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 get up earlier than needed 5:20am, shower, make a nice coffee, open the patio door (whatever the weather) drink my coffee sat at the patio door and scroll MN.
Get ready and leave for work at 7am.
Sets me up for the day

Lumie light alarm helps on dark mornings.

I hate it, and always will. However, what helps is getting everything ready the night before. Clothes, even down to the underwear laid out or hung up. Coffee ready to go. I set one alarm half an hour before I need to move so I can doze, then on the next one I get up, put on the coffee, wash my face and take the coffee back to bed for 20 mins to wake up gently. I also had to accept that I needed about 2 more hours sleep than I thought I was ok with. And also that I can no longer drink on a school night.

Nothing works for me except going to bed early. I need 9 hrs so if I want to get up at 5am and not feel awful I should be in bed at 8pm.

Needless to say, I don't get up at 5am if I can possibly help it.

the only way this will be doable is to act super sensible (some might say boring).

No caffeine after noon. No booze. No big evening meal or late sugary snacks. No screens before bed and go to bed and to sleep super early.

All of these suggestions can get in the bin - none of them would work for me. If your body hates early mornings all you can do is set the alarm so you get a long enough snooze and then caffeine to the max. Early nights are good in theory - they do make a difference - but then when do you have a life?

Lumie wake up light so I'm never up in the dark. Radio 4 on the other side of the bed.
Tea already brewed in flask to speed things up. Overnight oats in fridge.

Routines and motivation.

Before bed, do as much preparation as possible to make it easier. Sleep early enough to ensure a decent night's sleep.

Motivation. Coffee is good. Somehow Exercise group or planned social run with friends works in a way "I have to get up for work" doesn't. I seem to value commitment to others, and paying for a class motivates me to go to bed and get up. Admittedly, I also treat myself to a coffee and vegan sausage bap or cake after both of these things 🤔

So I'm trying to avoid trauma that disorganisation causes for enthusiasm doing anything, and rewarding good behaviour with a treat. Work is just too flexible to motivate. No benefit from starting early