Stop dreading your alarm clock. Get up early each day to walk with God and to get ahead of your task list. Here’s How…

Waking up early will give you quiet time in the morning to prepare your heart, mind, and body for the day. Awake early to walk with God before the busyness of the day begins. Rise in plenty of time to start your day strong, so when it comes time to perform, you can excel.

Proverbs 6:9–11   “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, And thy want as an armed man.”

There is nothing quite so discouraging as oversleeping in the morning. You wake up and instantly realize that you are behind. You jump out of bed rushing around to make it to work on time or take care of your responsibilities. You feel behind all day never able to catch up no matter how hard you work. You tell yourself you never want to do that again!

On the other hand, some people get up early regularly but feel so exhausted that they have a hard time getting through the day. Some mornings you will have to push through the exhaustion, but you should not feel that way every day. You may need to consider other changes to your lifestyle such as eating healthy, exercising, or adjusting your overall schedule. Consider taking a 15-minute power nap sometime during the day too. Life is cyclical. At times you will have more responsibilities and get less sleep. Other times you will have more free time and get more sleep. The challenge is sleeping enough to excel! Through it all, remember that you are the master of your schedule. Own it and crush it.

[shareable]Walk with God before the busyness of the day. Rise in plenty of time to start strong, so when it comes time to perform, you can excel.[/shareable]

Some people believe that they are not a morning person. This limiting belief hinders their productivity and cripples their character. You may be predisposed to stay up late or sleep in, but you are not a victim of your genetics. With God’s help and these helpful tips you can become a “morning person.”

Get up early! This simple change will multiply your productivity and improve every area of your life. We all know it, yet why is it so hard? How can you make it happen?

Here are a few simple but powerful tips to beat the alarm clock and get up early.

Organize your morning before you go to bed.

Institute an evening ritual that includes at least 15 minutes of preparation for the next morning. Never underestimate the power of preparedness. Knowing you are primed for the next day will make want to get up and get going.

 

Set out your clothes for the next day.

This simple step gives you one less thing to think about in the morning when you are groggy.

Finalize your task list for the next day.

Allow your mind to relax knowing that there is a list of essential jobs written down. Also, it motivates you to get out of bed when the alarm goes off because you know how much there is to get done. Don’t live feeling overwhelmed knowing that you have a lot to do, but not sure where to start. Have a task list. Here’s the one I use. Review it every night. Get up and get it done.

Decide on a healthy breakfast.

Plan something that you look forward to eating. Make sure it is fuel for your brain and body not just candy for your taste buds. Put out the silverware, plate, and mug you will use. Set out the unrefrigerated ingredients.

Go to bed tired.

This is easy if you have a job that requires physical labor. However, some people have jobs that require more brain power than physical exertion. These people go home mentally tired, but physically frustrated. “Relaxing” in front of the TV will not release your body’s nervous energy. It needs to move! Do some physical labor around the house or get in a good workout. It will help your body call for rest and make sleep come much easier.

The best way to go to bed tired is to get up early. You may have to work through a transition period, but it is worth it once you get in a good rhythm.

If you have trouble going to sleep, drinking a hot soothing drink 45 minutes before bedtime may help. Natural Calm (a magnesium and calcium supplement) provides needed minerals for relaxation and sleep. A decaffeinated tea like Douglas Fir Spring Tips or White Rose Tea with a 1/2 teaspoon of Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar and a tablespoon of unfiltered honey has a history of helping people sleep as well. Avoid chemical sleep aids have unwanted side effects.

Turn off electronics one hour before you need to sleep.

Not only does the blue light from the screen keep you awake, but some activities/programs keep the problem-solving areas of your brain engaged making it challenging to go to sleep. Read or listen to a relaxing book instead.

Ask God to wake you up.

He can and He will. Ask God to help with the mundane things of life. Lean on Him in every area.

Go to bed.

Lights out. Close your eyes. Enough said.

Pray or think happy thoughts as you drift off to sleep.

Think on these things!

Philippians 4:8  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Get up when the alarm goes off.

Just do it! Sit up and start moving. Don’t push snooze. Put the alarm clock across the room if you must. Set two alarms if necessary.

Drink an 8 -12 oz glass of water when you wake up.

Gulp it down. This sends a signal to your body that you are awake and engages several vital systems. For rapid alertness, it is more effective than drinking a cup of coffee. Try it for a week and see the difference.

Do at least ten minutes of exercise.

It doesn’t have to be heavy. Simply stretching the main muscle groups for 5 minutes works wonders. Exercise wakes up the body and gets the juices flowing.

Work your plan.

You are awake. Complete your morning ritual. Walk with God. You are prepared. Now Conquer the Day. Live victoriously!