When people ask me, “How do you get up so early every day?”
There are a lot of things I could tell them. First off, the truth is that it’s not easy to get up early every single morning.
I could respond with a motivational quote like, “If you want it bad enough, you will get up.” Which helps your brain start to move in the right direction, but I have a more in-depth process I’ll share with you, that will keep you from pressing snooze on your alarm, much longer than an inspirational quote will.
It is true, if you want something bad enough, you will do anything and everything to get it.
You have to be obsessed.
But the reality is this: That’s not always enough. To want something that bad won’t always be enough motivation to get you out of bed when you don’t feel your best. If you wake up one day with a bit of a cold, or after a late night – it’s so easy to skip out.
I get tired too. There are mornings where I’m just as likely to bail as the next person.
Yet, every single day of the week I get up at 3:15 A.M. (I mean, every morning).
However, there are mornings where I’m walking to my car, opening the garage door, and I just want to quit and say, “Oh, forget it, I’m going back to bed.”
That happens, right?
So, how do I counter that voice that wants to go back to bed?
- Get an accountability partner
I’ve got a trainer who I work with, and the number one thing that I wanted from him is accountability. I didn’t need him to text me in the morning and say, “Hey, get up.” – but, a lot of us do need that. (In fact, I’ll do it for you – DWC Link)
The accountability I need is in the awareness that he’s going to be at the gym waiting for me. I would feel ridiculously bad if my trainer was at the gym at 4:30 in the morning waiting for me and I didn’t show up. That’s just not who I am as a person, to let someone down like that. I mean, yeah he gets paid, but, I’m sure he’d rather be in bed, himself. For me, knowing somebody is expecting something from me, gets me through the mornings that I don’t want to wake up.
2. Set Yourself Up For Automatic Success
The other thing you really need to do, is you have to set yourself up for success — one of the ways you do that is by creating an automatic routine that starts the night before. If you’re going to get up at the crack of dawn, you’ve got to get some sleep in!
You can’t be going to bed at 11 O’clock or midnight and expect to get up at 3:00 am. That’s not something that’s going to be sustainable.
I do my best to be asleep, or be laying down in bed, at 9:00, but really, I’m trying to be asleep by 9:30. For me, that’s about six hours. If I could get more, I would, but that’s it for me right now.
Create a nighttime routine that will allow you to sleep as peacefully as possible. For example, having a glass of water, turning your phone off, diffusing some oils, etc. helps achieve that. Trying to get yourself in a place to succeed tomorrow, starts today. It’s important to realize how essential that advice is.
In the morning, your chain of events begins.
I have the same routine every morning. I wake up, I stand up, I grab my bag, I pack my bag, and I go downstairs. I make a cup of coffee, I grab my water bottles, I get dressed, and I brush my teeth. I also put on a fantastic podcast or audiobook that I can listen to while I’m doing these activities, and I set myself up to a pattern, and habit of activities, every day, which helps me make it out the car at least.
My brain sets itself up for success by knowing what I am responsible for and the chain of events to get me there. For example, while in the car, I know I’m going to be recording a podcast. After that, I know that I’m going to the gym. And then, after the gym, I’m going to shower. Following everything, I’ll have my second cup of coffee.
It becomes automation.
I create these habits, these routines, and rituals, to carry me through the harder times.
3. Create Absolute Clarity for What it is You Want
On my bathroom mirror, I’ve written down different things, like my kids’ names, my goal weight, and what I’m trying to do in my business. From time to time, I’ll erase them, and I’ll rewrite them in a different color.
Having visible reminders is imperative.
I’ve got a wristband that I put on. It’s for me. It’s kind of like armor – when I put it on, I know it’s time to work. Right now, it says “attack,” as in, attack the day, go for it, push through. Other times, perseverance or faith is written, or anything else I may need.
When you can create the combination of rituals and external reminders, your brain becomes a partner; not a negative voice weighing you down.
These three steps are what help me get up every day, so that I remain on top, and continue to win at life. So, which of these will you start doing to help you succeed?