Ever since I seriously started experimenting with getting up at 5:30 a.m. last April, I’ve tried all kinds of methods to make waking up early a habit that doesn’t feel like a constant struggle.

It’s the end of August 2026 now, and today marks the 183rd day this year that I’ve gotten up at 5:30 a.m. I actually just checked my calendars and counted all the days I’ve managed to get up at 5:30 over the past two years. In 2025, I did it 140 out of 365 days.

Seeing all those little marks on my yearly calendar gave me a huge sense of accomplishment. It also made me realize how helpful it is to have an entire year laid out in front of you. Ever since I started buying these yearly calendars, I’ve been constantly reminded of how quickly time passes. Maybe that’s another reason I like them so much: they remind me to cherish my time a little more.

If you’re like me and want to get up early and simply enjoy a little more of your day, here are the things that have actually helped me along the way.

First of All, Books.

It is always books. I believe that for any real change to happen, the first thing we need to change is our mind. I’ve wanted to get up early for years, but I never managed to stick with it for more than seven days. Looking back now, I think I know why: I had never really figured out why I wanted to get up early in the first place.

I had a vague idea that getting up early was “good,” but why did I want to do it? I didn’t really know.

Then last April, my birthday month, I suddenly felt a strong urge to dig into the why. I picked up some well-known books about getting up early and productivity, including The 5 AM Club and The Miracle Morning. I read them, thought about them, and gradually started forming my own reasons for wanting to get up early.

1. I want to see more sunrises than sunsets.
2. I hate the late-night feeling.
3. I want more peace of mind.
4. I want to do something that feels genuinely challenging to me.

Those were my initial reasons for starting this journey. To be honest, I’m not particularly fond of books like The Miracle Morning that suggest changing one area of your life can turn you into a completely different person.

For me, books are more like different voices entering my own head. Whenever I want to make a change in my life, I turn to books and let those different voices in. It’s almost like willingly brainwashing myself—and I’ve found it surprisingly helpful. Not necessarily because of the actual content on the pages, but because of the time I spend reading, thinking, and exploring what I really want.

I think that’s crucial when you’re trying to make any kind of change. You have to convince yourself first. No one else can do that for you. You need to figure out your own reasons. Your reasons are what give you the initial momentum.

Start Small, Then Keep Challenging Yourself

Once you’ve built up enough motivation to get started, I think setting yourself a challenge can really help. I started with a 10-day challenge, then 20 days, and eventually worked my way up to 75 days.

There were plenty of failures and frustrations along the way. But building a new habit is a lot like building muscle: you don’t see the results immediately. You’ll hit obstacles again and again. But every time you get out of bed, every day you manage to get up early, it all starts to add up. And eventually, the change will surprise you.

And get prepared to fail. I honestly don’t remember how many times I’ve failed to get out of bed because of bad weather, a sluggish mood, or some other random excuse. There were mornings when I simply didn’t want to do it. There were mornings when staying in bed felt like the much easier choice. And there were mornings when I failed. That’s part of it. A new habit isn’t built by never failing. It’s built by coming back after you fail.

Keep going. You’ll get there.

Build a Morning Routine You’re Actually Excited About

After setting gradually evolving challenges, I think the next crucial thing is to create a morning routine that you genuinely look forward to.

You won’t find the perfect routine right away. You’ll experiment. You’ll change things. You’ll pivot and revise along the way. And one day, you’ll find something that just clicks.

For me, that’s part of the fun. I don’t think there is such a thing as a perfect morning routine that works forever. Even if you’ve found a routine that has worked perfectly for months, there will be days when you need to change it. That’s okay. You’re changing, too. Your energy changes. Your priorities change. Your life changes. So your morning routine can change with you.

The goal isn’t to create a routine that you can follow perfectly for the rest of your life. The goal is to create a morning that makes you want to get out of bed.

Consistency Is What Makes It Stick

Last but not least, stay consistent. Once you’ve found a morning routine that works for you, getting up at 5:00, 6:00, or even 4:00 a.m. shouldn’t feel quite as horrible as it used to.

At some point, getting up early stops feeling like something you’re forcing yourself to do. It simply becomes part of your life. And that’s when I think the real change happens.

Getting up early isn’t really about the time on the clock. It’s about rebuilding your energy, your daily rhythm, and the way you spend your time. After 183 mornings this year, I don’t think I can say that I have completely mastered getting up early.

I still have bad mornings. I still sleep in sometimes. I still have days when I don’t feel like getting out of bed. But the difference is that now, getting up early no longer feels impossible. It feels like something I can return to. And maybe that’s what building a habit really means. Not becoming a completely different person overnight. Just becoming someone who keeps showing up.

Enjoy your mornings!

If you’re also on your own journey to becoming an early riser, I’ve put together a small collection of books on getting up early, morning routines, and making better use of your time on my Amazon page.

These are some of the books that have inspired me along the way, and maybe you’ll find something that speaks to you, too. Take a look at my [The 5:30 Book Shelf] and find your next morning read.