler can really throw the best laid plan out the door!
Nick says
Best article yet.
JulieWunder says
Thanks!