I’ve always wanted to figure out how to wake up early in the morning—like 5:30 a.m. early. The idea of quiet mornings, getting ahead of the day, and having time just for myself sounded amazing. But wanting it and actually doing it turned out to be two very different things.

This year, I decided to track my progress, almost like an experiment, and write down what really worked (and what didn’t). Looking back at the numbers is kind of funny, but also a little painful:

• April: I managed 5 days out of 30 at 5:30 a.m.
• May: Another 5 days out of 31.
• June: Only 4 days.
• July: I basically gave up.

Then, at the end of July, after coming back from a close friend’s wedding, I told myself, “Enough. If I’m serious about this, I need to commit.” And that’s when things shifted.

The Struggle at the Beginning

When I first started trying to learn how to wake up early in the morning, I was confident. I thought I could cancel alarms and just trust my body’s “natural rhythm.” Spoiler: I failed—hard.

I even did what I always do when I want to try something new: I read books. When I wanted to start running, I read books on running. So when I wanted to wake up early, I picked up all the books I could find on early mornings, including the famous 5 AM Club. The books inspired me, gave me motivation, and filled me with energy—but when it came time to put it into practice, it wasn’t smooth at all.

Here’s what I realized were my biggest problems:

1. No plan for the morning.
   I would wake up, look around, and think, “Why am I even awake right now?” If the weather was bad, or I felt a little tired, I’d just crawl back into bed.
2. Staying indoors.
   I tried working out inside in the mornings, but it didn’t help me wake up. Going outdoors—even just stepping outside—made a huge difference. Fresh air really wakes you up.
3. Not going to sleep early.
   This was the number one killer. In the beginning, when I forced myself up early, I’d crash hard by 8 or 9 p.m. But instead of fighting it, I learned to listen to my body. When you go to bed early, waking up early is so much easier.

The Turning Point

After that wedding trip in July, I decided to challenge myself: 45 days of waking up at 5:30 a.m. in a row.

It wasn’t easy at first. In the beginning, I needed a lot of sleep—sometimes 9 hours (9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.). But after about two or three weeks, my body adjusted to 7–8 hours naturally. That’s when it started to feel good. I wasn’t dragging myself out of bed anymore. I was waking up fresh.

Something else surprised me. After those 45 days, I took a break for 5 days to test myself. Before, when I didn’t use an alarm, I’d sleep until 8 or 9. But now? Even without an alarm, I was waking up around 6 or 7. The habit had actually started to rewire my body.

What I Learned About Habits

Here’s one thing I noticed: if you only try a habit for a week, it’s too easy to fall back into old routines. But if you push through for a month or more, something changes. The habit sticks deeper.

That’s why I prefer doing things consecutively. If I skip weekends, it feels like I’m starting over every Monday. But when I keep it going every single day, it becomes natural—like eating or sleeping. Waking up at 5:30 a.m. now feels no different than waking up at 8 a.m. used to feel.

The Mindset Shift

At first, my motivation was external. I thought, “Successful people wake up early. Rich people wake up early. If I do it too, maybe I’ll be successful.” But that never lasted.

The real change came when I started waking up early for myself. I realized:

• I love the quiet when everyone else is still asleep.
• I love knowing I’ve already started my day while the world is still dreaming.
• I love the version of me who goes to bed early and wakes up refreshed.

Now, even if waking up early doesn’t make me rich or successful, I’ll still do it—because it makes me happy. That mindset shift was everything.

Practical Tips That Worked for Me

If you’re trying to figure out how to wake up early in the morning, here’s what worked for me (without overwhelming myself with 20 different “rules”):

• Go to bed early. Don’t fight sleep—your body is just adjusting.
• Have a plan. Know what you’re waking up for.
• Get outside. Even a few minutes of fresh air helps.
• Drink water. Hydration wakes you up faster.
• Stay consistent. Don’t skip weekends—it resets the habit.

For me, the most powerful rule is simple: get outdoors. As soon as I step outside, I know I’m awake for the day.

Where I Am Now

Right now, I’m on Day 16 of my 75 Hard Challenge, which also requires waking up early. And honestly, it’s not even a struggle anymore. Once the habit was built, it became part of who I am.

And that’s the real secret to how to wake up early in the morning. It’s not just alarms, hacks, or books—it’s building momentum, finding your own reason, and having faith in yourself.

Final Thought

If you’re trying to become an early riser, don’t do it just because someone else says it’s the key to success. Do it because you want it, because it makes you feel alive.

It took me years of trying, failing, and restarting before I finally found what worked. And if I can do it after all that, you can too.

So if you want to learn how to wake up early in the morning, start small, stay consistent, and most importantly—believe in yourself.