after sharing my success with putting an end to hitting the daily snooze button, a few people asked me to share how i was able to accomplish this rather quickly. as an insomniac, having enough energy in the morning to start my day on time was and still can be a struggle, but i have found these lifestyle adjustments to be particularly helpful.
1. get enough sleep! this is the most obvious and most difficult habit to maintain. however, we can all create a pre-rest regimen to encourage falling and staying asleep a little easier. peel yourself from the aggravating blue light of your electronics at least two hours before bedtime and at least 10 hours before you need to wake. take this time to read a book, give yourself a mani-pedi, soak in a hot tub, or meditate. freeing yourself to prepare for a long, restorative rest should be more than an occasional treat.
when getting enough sleep is hard (as it is for many people, especially with sleep-related conditions), the following could be helpful in boosting your resistance against the almighty snooze button:
2. limit easy access to your alarm device. this could mean placing your phone or alarm clock across the room so that your feet must hit the floor and seep up its energy as you shuffle over to turn it off in the morning. this could also be as simple as placing the device just a bit more than an arm's width away or on the opposite side of your normal sleeping position so you must turn over to turn it off.
3. customize your alarm. who says you have to start your day with an intense blare? if you use a smart phone for your alarm, you most likely have the option of changing your alarm sound to a song or media file. choose a song that you love that makes you want to get up and dance, or reclaim your childhood by asking a parent or guardian to record a wake-up call for you. i've slept through a couple of alarms, but the sound of my mother gently saying my name - as she did for years every morning -wakes me up every time.
4. create a morning regimen. if having a pre-rest regimen works for you, why not try one for when you rise? i absolutely love sheriden's post detailing her daily rituals. maybe the morning is the only time you can read the paper or meditate, and you must ensure you have time to do so before you start your day. you may be less likely to hit snooze if your morning is as purposeful as the rest of your day.
5. try a more natural approach. make your own air freshener with essential oils, except keep the metal lid on to trap the scents within the jar. place it within arm's reach on a nearby table, stack of books, or nightstand. when you wake, open the jar and take a few whiffs of energy-inducing essential oils* like rosemary, citrus fruits, lavender, or peppermint. you will feel their warmth spread instantly through your body.
*note: you always want to dilute essential oils before smelling them - you only need a few drops for effective use. never sniff them straight from the bottle.
1. get enough sleep! this is the most obvious and most difficult habit to maintain. however, we can all create a pre-rest regimen to encourage falling and staying asleep a little easier. peel yourself from the aggravating blue light of your electronics at least two hours before bedtime and at least 10 hours before you need to wake. take this time to read a book, give yourself a mani-pedi, soak in a hot tub, or meditate. freeing yourself to prepare for a long, restorative rest should be more than an occasional treat.
when getting enough sleep is hard (as it is for many people, especially with sleep-related conditions), the following could be helpful in boosting your resistance against the almighty snooze button:
2. limit easy access to your alarm device. this could mean placing your phone or alarm clock across the room so that your feet must hit the floor and seep up its energy as you shuffle over to turn it off in the morning. this could also be as simple as placing the device just a bit more than an arm's width away or on the opposite side of your normal sleeping position so you must turn over to turn it off.
3. customize your alarm. who says you have to start your day with an intense blare? if you use a smart phone for your alarm, you most likely have the option of changing your alarm sound to a song or media file. choose a song that you love that makes you want to get up and dance, or reclaim your childhood by asking a parent or guardian to record a wake-up call for you. i've slept through a couple of alarms, but the sound of my mother gently saying my name - as she did for years every morning -wakes me up every time.
4. create a morning regimen. if having a pre-rest regimen works for you, why not try one for when you rise? i absolutely love sheriden's post detailing her daily rituals. maybe the morning is the only time you can read the paper or meditate, and you must ensure you have time to do so before you start your day. you may be less likely to hit snooze if your morning is as purposeful as the rest of your day.
5. try a more natural approach. make your own air freshener with essential oils, except keep the metal lid on to trap the scents within the jar. place it within arm's reach on a nearby table, stack of books, or nightstand. when you wake, open the jar and take a few whiffs of energy-inducing essential oils* like rosemary, citrus fruits, lavender, or peppermint. you will feel their warmth spread instantly through your body.
*note: you always want to dilute essential oils before smelling them - you only need a few drops for effective use. never sniff them straight from the bottle.
10 comments:
LOVE this post, Britt! These are such great tips! I am going to try them. I need to get my butt up earlier.
Great advice! Having natural light sneak in always helps me!
Beautifully stated Britt! When I have to wake up in the wee wee hours of the morning, a one-two punch of numbers 2 & 3 definitely help. I'll have my phone on the dresser across the room so that I forced to run to turn off it's foghorn-like sound haha. Having #4 in my backpocket is extra motivation to rise & unwind. And I love your inclusion of #5 because it's about creating a beautiful space for your external. And thanks for the shoutout girl, you da best!
I pick a song that has a loud opening few bars to startle me. Otherwise, I just don't hear it. And I'm reading this when I should be in bed.
Thanks, Aimee! Let me know if you try anything and how it works out!
So true!
Of course!
Thanks for reading :D
Hahahaha! I understand the struggle.
I used to use a song with a loud opening, and then I felt like I was having a heart attack every morning! I try to choose something lively that won't make my heart stop in the process! :)
This is great advice Britt :-) I particularly like the essential oil sniffing idea, I'm going to give that a go, I've never thought of that!
Let me know if you decide to try it!
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