note: I really wouldnātĀ recommendĀ 5am daily omg, I simply have to do that becauseĀ of school. But I have been waking up at 5am since I was 11 so thatās nearly 7 years, and in that time I have figured out how to do it without completely destroying your sleep/health. Also, Iām not a doctor, so please donāt take me as 10000% medically valid, this is just what works for me!
Go to sleep at least 7 hours before you have to wake up. I actually recommend more than that if you can get it, but if you canāt itās not the end of the world. Even if you have less time than that, get some kip. Some kip is better than no kip. (Iām talking to you, reading this at 3am!)
If youāre waking up for something specific, get up at least half an hour before you need to. This gives you time to wake up so that youāre not totally zombified by the time you get where you need to be.
Drink water. Right when you wake up. Keep it next to whatever youāre using as an alarm. I have a water bottle that I keep on my desk at all times for studying anyways so this is a good habit to get into! Itāll wake you up and starts your daily water intake.
Make your alarm loud, annoying and put it out of armās reach. Oh yes, that old age advice. Unfortunately, no matter how annoying it is, it does work. I used to use that loud annoying blaring nuclear alarm thing for my alarm and it worked wonders (rip my ipod).Ā
Have a good old stretch. Nothing to clear out the cobwebs like a stretch.
Try and eat. If itās super early, you might be one of those people (like me) that canāt eat right away after waking up. If thatās you, then make yourself a healthy and portable breakfast (cereal/snack bars, fruit) to have a bit later on when youāre travelling/after youāve gotten ready. I usually eat breakfast on the bus, and itās not just because I forgot!
Get dressed asap. Cold from leaping out of bed? Wellā¦ thatās what clothes are for! Theyāre like mini, thinner duvets. Well, okay, not really. But the point stands.
Donāt sleep in at the weekends. That might seen really counter-productive and well, it can be. If you go to sleep at 4am on Friday evening do not wake up at 6am the next morning. Rather, if you go to bed at a normal time, especially on Saturday evening, then get up at the same time or up to an hour later as you usually do on the weekdays. At first you might need an alarm for that, but eventually itāll become habit anyway. Even throughout the summer holiday, I no longer can sleep in past 8am at the latest. Yup. (It actually makes me a 1000x more productive person as I can get everything done in the morning tho!)
Donāt hit the snooze button. Believe it or not, it just puts off the inevitable.Ā
Donāt go back to sleep once youāve woken up at the right time. Itāll just make you more sleepy. At the weekends, if you wake up really early but have nothing to do (are you sure you have nothing to do tho? what about that laundry?) you can lie in bed, read a book, watch some youtube videos. Going back to sleep right away can really mess up a sleep schedule.
Know when youāre pushing yourself. If you are chronically tired because of your sleep schedule, get more of it. Discard some of this advice for some time and make sure youāre looking after yourself! Go to bed earlier if you need to, wake up later if you donāt have to be up so early. Nothing is more important than your health. (Iāve had depression for some time now, and that can really mess with sleep cycles. For me, thatās always meant ending up in bed extremely early to sleep more, and I still get up at the same time because I have to. If you donāt have to, donāt do it).Ā
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!Ā
+how to study history
