How to Wake Up Earlier (and Actually Stick to It!)
Waking up earlier is one of the hardest yet most rewarding habits to build. Whether you want to:
Gain extra hours to be more productive
Add a yoga routine to your morning
Create time for a side business or passion project
Establish a dedicated morning spiritual practice
Making this change requires more than just setting an alarm. Before adjusting your wake-up time, there are three foundational steps you must take to ensure long-term success.
Find Your "Why"—It’s the Key to Everything
A strong why is the foundation of any lasting habit. Without a meaningful reason, motivation fades quickly. Think of the classic New Year’s resolution gym-goers—many quit after a month or two because their why wasn’t strong enough.
Life gets in the way, obstacles arise, and without a solid reason to push through, the habit crumbles.
Ask yourself:
Why do I want to wake up earlier?
What will this extra time bring into my life?
How will it benefit not just me, but those around me?
"When we decide to better ourselves, everyone we touch will benefit!"
If your why is deep enough, it will help you overcome fatigue, distractions, and the temptation to hit snooze!
The next thing is your need to go beyond your why to make things happen. Your why has to take you into your imagination.
Activate Your Imagination—See It Before You Achieve It
Your imagination is the birthplace of all creation. Whatever you want to manifest must first be pictured in your mind’s eye. Your Why and imagination are sort of melded together.
If your goal is to Cultivate a Daily Spiritual Exercise (I offer a course on how to do this!), envision it vividly:
See yourself in the morning, sitting in your favorite chair or on a comfortable cushion on the floor cross legged, immersed in peace.
Feel the serenity and clarity this practice brings to your life.
Imaging Yourself in this way, will bring you comfort, peace of mind, clarity in your life, love and fulfillment in all aspects of your life.
Know that when we decide to better ourselves, everyone we touch will benefit!
"A rising tide lifts all boats." — John F. Kennedy
Even if you’re not consciously aware of it, you’ve likely already visualized your goal. Maybe you’ve seen someone on social media living the way you want to live, or perhaps a mentor has inspired you. Your imagination makes it real before it happens.
Cultivate Discipline—The Bridge Between Goals and Reality
Discipline is what transforms your "why" and "imagination" into action. Today’s world often glorifies instant gratification, but true success comes from dedicated hard work therefore discipline and consistency. Look at high achievers, and you’ll notice one thing in common: a structured, disciplined approach to life.
Discipline is a very important aspect of any success in life.
You need discipline to get up earlier, you’ll need discipline to stick to your new routine, you’ll need discipline to not listen to your mind telling you lies of complacency.
Your biggest challenge won’t be external—it will be your own mind whispering:
“Just sleep in a little longer.”
“Who cares if you skip one day?”
“You deserve to rest, you’ve worked hard.”
This is where you must reignite your why, reactivate your vision, your imagination, and the story you created which you want to achieve, and then discipline your mind to follow through.
Once these three pillars—why, imagination, and discipline—are firmly in place, you’re ready to start shifting your wake-up time.
The Gradual Method: How to Wake Up Earlier Without Struggle
Instead of forcing a drastic change, ease into it with small, manageable steps:
"Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy." — Lao Tzu
Start by waking up just 15 minutes earlier than usual for a week.
The next week, move your alarm back another 15 minutes.
Repeat this process until you reach your desired wake-up time.
For example, if you currently wake up at 6:00 AM but want to wake up at 5:00 AM, follow this progression:
Week 1: Set your alarm for 5:45 AM.
Week 2: Adjust to 5:30 AM.
Week 3: Move to 5:15 AM.
Week 4: Reach 5:00 AM naturally!
By taking small, consistent steps, you avoid burnout and make it a sustainable habit. Habits become a way of life.
Do You Need to Adjust Your Bedtime?
Most likely, yes! Sleep is crucial. If you need 8 hours to function optimally, don’t cheat yourself. Your body and mind require rest, especially as you cultivate a new routine.
Here’s how to adjust:
Listen to your body—if you’re tired earlier in the evening, go to bed sooner.
Try shifting your bedtime by 30 minutes as you start waking up earlier.
Don’t fight sleep—falling asleep during your morning spiritual exercise defeats the purpose!
"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." — Lao Tzu
Final Thoughts
Waking up earlier isn’t just about gaining time—it’s about creating intention, clarity, and alignment in your life. With a strong why, a vivid vision, and consistent discipline, you’ll not only achieve this goal but also unlock deeper transformation.
Hope this helps you build a sustainable morning routine with purpose! Let me know how it goes.
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