Many people will agree that early morning sleep feels like the sweetest kind. In fact, the sound of the alarm clock often becomes the trigger for an even deeper, lazier sleep. Unfortunately, giving in to that temptation usually leads to waking up much later—accompanied by regret.
Let me share a tactic I discovered that has helped me wake up at the very first sound of the alarm—feeling alert, agile, and ready to get to work. No urge to crawl back into bed, no laziness, no body fatigue. Just a vibrant sense of energy—like a soldier rising at the sound of a bugle.
The Brain Behind It
The human brain is made up of different parts that control different functions. One of these parts is the prefrontal cortex, responsible for cognitive reasoning, decision-making, and logical thinking. This part of the brain is less active during sleep and takes a few seconds to fully wake up when you do. So what’s really happening when you feel the urge to go back to sleep?
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That’s your prefrontal cortex kicking in—giving you convincing reasons like:
- “I slept late last night.”
- “I’ll start tomorrow.”
- “I just don’t feel like it today.”
According to Robin Sharma in his book The 5 AM Club, the key is to beat your brain before it fully activates. The longer you lie in bed, the stronger those excuses become. That’s why you must act before your brain starts negotiating with you.
What Works: My Morning Routine
Here are the strategies and routines that helped me (and many others) wake up earlier and feel more alive:
- Prepare the night before: Set up your room for your morning routine—clear a space for stretches or workouts. If possible, wear your workout clothes to bed. Also, make sure you sleep by 11:00 PM at the latest.
- Get up immediately when the alarm sounds: Don’t think. Don’t reason. Just get up—before your brain starts convincing you otherwise.
- Head straight to the bathroom: Brush your teeth and wash your face right away.
- Drink a glass of water: This helps your body wake up internally.
- Do light exercises:Try some stretches, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, or bodyweight exercises like push-ups.
- Reflect and plan your day: Take out a notebook and write down your to-do list or any thoughts you’ve been meaning to process.
- Read: Spend at least 10 minutes reading a self-improvement book.
- Start your day by 6:00 AM. This entire routine takes just one hour and sets the tone for the rest of the day.
The 20/20/20 Formula (And How I Modified It)
Robin Sharma’s 5 AM Club introduced the 20/20/20 formula:
- 20 minutes of exercise
- 20 minutes of meditation and reflection
- 20 minutes of learning/self-improvement
Over the years, I’ve modified this to fit my personal style and needs:
- 20 minutes of exercise
- 30 minutes of meditation, journaling, or writing (like this blog)
- 10 minutes of reading a self-improvement book
Benefits of Waking Up Early
- You start your day feeling energized and happy.
- You stay organized and focused.
- Your productivity and performance improve.
- Your body and physical health get better.
- Your emotions remain stable because you're more self-aware.
Waking up early is not just about discipline—it’s about outsmarting your own brain and taking control of your day before it takes control of you.
Conquer your morning, own your day - Robin Sharma
Feel free to share this with someone. It might just be what they need to hear today.