As the saying goes, “The early bird gets the worm.” Starting your day early has proven benefits in boosting your productivity and get more things done. Waking up before the rest of the world gives one a head start and helps with clarity in planning out the day.
So how does one get a head start and be like proverbial early bird?
Here are 5 hacks I use to wake up early and start my day:
- Avoid the snooze button – I initially struggled with this particular hack. When you are snuggled up under the covers with your head against the soft pillow, it takes a huge burst of willpower to get up. I remember when I made a commitment to wake up early, I always hit the snooze button. Without fail, I woke up late. Force yourself to wake up the moment the alarm rings.
- Meditate – The benefits of yoga and meditation go way beyond just calming the mind. It helps you align your thoughts and your body to work in sync..
- Cold shower – Luckily, I live in one of the hottest and humid cities in India. This ensures I always take a cold water shower. Having lived in Bangalore, I also understand the temptation to turn on the geyser. However, having a cold water shower jolts you out of your malaise and increases your focus.
- Plan your day – Sit at your desk for 10-15 minutes and plan your day before starting work. That way you have a clear roadmap on how to approach the tasks at hand and can efficiently dispatch them. Otherwise, you end up blundering your way through the day. This is why many employees end up working late into the night.
- Delay the caffeine – If you are like me, you probably need that morning coffee or tea to get rid of sleep and boost concentration. However, it also leads to addiction and you will find yourself craving that coffee every time your concentration slips. Now I am not asking you to quit the coffee. But, if you delay it to at least 2 hours after waking, you will find your energy levels to be boosted much more than before.
The most important thing to remember to waking early, is to sleep early. This is something even I have to work on. I make up for my late bedtime with a small nap after lunch. Not ideal…but it works for now.
