Everyone has a busy schedule with varying excuses as to why being an earlier riser isn’t “for them.” However, waking up early can make all the difference in how the rest of your day unfolds by giving you more energy and focus.

Yes! There are many, many perks associated with being an early riser.

So, without further ado, here are some things you need to do become an early bird:

1. Get the recommended amount of sleep

You have a busy schedule, but so does everyone else. That shouldn’t be an excuse for not getting enough sleep. Finding the right amount of sleep for you can be a daunting and overlooked priority. There is no “magic number.” Sleep requirements are individualized. Just because you are the same age or gender as someone else doesn’t mean your needs will match up.

Before you can figure out how much sleep you as an individual need, evaluate your lifestyle. Figure in health factors, stress levels, work schedules, and when you feel the most energetic and the most tired. This way you can better understand what amounts of sleep works best for your body, energy, and mood.

You need to see how you respond to different amounts of sleep. If you are more than often restless and tired, you may need to change your sleep schedule. If you found certain days you are more energetic and happy then take a step back and try to figure out what you did differently in your sleeping schedule. Finding the right amount of sleep for you can be as easy as paying attention to your own body.

2. Try To Wake Up At The Same Time

Ever sleep longer than normal and wake-up feeling tired? It’s biology.

Waking up at the same time everyday can be just as important as finding the right amount of time you need to sleep. You need to respect your biological clock. It is more important to get up then go to sleep at the same time everyday.

Everyone has that time they have to be awake and your body gets used to that certain time. Your internal clock will become confused if you don’t stick to that regiment.

If you know that your wake up time is going to change in the future (for a special event or a temporary schedule change), try to ease your body into it. Your body demands a normalized wake up time so much that it’s actually better to wake up at your normal time even if you stay up later than normal.

3. Ease Into It

Waking up early can be a de-spiriting task. There’s no doubt about it.

Not only can it darken your mood if you aren’t used to it, it can also shock your body making it hard to obtain normalcy. One of the best methods to rising early is to do it gradually. If you don’t ease into it, the process can lack any enjoyable results and you’ll be less likely to keep it up.

Let’s say you normally wake up at 9 a.m. but want to get up earlier to write that book you’ve been working on. Waking up earlier gives you a few hours to be more productive. Instead of trying to immediately wake up at 7 a.m., you need to ease in to it. Try for 8:45 a.m. Then the next day try 8:30 a.m. Gradually change your sleep schedule in small increments to better ensure a successful and happier transition.

4. Stop Waking Up To A Buzzer

That dreaded buzzer. No one likes the sound of it. The more you hear it, the more you hate it and start to search for the snooze button. Hearing that buzzer effectively starts your day. If its annoying blaring puts you in a bad mood then you’re going to start your day on the wrong side of the bed.

Instead of the incessant “beep, beep” try some cool wake up songs. Find a song that’s just right for you – one that makes getting up in the morning more fun. If you have a favorite song that’s catchy and makes you want to sing, then that may just be the perfect tune to get you up in the morning. Instead of limiting your morning wake up calls to one specific song, try making a playlist and switching it up from time to time. There’s nothing like being pulled from sleep by a song you just can’t help but love.

5. Eat A Proper Breakfast

You don’t have time to cook breakfast. You don’t like cereal. You’re always running late for work. Breakfast just isn’t ‘your thing.’ These are all excuses you should throw out of the window.

Breakfast is key. A proper one can make all the difference in your body, muscles, and success.

You need to have an allotted time each morning to sit down and eat a good breakfast. Think about it—your body has been fasting all night. You need to recharge when you wake up so you can focus for the rest of the day.

Studies have shown that a morning meal is good for the brain and you don’t want to deprive yourself of that. However, eating just anything won’t do.

Try to stay away from a lot of sugar because after tons of sugar comes a big crash. Eat healthy foods to avoid unwanted drops in energy and productivity. Start your day off right with a good, healthy meal.

6. Get Some Exercise

You’ve had your proper breakfast, now keep the energy train going! Doing a few exercises can help up your morning energy, which, in turn, can make your day better in general. More energy for your day is nothing to ignore.

Just by doing a few push-ups you can boost your energy levels. Instead of that “ugh” feeling of it being morning, you can have the “I feel great!” feeling instead. From something as physically insignificant as push-ups in the morning to a two and a half minute core routine, you can increase your energy levels each day.

Rising earlier in the day can do wonders for your productivity levels and overall happiness. Take full advantage of your day by rising early and be one step closer to success.

What tips do you have for waking early? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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