Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a morning person (maybe too much of a morning person). While I know I have that going for me, it definitely doesn’t make getting out of my ridiculously comfy bed any easier.

So, what do you do when your room is the perfect temperature and moving from your bed seems impossible?

You get up anyway.

Here are a few things that may help you get out of bed–even when it’s the last thing you want to do:

1. Have something to look forward to

If you don’t have something to look forward to, you won’t enjoy getting up early. Whether it’s programing your coffee maker to turn on when you wake up or  doing some morning yoga stretches, give yourself something to be excited about. This will make that early wake up much more manageable.

2. Use a friendly alarm 

Speaking of treating yourself, wouldn’t it be nice to wake up to a sound that is much more pleasant than your obnoxious phone alarm? I know it is for me! This “wake up light” alarm clock makes waking up so much easier. It not only mimics the sunrise so your body can wake up more naturally, it also has soothing alarm sounds to choose from.

If this alarm isn’t for you, experiment with different apps and sounds. Try to find something that doesn’t make you want to throw your phone each morning.

3. Don’t hit snooze 

I picture myself channeling Oprah when I say this…I LOVE THE SNOOZE BUTTON. And, I know I’m not alone here. As amazing as those few extra minutes under the covers may feel, science says we may be doing more harm than good. Pressing snooze not only confuses your body and your mind (your brain is wondering “is it time to wake up or is it time to press snooze again?”), but it also messes with your sleep cycle.

If you’re a chronic snoozer like I was, try pressing the snooze button one less time for a full week. So, instead of snoozing 5 times each morning, bump that number down to 4. Then 3. Then 2. Then 1. This gradual process will ease your body into this new habit–and make it stick!

BONUS TIP:  Put your alarm (phone or otherwise) in a place that forces you to actually get out of bed. Not only will you have to put your warm feet on the cold ground, but you’ll force yourself to tackle the hardest part of getting up in the morning—physically moving from your bed.

4. Prep lunch/snacks the night before 

If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to spend your mornings making sandwiches or packing bags for the day. Every minute of your morning is precious, so use each one in a positive way. Make this possible by making snacks and lunch the night before. Meal prepping (which we will dive into another time) is a great way to make this step even easier.

5. Set Top 3 Tasks for the next day 

I wish I could remember which podcast I first heard this on because it has dictated so many of my decisions since I first heard it. (If you know the podcast this came from please let me know!) In this podcast episode, the show host explains that each and every day we have a “decision bank” that we can take from. So, let’s say you have 100 decisions to make in a day. Once those 100 decisions run out, your brain will be running on fumes and you won’t always make the right decisions.

So, by choosing the top 3 things you want to accomplish the next day, you’ll already get 3 decisions back. Plus, you’ll fall asleep knowing that you’re already prepared for the next day!

6. Stick to a routine

Speaking of your decision bank, why not start your mornings off in a way that doesn’t require you to think about what you’re going to do next? A routine makes this possible. My morning routine not only feels right for me, but it eliminates the need to make decisions at the time of day when my creativity is at its peak.

Take some time to figure out what you love to do each morning, but don’t pressure yourself to make the “perfect routine” on week 1. It takes time to figure out what you want to do each morning. Add new habits and experiment with new ideas on a weekly basis. This will allow you ample time to see how this new part of your routine may or may not work for you.

I’ve been building my routine for more than 6 months and it’s still constantly changing. Be patient with yourself. The results will be worth it!

7. Get enough sleep 

There’s no way this list would be complete without saying that if you want to wake up early, you need to get enough sleep.

According to The National Sleep Foundation, adults need 7-9 hours of sleep every single night in order to “restore and rejuvenate, to grow muscle, repair tissue, and synthesize hormones”. This time is also when we solidify and store memories (did anyone else think of the movie Inside Out there?). And, it’s how we recharge in order to be ready for the next day.

Unfortunately, sleep tends to be something we do after we get everything else checked off our to-do lists. This needs to change. Do the math and figure out when you need to be in bed to get your full 7-9 hours of sleep each night. And, make sure you are actually in bed (not packing your lunch after this week’s episode of This Is Us) by that time.

The benefits of waking up early are endless. But, for me, the most rewarding part of waking up early is this blog right here. After months of waking up early to take some much needed time for myself, I finally discovered that this blog was going my next big challenge/adventure. If I hadn’t gotten into the habit of waking up early and taken that time for me, neither of us would be here today.

So, do yourself a favor, start waking up earlier. Your days will grow and the opportunities that you may create for yourself could just shock you.