The Virtues of Getting Up Early.

No one is naturally a “morning person.”

 

I’ve been getting up at 5.30am weekdays and 6.30am weekends for as long as I can remember. For me this is as close as I get to having a superpower.

 

Everyone struggles with getting out of bed early (especially in the winter) and I am no different. Psychologists agree that no one is naturally a morning person and that consistently waking up early and springing out of bed early is hard and takes discipline.

 

Having a set routine seems to make early starts easier and I am a firm believer in the saying “you are what you repetitively do”. The other key facilitator for rising early is having a strong sense of purpose. In other words, “knowing what gets you out of bed each morning”.

 

I have always admired “swimming families” where the parents get their kids to swim squad at 5.30am three days a week for years. These families have a strong sense of purpose and are motivated by the belief that they are creating something larger than themselves.

 

“This decision we make in the morning, it not only determines how our day will go, but it determines who we are.” Ryan Holiday

 

The struggle to get up early is part of being human. It’s universal, even the wealthiest, famous and most powerful people struggle with it. I feel this daily struggle keeps us grounded and keeps our weaker self under control.

 

“Getting up early is the only way to gain time. Cherish the extra time – use it, don’t lose it.” David McCallum

 

Successful people understand that getting up early is actually a privilege. Their strong sense of purpose allows them to feel grateful to be awake and to have stuff that needs to be done. Getting up early gets you a jump on the competition.

 

“There’s a reason CEO’s hit the gym early – they still have willpower then.”  Unknown

 

The first hour or so in the morning are usually the most productive and the most creative. Your brain has had the benefit of sleep and subconscious thought, so you feel more confident, and you are able to think clearly. Without distractions and with restored energy you are free to do your best “deep thinking” and punch out tasks in quick succession.

 

For me the early morning is my favourite part of the day. I get my mind straight by walking the dog, then I blast through my backlog of emails and update my written diary. I really struggle to write during the workday, but early in the morning it just flows and I am addicted to this productive feeling.

 

The military have long mastered the art of getting up early and it is the cornerstone of their daily routine and their discipline. They recognise and promote the value of “winning the day” and for military personnel it is not an option.

 

A couple of tips that help to win the struggle with getting up early are,

• Train yourself to not need an alarm clock. Try not to have a clock beside your bed and keep your phone in another room. This takes some time and won’t work every day, but training your internal clock makes you in control of waking up rather than the bleeping alarm.
• Develop a morning routine that relies on an early start and includes some must do tasks, like walking the dog.
• When you go to bed, focus on what you plan to do first thing tomorrow morning. This primes the brain so that as soon as you wake you know what needs to be done and gets you out of bed.

 

“Wake up an hour early to live an hour more.” Unknown

 

None of this is easy, but neither is achieving your goals.

 

Thanks for reading.

Stay safe, be up and doing.

David