know what you’re probably thinking. Why in the WORLD would someone wake up at such an ungodly hour? First things first, don’t think this can’t apply to you because when I tell ya I would have alarms set by 5-10 min increments and snoozed them all — I was a monster!

I didn’t realize it at the time but this was so unhealthy for my body. At the moment, it feels good to snooze your alarm and rest your eyes for those glorifying 10 mins until your alarm goes off again and the cycle repeats. That choppy rest just makes you more tired and super groggy by the time you actually need to be out of bed and on the move.

On top of that, waking up 5-10 mins before I have to get to class or go to work just makes me feel more frantic as I run around my room looking for clothes, not having time to eat breakfast and just starting off my day really rough.

It was one morning I was running late to work, starving, exhausted and all over the place that I realized I didn’t want to do this anymore.

So why 5:30 a.m.?

Aside from the fact I needed time to get ready for my shift, I wanted more me-time. I knew my daily schedule was extremely packed in the afternoon and evenings so I never had time to just sit still and think. Waking up early has given me a time-slot to be mindful and take time to spend time with myself.

OK, I get that mindfulness and time to reflect is productive but why THAT early?!

Trust me, I understand. I usually go to work at 8 a.m. and it was really hard to tell myself to wake up nearly 3 hours early in the beginning. But a few weeks in, I grew super grateful to be waking up early because there was so much I was able to get done before starting my busy schedule.

When I wake up, I would, of course, brush my teeth, play some relaxing music and make a yummy breakfast (my fav is avocado egg toast). After breakfast I write in my journal, do a quick cardio sesh, shower, meditate/stretch, and plan my day ahead like what events or meetings I may have throughout the day. By the time I finish, it’s time to get dressed and head to work!

Here are a few things to keep in mind when shifting from being a snooze master to an early riser:

1. Make a list of cons

Refer to this list when you're feeling lazy or tempted to sleep in. It's always great to have a reminder to keep yourself on track to your goals.

2. Remember why you want to wake up early

You have to realize you have to get up in the morning especially if you know you will be busy for the whole day and the morning is your only time to spend with yourself. Think about your favorite breakfast meal to get you pumped to get out of bed!

3. Have an evening routine

Take the time to pack your lunch together, set out your clothes for tomorrow, and tidy up your space a little before bed. You plan on waking up at 5:30 a.m., so the last thing you want to do is leave yourself with a long list of things to do first thing in the morning.

4. Share your goals with a friend

Sharing your goal to wake up early with a close friend is so beneficial! This allows them to help you by holding you accountable. Also having a loving support system will keep you motivated and inspired because they can motivate you when you are feeling uninspired to get up!

Remember that it won’t be easy in the beginning but consistency and dedication will get results! For starters, try waking up an hour earlier than you usually do. So if you wake up at 9 a.m., set an alarm for 8 a.m.! And during that hour try to add in at least one mindful activity like journaling, meditating, listening to music while making a hearty breakfast, etc.