There are many proven advantages to waking up earlier in the day. As captain Jako Hall explains, people who rise early can enjoy productive and peaceful times before the hustle and bustle of the daily routine begins.
People who wake up earlier have the freedom to start their day however they want — with either business-related or personal activities on the docket.
If you’re not already an early bird, it can be challenging to wake up early. Here are some ways you can learn how to change your routine so you can wake up earlier and get more from your day.
Progressively Change Your Sleep Routine
Becoming an early riser isn’t as simple as going to sleep earlier and getting up earlier. It sounds simple in theory, but it’s much more challenging in practice.
Your body is used to whatever sleep-and-wake routine you have set. It takes time and effort to make big changes to this routine like anything in life. Trying to make an abrupt and dramatic change to your sleep routine may not work.
Instead, try going to bed and waking up progressively earlier every day. Start by shifting your sleep 30 minutes earlier, then another 30 minutes, and so forth, until you reach your ideal bedtime and wake times. This will help your body ease into the change and make it feel like less of a drag.
Have Something to Look Forward To
Motivation is a huge factor in getting us to do something different regularly. If you have something to look forward to early in the morning, then you’re more likely to be motivated to change your routine.
Each of your early mornings should include a reward of some sort. This can be as simple as making your favourite breakfast, having a cup of coffee by the fire or reading a book. Create an incentive for waking up early, and you’ll be more successful at doing so.
Make Mornings Easier
One of the best things about morning routines is that you can prepare many of them the night before. Waking up to a ready-made breakfast and hot pot of coffee — if that’s your thing — takes the work out of starting your day off right.
You can set up your coffee maker to brew a pot so it’s piping hot and ready for you when you wake up. You can also prepare certain breakfasts the night before. Overnight oats, for example, can be mixed and refrigerated, so all you have to do is open them and eat a healthy breakfast in the morning.
Maintain the Schedule
One of the most effective ways of making sure your early morning routine sticks is by carrying it over into the weekends. As Captain Jako Hall explains, if you revert to your old habits of staying up late and waking up late in the day, it’ll be hard to get back on your routine come the weekdays.
Ideally, the time you wake up should remain the same every day. If you treat yourself by sleeping in a bit on the weekends, make sure you don’t completely alter your routine by hours.
About Jako Hall
Captain Jako Hall is an experienced mariner and a former naval officer known for his strong work ethic and ability to lead and motivate crews. He pursued Maritime Studies at the University of Technology in Cape Town and has received the highest level of training in Navigation and Seamanship during his years in the Navy. After 13 distinguished years in the Navy, Jako joined the superyacht industry, following his passion for creating unique and exclusive experiences for high-net-worth clients. He’s managed multi-million euro projects that required attention to detail and efficiency and has a proven track record of operating at sea in remote and unsupported areas.
Cameron Dickerson is a seasoned journalist with nearly 10 years experience. While studying journalism at the University of Missouri, Cameron found a passion for finding engaging stories. As a contributor to Kev’s Best, Cameron mostly covers state and national developments.