Mornings - how do you get up?

I have a problem.

I literally CAN'T get myself out of bed in the morning.

I've tried everything - setting multiple alarms, leaving the blinds open, getting people to call me in the morning to wake me up, wearing lots of clothes to bed so coldness isn't an issue in getting up..... I've even gotten up and had a shower then gone for a "quick lie down" and fallen asleep for like 3 more hours...

I'd love to be able to wake up at 7am and start the day with a walk or a run, instead of 9 or 10am like i do now.. sometimes even close to midday and wasting half the day :(. I never have to be anywhere before usually 1 in the afternoon, so it's just really hard to get the motivation.

I can get up if I have to be at work at 9am....but if it's just like a morning run.........no chance.......i create too many excuses in my head :(

I'd love to hear how you all get yourselves out of bed in the morning........ :) And possible suggestions. Thanks!

Ah, I wish that was my problem. I can't sleep in. I'm up at like 5 in the morning, no matter how late I go to sleep or how much sleep I got the night before. For me, when I feel like I can't get up I usually try and find something that I'm excited about. Maybe the night before you could try and think of something you really want to do or need to do. You could give yourself a reward for getting up and starting the day with a walk. I think that once you get up and force yourself to walk you will feel fantastic, because I always feel energized and happy after my runs. 

I am so with you. It's taken me 16 weeks (oh and the 3 years before those 16 weeks) to get to getting up 4 times in a row at 6am and not "find the couch" a few minutes later.

I've got no great tips (unfortunately) just keep making it a goal, and don't let you talk you out of it in the morning. I hit snooze instead of turning the alarm off, I had a friend call me, I put my clothes on top of the dresser so I couldn't have "too hard" of a time choosing clothes and then just "sit down a moment" to think about it.

If you keep trying it will eventually happen is my only tip.

Sorry I can't be of more help. 

Have a baby. Then you'll have no trouble getting up!! (just kidding!)

I like the idea about having something to really look forward to. A little something special for every day. Maybe buy a new cd and only allow yourself to listen to one song every morning. Maybe you just need a good reason to get out of bed and then mentally you will be ready?

Wish I could sleep in!

I am not normally a morning person, but I did notice a few things that do make it easier to get up ...

One, make sure you get enough sleep!  If I go to bed late, I have a tough time getting up.  I'm a total night owl, usually up until at least 1-2 am, and I know that I need 7-8 hours or I just can't get up.  Some people need less; some more - by trial and error I found the amount of time I need that lets me wake up refreshed, but not groggy (from too much sleep). 

I also noticed that when I wake up during the night, say 3:00 am (outside noises, SO snoring, an alarm), even if I go back to sleep within minutes, it's like my "sleep clock" resets - and now I need to sleep in 'til 10!  So try to minimize outside noises, and make sure you don't have any sleep disorders (e.g. apnea) that could be waking you up without your knowledge.

Two, I noticed that if I HAVE to get up, I usually do without much issue; it's like my brain knows it can't lollygag.  Since I set my own schedule (no 9-5), I purposely plan some things earlier in the morning to force myself up (a meeting, a conference call), and then after that, it's hard to go back to bed. 

That said, I've tried to reset my inner clock many times (and had no choice when I had a real job), but finally gave up and decided to fit my life around my sleep cycle instead!

Edit: PS, I heard this and haven't tried it, but I read once that to get used to getting up, you should "practice" setting your alarm during the day, lying down for 3-5 minutes, and then immediately getting up when it rings.  They say to do this several times during the day for a couple of weeks, and your body will get used to getting up every time the alarm rings (like Pavlov's dogs). Hmmm. Let me know if it works if you try it!

Get up when the alarm goes off, don't hit snooze, don't lay down again.

It's really simple.  It's not pleasant, but it's simple.

I used to struggle to drag my ass out of bed, but now I wake up before my alarm some days.  How did I do it?  Well my boyfriend is working in a time zone that is three hours ahead of mine.  So usually after we finish talking on the phone, it's only like 9:00 pm, but it's too late to go out and do stuff during the week, so I read for a bit and fall asleep by like 10:30 pm out of boredom, haha, making it much easier to wake up by 7:00 am.  And I only resent my boyfriend a little bit for it.

I'm naturally a relatively early riser, but I don't like to be awake before 7 if I don't have to.

For years I would set my alarm at 5:30 in order to get some morning exercise.  Every morning I took the opportunity for an extra hour of sleep.

In the past few months I starting working about an hour away from my house.  That means I need to get up at 6:00 on normal days, or 5:05 on the mornings I go to Pilates.

For some reason, the thought that I will be wasting $70 if I don't get my butt to Pilates, is enough motivator to get me to spring out of bed at 5:05.  On the weekends now, I find it hard to sleep in past 6:30, which is annoying.

I would say the biggest helpers would be:

- Set a schedule, and follow it every day

- Make sure you are going to bed early enough

- Until your body gets "set" to the schedule, follow it even on weekends

- Do not use the snooze alarm

I have also heard that thing about training yourself to the alarm during the day.  You might want to give that a try so your reflex is to get up when you hear it.

They have one alarm clock that you have chase down to turn off.  Maybe you should get one of those.

I discovered this trick to get myself to get up early and work out when I'm travelling on business.  (Somehow, it's hardest for me then.)

I go to sleep in my workout clothes - sportsbra and all (no sneakers though!).  Then, when the alarm goes off and I'm tempted to press snooze, I realize I'm already dressed so I might as well do it.  Somehow, getting dressed is half the battle.

I find that it really helps with music, especially any form of upbeat music. I usually change the song I have as an alarm every week so I don't end up hating it. This really gives me a boost and I actually don't mind getting up. I aslo think of how good and proud I'll feel if I do get up, instead of wasting the day sleeping

When I retired in 1997, I made a promise to myself that I would not be a slug and that I would force myself to get up and get going (even if I had no place to go) by 6 a.m. the very latest every day, including on the weekends. Life is too short to waste it by lying in bed. 

Here's my usual routine:

As soon as I awaken (usually BEFORE 6 a.m.), I get out of bed, make myself a cup of coffee and toast half a low-calorie English muffin. Then, I turn on TV, drink my coffee and leisurely eat my muffin. After washing my coffee cup, generally, I watch TV until about 7 a.m. Then, I make the bed, shower, brush my teeth, get dressed. From that time until bedtime (which can be as late as midnight some times), I stay out of the bedroom.

It works for me and I get a feeling of self-satisfaction every single day that I kept my pact with myself to arise early and haven't allowed myself to turn into a lazy cockroach.

try taking little steps. Tell yourself to get up early once a week, and then go from there. You can also tell yourself that if you can get up early and stay awake for an hour and a half, then if you still want to go back to sleep you can after that hour and a half. you know? stuff like that.

For some reason, the second when my alarm goes off in the morning, no matter what time is it, I pop out of bed in order to make sure I get my work out in - if I were to not work out in a day I would go NUTS absolutely NUTS! Working out keeps me sane & on an even keel & also gives me tons of energy to tackle the day! You should think of exercise like your morning cup of coffee (or any morning ritual you may have) - Maybe think of it as brushing your teeth --- Your breath would taste/smell pretty icky if you didn't brush your teeth --- Even if you only get in 10 minutes of a work out, it is better than nothing and you can always finish up later in the afternoon! 

I get up, and I start moving....... That's how I do it.. It don't matter if you start inside the house or not. Just make it a habit of getting up and moving as soon as you hear the bell.

Kinda random - I find that if I don't take my multivitamin I am exceedingly groggy in the AM's. I have to get up around 4:45-5 AM for work 6-7 days a week so I try to make it a rule to take my vitamins.

Also, I keep my coffee maker on a timer so it brews a fresh pot minutes before I wake up -- the smell motivates me to get a cup (I loooove my morning cup of coffee) and I know it will be burned and gross if I dilly-dally.

Just my two cents.

these are all FANTASTIC suggestions thankyou to all of you!!

zarelha - i haven't heard the reflex thing before, it's funny because i've just been studying classical conditioning for the past few days for my psychology exam, that makes alot of sense, i will definitely try it and let u know whether it works..

and joyfulake, thats a great idea with getting changed before you go to bed, because then all u have to do is throw on your shoes in the morning.. once i had to watch a sun rise for a uni assignment, and i did that and yes it did make it alot easier :)

Tomorrow I am going to TRY and get up at 6.30..

I'm a reluctant riser too.  I have to be up by 7AM for work, but weekends I can totally snooze until 10-11 with the light coming in and everything.  I put my alarm clock far enough that I have to get up to turn it off.  Then it was just discipline to not return to bed.  I also tried the classic conditioning where I would literally pop out of bed as soon as the alarm went off.  It was startling for a while and my head was very foggy, but now it is just the normal thing I do.  I really like the alarm clock that runs away though!  I wish I had that in college!

Arrange to meet with friends for a walk at least 2 days a week. Ensure the walk is scheduled for 9am, so you will HAVE to get up by 8am to get ready. Maybe those 2 days will encourage you to get up by 8am every day.

 

If you have no reason to get up really early, don't set yourself up for failure by setting a goal that's unrealistic. So scrap the 6am wake up call and aim for 8 or 8.30. Once you're used to that, move it back to 7am.

 

Good luck!

Wow, I totally wish I could sleep in. Your lucky :)
I have to wake up at 6:15 every week day, and trust me, I'm not a morning person at all. Ive actually nodded off in the shower a few times. Not pleasant.

To help me get used to this insane early-ness I had to develop a few tricks to make sure that I get up in the morning and not sleep till noon. (sigh, I wish)

1- have a glass of water beside your bed. When your alarm goes off chug it back. If that doesnt make you at least want to get up and pee, the nice refreshing water might help a bit.

2- after you turn your alarm off start to slowly slide your leg off the side of the bed. Slowly put it on the ground. Start to roll over. Litterly slide yourself almost off the bed, but catch yourself before you hit the floor. Now stand and dont stop moving.

3- Get rid of an digital alarm clock or an alarm clock that has a Snooze button. Ive hit that thing so many times without remembering how many times ive hit it, and slept in 45 min.

4- Go introduce yourself to Mr. Coffee. Become close friends with him. I seriously only have one cup a day, but just the smell and the warm goodness of coffee really makes a difference.

5- Pre make a breakfast the night before. Lay out ingredients to make a nice omelette or something. Tempt yourself with yummy food to get your but out of bed.

6- DONT SIT DOWN ON ANY COMFY SURFACE.
Couches are terrible for the sleepy. They are just soo comfy...

7- Leave a sticky note on your alarm that says "WAKE UP NOW! OR ELSE!". Sounds dumb, but totally saved my but when I had to wake up at 4am for a flight.

Uhh, thats all I can think of right now.

Yeah, I hate mornings too... :(