It’s been a while since I last recorded an update on my 5:30 AM challenge. Over the past few months, since I started challenging myself to wake up early in April after returning from my yearly trip, I’ve managed to get up at 5:30 AM an average of five times a month, according to my calendar records.

In May, I became a bit overconfident about my ability to wake up early without an alarm. The first few days went well, and I felt highly motivated, believing I had finally developed the early bird habit. Maybe not at 5:30 AM, but I thought 6 AM would work for me. I was proud of myself for seemingly forming the habit in just a couple of months. But then, I failed. After canceling my alarm, I gradually returned to my old routine, where I would wake up but didn’t feel like getting out of bed until 8 or 9 AM.

It took me a good while to find the strength to try again. I tried rewarding myself with beach sunrises, but every weekend I went to the beach, the weather was stormy. No sunrise meant I just pulled the curtains back and fell back into bed. I thought I had failed once more and almost gave up.

Then, in the middle of July, I went back to my hometown for a wedding and some other things. I returned after midnight on the 23rd of July. I remember that date because it was the first day I officially started my small business last year. Despite traveling for six hours that day, I set my alarm for 5:30 AM and woke up that same day. I shut my brain down and went for a short bike ride. Since then, starting from the 24th of July, I’ve been getting up at 5:30 AM consistently for 12 days in a row.

I’ve figured out a few things that work for me and hope these tips can help if you’re struggling with how to wake up early too.

My Working Tips for Waking Up Early:

1. Push the Alarm Across the Room: I used to keep my phone or alarm right next to my pillow, making it too easy to press the snooze button. Now, I place it across the room to force myself to get up.
2. Let Some Light In: I either turn on the lights as soon as I get out of bed or open the curtains wide. On rainy days, it still feels like night, so this is crucial.
3. Get Out of the Bedroom: Drink water and go through autopilot motions like brushing your teeth and getting dressed. Don’t give your brain time to resist – just move your body.
4. Use Your Senses: I used to wear my AirPods right after stepping out of the house, but now I embrace the natural sounds of the morning. The wind, the birds, the quiet streets – these all help wake me up and remind me that it’s a brand new day.
5. Don’t Overwhelm Yourself with Exercise: I used to push myself to run 5KM or do an hour of powerlifting first thing in the morning. That added stress made it harder to get up. Now, I just bike slowly to the beach park, and if I feel like running, I do it. It’s more natural and less stressful.

In the end, be easy on yourself. The goal is simply to get up and not return to bed. Your body will follow, and your soul will too.

Lastly, it’s okay to fail. Life is a long journey, and as long as you keep trying, you will get better. Keep at it, and you’ll eventually become the morning person you aim to be.