If we look at the history of waking up, we find that rising with the sun was/is the most natural thing to do since the days of early humans. So, when we hear people say “I am not a morning person”, could it be that somehow we have conditioned ourselves into believing this? We look at some ways you can re-condition yourself into becoming a morning person.
1. Consider What You Do At Night
For a holistic lifestyle, sleep is essential. It’s as simple as that. Which means, in order for you to wake up fresh, you will undoubtedly have to make a concentrated effort to get to bed earlier. This involves following a night-time routine that will allow you to wake up fresh in the morning.
- Read more on how to get a good night’s rest.
2. Rely On The Power Of Intention
The power of intention is beautifully explained in Keith Oatley’s exploration of Freud’s Cognitive Psychology of Intention: The Case of Dora, where he says “To have intention is to have a conscious goal.”
So, how does intention help with getting up earlier? Simple – when we apply an intention to waking up, we immediately make it more meaningful thus making it easier.
What is your intention for waking up?
- Is it wanting to achieve a personal or professional goal?
- Or are you looking to improve your fitness level and your health?
- Do you want to use daytime differently?
Give your intention some thought and then apply it to action.
Solid books to read on the power of intention:
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3. Keep Your Routine Consistent
Effective conditioning involves consistent behaviour. This means that waking up early has to be done daily -and this includes the weekends. Maybe you can allow yourself one or two hours of sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday but as an overall, it shouldn’t throw your routine completely out of whack that you can’t get back into it by Monday.
Co-founder and CEO of Buffer, Joel Gascoigne, doesn’t sleep in for more than an hour on weekends. He says “By waking up at a similar time at the weekend, you don’t stretch your body, and therefore you can achieve long term consistency with your morning routine.”
A key aspect to remember when establishing a daily routine is ensuring it involves exercise. A 2011 study found that people who exercised were able to sleep better resulting in a reduced likelihood of depression and an increase of energy. A good way to get your blood moving in the morning is with some good old stretching.
So, are you up for the early bird challenge?