rise and shine!

Why is it always so difficult to wake up early in the morning? Waking up early is something that I really want to do...it makes the rest of my day feel so much better. I feel more productive, alert, and happy. But getting up the first time that alarm clock goes off is oh-so-hard for me.

Does anybody else have this problem? I know I'm not alone here!

I did it today though. I got up without hitting the snooze button, which was practically a miracle!

I've been reading some articles online on the benefits to rising early, creating a morning routing, and tips on becoming an early riser.

Here are some of the things that I have been doing to help me get up early:

1. make gradual changes - I often make the mistake of being overly ambitious in my getting up early attempts...."I'm getting up at 5:30!" and then I end up turning off my alarm clock completely because when 5:30am rolls around my body thinks that getting up is just plain ridiculous. Instead, getting up 15 minutes earlier than normal is a lot easier to adjust to. Then, a few days later get up 15 more minutes earlier until you've reached the desired wake-up time.
2. go to bed earlier - um, yeah...staying up until 12:30 and getting up at 6:30 {my desired wake up time} just don't compliment each other. I need to start getting to bed by 10:30.
3. put the alarm clock far away from the bed - if the alarm clock is right on my bedside table, I will just hit snooze over and over and justify in my sleepy mind the reason for not getting up right away. If I set the clock on the other side of the room, I have to walk all the way over there to turn it off...so I might as well get up for good anyways.
4. get out of the bedroom {and away from the couch} and go do something - I have to admit, there have been times that I have gotten up and out of bed...but only to go lay down on the couch to snooze for another half an hour. But if I get up...and go put the coffee on, start exercising, go put a load of laundry in, take care of clean dishes, etc. I will wake up a whole lot faster.
5. make a list of things you enjoy about getting up early - before I go to bed each night, I write out my to-do list and schedule for the next day. Having this list, and knowing how much I can accomplish if I get up at the time I want to, is very motivating. Also looking forward to rewarding things in the morning, such as coffee with husband, pilates, yogurt and berries, reading my Bible, etc. makes getting up early more enjoyable.

What about you? Are you an early riser or a nite owl {or both?} What have you found that helps you get up {and stay up} in the early morning? I would definitely love and welcome any more tips you may have...heaven knows I need all the help I can get to stick to this. :)