What do you do to make getting up early feel good? Or at least not dreadful?

[CavalierApproach]

I do get up, but at first it feels physically and emotionally like a shock or a punishment to be out of bed and immediately processing time-sensitive information about everyone's urgent needs. It takes me too long to hit my stride.

I have a new job with busy, mentally demanding mornings so I really want to address this.

I guess I'm hoping for tips from people who have strategised to make it less hellish, rather than simply being natural larks.

I am definitely not a morning person and I now don’t have to get up early. On the odd occasion I have too,I just get my clothes ready and coffee in mug ready,bag ready,locate car keys and try to go to bed early. Hate mornings TBH ,am definitely a night owl 🦉

I'm a recovered insomniac and it takes me a long time to wake up in the morning. The biggest thing for me (besides medication to sleep) is going to bed early. Like 8 or 9. Winding down before that, and not eating a big dinner. Waking up rested and hungry (not bloated) is a good feeling. Also waking up early enough for "me time" so I'm not rushed and everyone else is asleep so I can wake up gradually. I also get everything organized the night before so I'm not making decisions like what to eat (lunch included), what to wear, etc. I wait until after I eat and start working to have any caffeine, so it's not hitting an empty stomach which can cause jitters and anxiety. Water first thing. I also feel better in the morning if I was well hydrated the night before. It also helps me get up if I need to empty my bladder. It also helps me be in a good mood and more motivated if I have something really nice planned for breakfast.

When I was getting up at 5:20 for my commute (I chose to start early to miss peak traffic and also finished early) I was going to bed at 9pm at the latest. It does feel early but your body clock adjusts to it eventually and I actually started to feel refreshed in the mornings when the alarm went off.

I've always got everything ready the night before so that was no change.

Go to be very early. Much earlier than you would normally choose.
Keep to the same times on a weekend.

You are def living life right!

Some days I have to start work at 6.30, so I am out that front door like a rocket. There is a method in my madness, as I love and I mean absolutely love, getting of the train and with a full 40 minutes before my start time I head straight to my favourite coffee place. I sit outside (weather permitting) and watch London wake up. The peace and quiet is beautiful, I would recommend it to anyone.

Only thing that's ever worked for me is going to bed the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning, also no phone in room, use a normal alarm clock.

Thanks all, this is super useful.

How I would love to go to bed early, though. Ahhhh, the peace.

But the teenagers drift around far later than that and usually need firm telling to stop doing whatever and go to bed. Or they come down at ten with something that needs washing. I know this is madness but I try to make it happen somehow, otherwise mornings are even worse 😑

I do Wordle over a cup of Yorkshire tea with the cat on my lap, whilst the rest of the house still sleeps.

I am pleased to read that people feel as dreadful as me. I wish you didn’t but I have always thought that I am the only one who seems to really struggle in the mornings.

When I WFH I still get up at the same time as when I commute (04:30). I find it’s really good to keep my body clock working to usual hours (bed and wake up at the same time etc). If I have a lay in it throws my whole body out of whack. Routine is key for me.

I cuddle my dogs (but not in bed - gotta get out the second the alarm goes or the whole day starts badly). Have a coffee. Feed the dogs. All things that make me happy and give me ‘good vibes’

05:15; take the dogs out - a v. Long walk at fast speed to get endorphins flowing and really wake me up.

7:30; come back with dogs and shower - usually cold to wash away any of the last of my sleep.

08:30 desk and working.

So really it boils down to; routine, endorphins from the dogs, exercise and coffee.

Been up at 6am for years seven days a week. I don't think much of it. Not thrilled about it but glad once I am up.

Coffee - a really warm kitchen - all the lights turned on as I walk past them. I hate it and it feels wrong but the coffee helps the most

Go to bed early.

Set your alarm for 30mins before you need to get up so you can laze in bed a bit before the day starts.

Where possible get outside in daylight asap. Eg a dog walk.

I wake up 6 am at the latest. I go to bed before 11.00pm, get 7 hours sleep and good to go when I wake up though I do have a coffee first thing :)

Thinking about it & Im not sure if it helps but my main motivation for getting up early is leaving work early. I have flexi time so if I get up at 6am and start work at 6:30 I can finish work at 2pm. It means I feel like I still have quite a long day.

I hate mornings - I am naturally grumpy and antisocial until fully awake.

So I usually go bed early (as mentioned good sleep hygiene is essential) and make sure I am up at least 30 minutes before anyone else.

I get straight out of bed when I wake up / alarm (no snooze button) and get dressed - I shower in the evening, all clothes laid out and lunches done to save time & stress in the morning.

Then it's a lovely big mug of coffee = slowly waking up .. then it's all the other stuff that has to be done in the mornings ... kids, dogs, breakfast, going to work!

I set my alarm 30 mins before I have to get up and go and grab a coffee, then take it back to bed. I really enjoy that 20 mins just chilling in bed before I get up properly.

I always wake up before my DC as I need that time to have a coffee and mentally wake up.

Standing outside also really helps but if you don’t want to do that just opening the curtains and looking out can help.

On the way to work I have a party in my car and download and play all of my fav songs.
Then I’m ready to face the day.

I find just getting up, ready and out is easier than if I feel sorry for myself and kid in bed or in my dressing gown.

I'm with you OP, can never get up. Always feel like I'm falling ill, I feel headachy, body aches when I move. It passes in a few minutes but I wake feeling awful. Always have. No matter what the day holds I don't want to face it. I can't get to bed early as annoying teen around the place. This September when we were all back to routine (3 kids) I set the alarm 10 mins earlier than before, about 30 mins before kids get up. I sit in the dark in a chair downstairs and do nothing for 5 mins then my brain wakes up better. I make kids lunch or do whatever prep and then leave the kitchen when others arrive down cos they only annoy me. Then I go up shower etc. When I'm back down I feel ready to face the day. Can't say it's easier waking but I feel happier when I leave the house and my stress levels are down. I also have a very low volume alarm with nice music so it pulls me gently out of sleep. A loud one really stresses me out

If you are responsible for getting other people out of the house it is all going to be more stressful and the solution is to make them responsible.
I think it also depends how early and whether you need to be quiet for the rest of the family.
I do but before that I'd just set the radio to come on 10 minutes before I needed to get up. It's a gentle way to wake up. Shower the night before to save time and get an early night.
If I'm working from home, I iust make a cup of tea and give myself 10 minutes browsing before starting work (in pjs for the first couple of hours). If I'm in the office, I get everything ready the night before then in the morning, I'm up dressed and out of the house in 15 mins and treat myself to a really good. station coffee at 6.00 when I get to the city I work in. I work on the train which motivates me as it means I can finish early another day.

I've just ordered a mini kettle on Amazon to put next to my bed!
Great tip ☕️

I do the same, but with my chihuahua 🐶

Really nice shower oils.

Decent coffee (in a travel mug if really rushing but i try and sit for just a few minutes)

I always set the alarm 35 mins before I need to get up. I make coffee & one of those fizzy multivitamin tablets in water then go back to bed, swing the vits & sip the coffee while I read the news for 30 mins. Works for me.