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A Student’s Guide to Waking Up Early

By Marek Gregorski
  |  
  3 Min Read
Sleep Habits - Waking Up Early

The most effective way to become an early riser is to go to sleep when you’re tired.

If you’re a natural night owl, getting out of bed can be a nightmare. Nothing is more painful than the blaring sound of the alarm clock as you grudgingly force yourself to crawl out of bed and slog around aimlessly, wishing you could squeeze in a couple of more hours.

However, learning to become an early riser can have a positive impact on your life.

Some of the benefits include an increase in productivity, more time for breakfast or exercise, more time during the day to get things done, and an overall greater sense of well-being. Getting into the habit of rising early can reduce the number of hours you spend sleeping without adversely affecting your health.

Learn When to Sleep

It’s difficult to implement a regimen into your current lifestyle, but once you adopt the right strategy, it’s relatively easy. The most effective way to become an early riser is to go to sleep when you’re tired and get up at the same time every day. The logic is simple: when you go to sleep when you’re feeling drowsy you’re submitting to what your body is telling you.

It’s a mistake to think that you need to go to sleep at the same time every day – it’s also counterproductive. You’ll waste time lying in bed trying desperately to drift off when your body is telling you to do otherwise. It’s easy to try to squeeze in a bit more sleep time than you need. But it defeats one of the benefits of early rising: gaining extra time during the day instead of sleeping it away.

Become an Early Riser

Read a book in bed

If you have trouble getting through a few pages, this usually means you’re about ready to doze off.

Don’t eat heavily for at least three hours before bed

A large late-night meal will hamper your ability to fall asleep comfortably because it has to be digested. A light snack is fine.

Avoid exercise within three hours of bed

Exercise raises the heart rate and makes you feel energized. A workout in the morning or afternoon is an excellent idea though – it will help you get to sleep much easier during the evening, as your body will require adequate rest.

Avoid Caffeine

Consider giving up coffee altogether. If, however, you absolutely can’t survive without a cup of Joe, ensure you don’t drink it for at least three hours before bed. Teas, sodas, and of course, energy drinks, should also be avoided.

Eliminate stress

Try doing yoga, meditation, or engaging in a relaxing hobby.

Don’t go from online to in-bed

Surfing through websites and playing online games keeps you alert and wide awake. Wait at least half an hour before going to bed after spending time on the Internet.

Have a reason to get up every morning

As you’re starting out as an early riser, it may be tough, and it helps to have some kind of motivation to keep you focused. Make a list of the things you want to do the next day before going to sleep. Being goal-oriented will help you build discipline and ensure that you are conscious of the fact that you have a purpose for getting up early each morning.

When your alarm rings, get up right away without thinking about it

If you lay in bed, even for a few minutes, the tendency to drift back to sleep increases. If you’re having trouble with this, place your alarm clock somewhere away from your bed. Unless you love hearing the incessant, monotonous sound coming from your alarm, you will have no choice but to physically get out of bed to turn it off.

By applying this strategy correctly and consistently, you’ll find that your body will soon settle into a natural rhythm. Rising early feeling well-rested and energized will become second nature.

4 responses to “A Student’s Guide to Waking Up Early”

  1. arbina says:

    Helpful! :)

  2. Pavitrabal says:

    it works!!!

  3. Jb says:

    the last point… thanks

  4. Ryna says:

    Thank you sooo much for these tips. It is really really helpful :)

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