I have received countless DMs on Instagram about my morning weekday routine. Many of you want to get up early, to have those special hours to yourself too, but you just can’t get yourself there. I’ve been asked for months to write my tips and tricks for being a morning person so here is my guide! I’ll start off by saying the key to getting up early is a solid nighttime routine.
Let’s dive in…
Tip No. 1 – Be Consistent
Go to bed at the same time, wake up at the same time, repeat. It becomes like muscle memory, my alarm may go off at 4:45am but I’m typically opening my eyes on my own around 4:40am. My body has learned it’s time to wake up because I trained it to – and yes, I can still sleep in on the weekends. I typically sleep an extra 3 hours on Saturday and Sunday and it is GLORIOUS.
Decide how many hours you can make work to fit your routine, for me that magic number is 7 hours. In a perfect world I’d be sleeping 8 but I figured out a while ago that my day is better, I am happier and more energized if I have my morning to myself vs. that extra hour of sleep.
Tip No. 2 – Forget that the Snooze Function Even Exists
You will hear me say time and time again that the power of a pre-decision is everything. If you decided you’re going to the gym tomorrow morning, lay out everything you need. Before I go to bed my clothes, water bottle, running shoes, etc. are all ready to go. My alarm is set. I go to bed on time. And here comes the hard part…I actually do the thing I said I was going to do.
If you hit snooze y’all you have already given up on yourself. When that alarm goes off, you get UP. Period. You already laid everything out! You already decided this is what you were going to do! Stick to your guns and hold yourself accountable. YOU CAN DO THIS.
Tip No. 3 – Put Away Your Phone and Try These Things Instead
Stop scrolling, put the phone down. This may be a hard one for many of you but I recommend no phone at least 30 minutes before lights out. Turn on your Sleep setting or literally put the phone in another room to charge overnight and get yourself an old school alarm clock. Here are some of my favorite ways to wind down before 10pm in lieu of looking at my phone:
- Drink a cup of nighttime tea, I swear by this one that you can get at nearly any grocery store
- Take a hot bath with Epsom Salts, put on some relaxing tunes and lower the lights – create that spa vibe in your own home
- Read a book, ideally an actual book and not an e-reader but reading in any format is better than scrolling your phone
- Simply talk with your partner. Laying down and chatting with no distractions can be such a decompresser at the end of the day
Tip No. 4 – Use Your Early Morning Time for YOU, No One Else
You worked hard to carve out this extra time in the morning for yourself, do not get sucked into doing chores or email. You did not get up early for others, you got up for you. Whatever you do during these hours should be 100% selfish, and it doesn’t have to be the same each day. Here are the different ways I spend my early mornings during the week:
- Workout – 3 or 4 out of the 5 days during the week I’m up early, I’m at the gym. Literally getting the blood pumping is the most engerzing way for me to start my day. I listen to my favorite music and live in my own headspace. It is a time that is all about taking care of myself and no one else. If you want to workout but can’t leave the house because of small children, I recommend building an at-home routine. You can find any type of video workout on YouTube of course but I also really love my Asana Rebel yoga app as a gym substitute.
- Devotional Readings – the days I’m not at the gym I dive into a meaningful read. Sometimes I’m starting a new one, but most days I’m rereading highlights from books I’ve read before. These are readings that help me get centered and perspective in my day. A few favorites are Meditations (Stoic Philosophy), As A Man Thinketh (side note: I’ve literally added a “Wo” in front of every “Man” in the book by now because #equality), and a modern day favorite is The Comfort Book (written by the same author as The Midnight Library).
- Deep Work – this could be writing, like I’m doing right now today for the blog. It could also be journaling if you like to get your daily thoughts down on paper. For me it can also be a big project at work I’m passionate about. I know that last statement may seem like I’m breaking my “this time is only about you rule” but there are special projects I take on in my career that require my best creative thinking and focus. Occasionally, I love to spend this time creating and problem solving.
In summary, here is my weekday schedule:
- 8:30pm – Twins are in Bed
- 9:30pm – I’m in bed, winding down
- 10:00pm – Lights Out
- 4:45am – Alarm Goes Off
The formula to getting a good night’s rest and waking up early is simple, the self discipline piece is HARD – but I am rooting for you! If you need help holding yourself accountable or have questions, drop me a comment below.
With love, Stacy
The Stacy Strategy 