As someone who provides early morning yoga classes for people, I often get asked how I get up so early so often.
After all, it seems like a good idea to get up before the alarm to make time to support your health and wellbeing. Often, it’s a time that is free of distractions and a chance to get some movement and mindfulness in early; a chance to take some time for ourselves, and to start the day as you mean to go on.
But, the ability to get yourself up 45 minutes or an hour earlier than usual, regularly, can be a real sticking point. So how do we do it?
I’m human. I get it. And let me just put this caveat here. If you’re unwell, or you’re a natural night owl that works way into the evening, and regularly goes to bed past midnight – this post isn’t for you – scroll on my friend.
But, if you’re someone who has simply just got into a habit of staying up later and later watching Netflix as a way to switch off and have some ‘me time,’ every single night, and you know you need to change something up to support your wellbeing, here’s a few tips from me, and some experts in this field too.
Tip 1 – Make it a gradual transition:
Shifting your wake-up time demands a gradual approach, otherwise, the abrupt change from a later wake-up to an early morning routine can leave you feeling exhausted. Consider these steps to ease into the transition:
- Shift your go to bed/wake-up time gradually: Increase by 10 minutes each day until you reach your desired early morning timeframe. A gradual adjustment helps your body adapt without overwhelming fatigue so you don’t fall at the first hurdle.
- Start with a really short morning routine: If the prospect of a daily early morning routine seems daunting, initiate the shift by committing to a few mornings per week. Allow your body the time it needs to adjust and embrace the habit-forming process. (This is exactly why we only run classes three mornings a week).
- Be kind to yourself: Feeling uncomfortable (ie. more tired than usual) the first few days is absolutely normal. It’s important not to write a story about it in your mind that says you can’t do it or it’s not for you – just trust that it’s part of the shift. This tiredness will also mean you’ll be ready to go to bed earlier which is necessary if this is going to be a sustainable change. Remember, forming a habit takes time, so be patient with yourself.
Tip 2 – Check your mindset.
If you’re dwelling on the perceived hardships of waking up early, ‘I’m tired… hungover… it’s dark and cold…’ try focussing on the positives and why you want to get up and move in the first place.
Consider these benefits:
- Completing some exercise and mindfulness before the day starts really sets me up for the day ahead.
- I don’t have to think about fitting in exercise for the rest of the day – I’ve already done it.
- My body and mind will thank me for this investment in self-care.
- The early morning hours equal a distraction free space just for me – I need to make the most of it.
By aligning your thoughts with the potential benefits, you pave the way for a more receptive attitude towards this shift.
Tip 3 – Practical Steps to Overcome Resistance
Recognizing that resistance may persist, here are some practical steps to help overcome it:
- Strategic alarm placement: Position your alarm across the room to compel you to physically rise and switch it off, creating momentum for your day.
- Or, Mel Robbins’ ‘5-4-3-2-1’ technique: Consider Mel Robbins’ approach of counting down from five to one before taking action. Apply this technique and when you get to one take action – like getting out of bed when you don’t want to – even if this is just her other suggestion – slithering out of bed and onto the floor! You’re still out of bed so that’s a start.
- Create morning incentives: This one really works for me: Give yourself something enjoyable to look forward to, such as a special coffee or a quick smoothie, to make waking up early a positive experience.
I really hope these ideas give you some food for thought. If you’ve any tips you’d like to share I would love to hear from you. And, if you do manage to make some more time for yourself in the morning -why not join us in the Early Riser Yoga Club for 30 minutes of morning movement?
And one final thought that I heard on Mel’s podcast yesterday:
Why is it that we will always get up for other people but not for ourselves? We will peel ourselves out of bed for bosses, children, dogs, neighbours, even a relative who needs an early lift to the hospital or airport, and we’ll spend years of our lives doing it. But but when it comes to get up for something that will benefit just us -we don’t do it.
How about you get up for yourself for a change?
Love Claire x