Did you know that more than 57% of Americans hit their snooze button? That adds up to a whopping 3 ½ months of our lives just snoozing away! Why the hell would we waste time snoozing when ultimately the intention is to actually get up and get stuffy done. Is it down to a lack of discipline, motivation, commitment, or just out of sheer laziness? Well, it actually doesn’t matter.
The fact is, you obviously cannot be as productive as you desire if you’re constantly getting out of bed late! The not so obvious part is how you can drag yourself out of bed each morning. Before we get into how you can actually start beating the snooze button, let me lay down a harsh fact.
You’re sabotaging your success.
Did you know that every single time you set a goal (waking up early) and you don’t follow through with it, you dramatically lower your belief in yourself? The more you do it, the less your word begins to mean to yourself. You can say to yourself that you will do something, however deep down you know it is highly unlikely you will do it.
Nothing will sabotage your success more than completely losing faith in your own word and promises. You need self confidence to get results in life. So, are you somebody who actually follows through with their word or not? Its simple: you either are, or you aren’t.
The second major consequence of hitting that snooze button is that you are losing valuable income and delaying the awesome results you could be having sooner. Why choose the easier things now and have a much harder life later on, when you could choose to do the harder things now and live an easier life later on? Don’t settle for anything in life, it will never fulfil you.
4 Hacks to Help You Get Out of Bed When Your Alarm Goes Off.
Don’t Negotiate.
When you start negotiating with your brain, you have already lost. So, don’t even go there. Don’t even start that conversation with your brain. If you have decided to get out of bed early in the morning, then do it, follow through with your promise. Why should you change your mind in the morning?
The part of your brain which seeks pleasure is always on automatic, your pre-frontal cortex doesn’t have much chance winning the battle if you’re half asleep. Once you get yourself out of bed, habit stack. You’ve probably heard of the 5 second rule – once you’re up, you’re up – don’t go back to sleep. Do exactly as you’d do habitually. Do you jump straight into a cold shower or do you go and get a drink? Know exactly what you need and want to do, so you don’t have to do any thinking about it!
Jump Out of Bed.
If you have nothing to look forward to in the morning, why the hell would you even want to get out of your warm, safe, comfy bed? We need to use our minds to motivate us into action. Probably the best way to do this is to get excited the day before. Just before going to bed, write down at least 5 things you’re looking forward to tomorrow. The next morning, when you alarm goes off, quickly read through that piece of paper, and hopefully yesterday’s excitement will carry over.
Look at Your Identity.
We all behave according to what we believe in. You believe in what you repeat. Look at your own language, what do you say to yourself about getting up early. Do you says things like; “Its too hard to get out of bed in the morning”, or “I’ve never really been a morning person”.
Instead of the above, what you should really be saying to yourself is; “Just get out of bed, it is easy. I can do it because I want to decide and control my actions.”. I can almost guarantee you wont struggle as much in the morning. If you change how you talk to yourself, your actions will be completely different.
Use some Peer Pressure .
If you’re still struggling to beat the snooze button, you should create a game with your friends and family members. To be honest, it doesn’t matter who it is, as long as it is someone that you respect and someone that can hold you accountable for your actions. Have some fun with it, take a picture when you’re fully dressed and showered and send it over to your accountability partner. If you fail to, you could call a ‘penalty’. Get creative and use your entire support system. It doesn’t matter how crazy it may seem, as long as it works.
Just remember, you don’t need to make massive changes right from the beginning. If you feel that a 30 minute change is far too dramatic, start with a small 5 minute adjustment. Gradually increase it.
What are the Benefits of Waking Up Earlier?
| Benefits of Waking Up Early |
|---|
| 1. Increased productivity: Waking up early allows you to start your day with a fresh mind and ample time to tackle your tasks and goals. |
| 2. Enhanced mental clarity: Early mornings provide a quiet and peaceful environment, ideal for focusing on important activities such as planning, studying, or creative work. |
| 3. Improved physical health: Early risers often have more time for exercise, which promotes better physical fitness and overall well-being. |
| 4. Better time management: Waking up early gives you a head start on the day, allowing you to manage your time more efficiently and avoid feeling rushed. |
| 5. Reduced stress: By waking up early, you can ease into your day, engage in calming activities like meditation or reading, and minimize the feeling of being rushed. |
| 6. Increased self-discipline: Developing a habit of waking up early requires self-discipline and can lead to improved discipline in other areas of life as well. |
| 7. Time for self-care: Early mornings offer an opportunity for self-care rituals like journaling, practicing mindfulness, or enjoying a quiet cup of coffee or tea. |
| 8. Enhanced creativity: Mornings are known for fostering creativity, as your mind is fresh and less cluttered with the distractions of the day. |
| 9. Personal growth: Waking up early provides dedicated time for personal development activities, such as reading personal growth books or learning new skills. |
| 10. Enjoyment of quiet moments: Early mornings offer solitude and tranquility, allowing you to savor peaceful moments before the hustle and bustle of the day begins. |
“Life is getting up an hour earlier to live an hour more.”
You can have all of the best intentions to get up earlier in the morning, but if you let your snooze button control you, you will never follow through with your intentions. You will remain in that dangerous cycle. The small changes can have a huge difference to you. Try these hacks and see if they help you finally get out of bed when that alarm clock goes off.
Take back control of your time, don’t allow it to become more powerful than you.
