How To Wake Up Happy & Get Places On Time

I've always been a natural early riser & through my life I've been repeatedly surprised by people who get so stressed out in the morning over something as simple as getting ready & end up late & miserable. In my infinite wisdom I've decided to share with you my steps for getting places on time...

First off, good mornings are a state of mind, you can't just expect it to work out you have to decide it's going to be good. If you're always late for work, make a decision now, because when you're sleepy & in a nice warm bed you're going to need all the willpower you can muster.

Things to think of the night before...

1. Plan In Advance
Take as much brain power out of your morning as posttible. Whatever you can do the night before, do it. Make your lunch, decide what to wear, leave important things beside the door. Do it while you're functioning normally.

2. Use Your Amazing Mental Powers
Before you fall asleep, say clearly to yourself the time you expect to wake up. Your internal body clock keeps going even when you're asleep & if you practice doing this you can make yourself naturally wake up around the right time, which leads me on to step 3....

3. Don't Use An Alarm Clock!
That might sound stupid & scary to you, but I stopped using an alarm clock a few years ago & I never sleep in! By putting the responsibility on your brain to make sure what the time is you're more likely to wake up properly. You don't even have to open your eyes to hear the alarm so consequently you're probably going to go right back to sleep.

4. Use The Sun
Depending on what time you have to get up, the sun might be friends with you. Sleep with the curtains open & you'll find it much easier to wake up. Artificial light is not your friend.


Things to do when you wake up...

5. Open Your Eyes!
In addition opening your eyes to look at the time, try to keep your eyes open for as long as possible when you wake up, it can be tiring but it'll help. Don't just gaze in to the distance either - actually look at things.

5. Get The Fuck Up
The point of actually getting out of bed is hard & it's going to be hard whatever time you do it. You know that 10 minutes in bed won't make you feel less tired so don't be indulgent & take away from your morning time, get the fuck out of bed!

6. Keep Track Of Time
Instead of stressing yourself out by looking at the clock every few minutes, use the radio or music to keep track of the time. You'll be aware of it but not stressed about it.

7. Use A Range Of Times
Instead of deciding to leave at a certain time, chose a time period in which you must leave. If you're ready at the start of it then leave right away, if you've still got stuff to do then fine! Don't focus on the last possible time you can leave because it'll hold you up & if you realise you've forgotten something at the last minute then you're fucked!

8. Have Some Me Time
I always leave about 15 - 20 mins after I've got everything ready to just sit down & read a book. Having a bit of relaxing time means you're not just rushing all morning & it makes me waaaay happier going out the door.


The Journey...

9. Be Early
Don't try to arrive dead on the time when you need to, if you're anything like me you'll stress all the way trying to work out how many minutes late you might be. Arrive 15mins early & everyone will think you're awesome anyway.

10. Don't Re-spend Time
Leave yourself extra time dotted around the place. Give the bus journey and extra 10 mins, give your morning routing an extra 15. Whatever you think you'll need, but just don't shift the times around. Don't take 20 mins off your morning time & think you'll just have 5 extra for the bus. If you stick to your decision, then at every part of your morning you'll have surplus time.

11. Have A Rhyme
I have a list of things that I definitely need every day (phone, wallet, bus pass, ID, headphones). Repeat this to yourself at the door & actually physically check that you have them. That way, no nasty surprises!