Waking up early?

Alright I have a problem, no matter how hard I try, I cannot get myself out of bed early in the morning.  This wouldn't be so much of a problem, except that I really need to start running again, and if I don't get it done in the mornings I won't have time to fit a run in.

I've tried going to bed early.

I've set multiple alarms.

I've tried putting my workout clothes out the night before.

I've tried sleeping in my workout clothes.

I even gave up caffeine.

And yet my alarm goes off everyday, I roll over, set it for 6:30 (the latest I can be up and get to work on time), and go back to sleep.

Does anyone have any methods they use to get themselves out of bed to workout?  Or just to get out of bed early period? 

I'm starting to think my only option is to throw a sleeping bag on the treadmill and sleep there!

When the alarm goes on, don't think about closing your eyes again, just get up without asking your body if you are still tired. That works for me when I have really short nights with exams. :)

Just drag yourself out of bed.

this may or may not be a good idea...but if you drink some water before you go to bed you'll probably have to go to the bathroom when your alarm wakes up in the morning...that'll get you up!

How about starting out with 15 minutes early and work your way to the time you want.  Maybe start out with a couple of days stretching for 15 minutes, then go to 20 minutes, etc.  Each time you succeed with the 15 minutes you will feel better about it and be ready to add 5 more minutes.   Good Luck

Draco, I have the same problem!! Although I havent tried sleeping in my work-out clothes, that's a good one, saves time!! However, I work out in the evenings right after work and that seems to work for me. I would rather work out in th mornings since I hear it's better for your metabolism but I just cannot get up that early!

once you do it one time, you'll be motivated to do it again... the exercise itself will get you out of bed in no time! there is not much better than starting your day with the endorphin rush you get from early morning exercise!

I did a combination of the 15 minute steps and the water. I know that if I don't have to get up for someone else then I can push the snooze button for two hours straight if I let myself. Telling myself that I'm not getting up to work out (because I never feel like moving in the morning), I'm just going to take a longer shower, or something lets me increase my mornings by 15 min. bursts. After a week or so I'm up half and hour to 45 min. earlier than usual which is enough time for me to start exercising then I get more energy and want to increase it, because I then feel good.

I would also try putting your alarm clock as far away from your bed as possible this way you have to get out of bed to shut it off.

Probably not the best idea but this worked for me....
I'm usually in bed at a reasonable hour, so I stayed up pretty late one night (2am on a work night), got up my normal time the next morning, walked around in a daze all day. Then I worked out after work, went to bed at 9, and was able to get up early without a problem (exhaustion, plus working out, plus earlier bedtime). After doing that once, I was ok, because when I work out in the morning, I have energy all day - only until bedtime.  Then I completely crash, but I'm getting enough sleep, so I'm up early without any problems (between 5 & 5:15).
Hope that helps. :) Good luck!

I tried putting my alarm clock further away from my bed, it doesn't work for me. I have a small hearing problem and I never hear it going off unless I keep it close. My stupid alarm clock has to be literally within 12 inches from my head to be loud enough for my brain to register that it is going off in the morning. No one makes alarm clocks loud enough that I can put it any farther away.

Dracodf - I have tried sleeping in my workout clothes too - my boyfriend laughed at me (not in a picking-on-me sort of way), he was just suprised at my determination. I was going to have him start waking me up, but he gets up an hour later than I do even without a workout in the morning.

I thought about getting a dog and training it to wake me up. LOL (Hey - then I'd have a running partner too! Hmmm.....)

After starting a new job with an early-morning shift, I knew I had to make some serious effort to change my biological clock.

Day by day, try to go to bed a half-hour earlier than usual. Or even just 15 minutes. I think the problem is, you're not getting enough sleep, even though you think you are. I pop out of bed at 5:30. ;) This is coming from a girl who used to sleep 'til 3 in the afternoon.

Make SURE you have 8 hours of sleep. I find that I need to "settle down" before bed, so I get ready around 8:30, and climb into bed by 8:45. Then I read something or do crossword puzzles until 9:15. Then lights out! :)

Easy does it.

I had the same problem for many years.  I've been able to overcome it, mostly through sheer force of will, but I think I've made some changes in my schedule that have really helped as well.

I started by deciding I would wake up at the same time every day, no matter what (weekends too).  I fixed this firmly in my mind and decided I wouldn't let anything shake me from that assertion.

I then decided I would also get 8 hours of sleep every night.

When the alarm goes off in the morning, I don't ignore it, no matter how badly I'd like to.  (I know the sleepyness will wear off almost immediately once I get moving.)  I don't touch the alarm until I'm out of bed and moving around, I just let it ring.

I've been using this technique most of the year with absolute success.  I wake up at 5:40 am every morning, and I'm in the gym by 6:00 am five days a week.  I have Thursday and Sunday off so I use the extra time to either go into work early (Thursday) or clean my place (Sunday).

The consistent schedule definitely improves mental alertness and athletic performance.

I also feel the consistency helps me to wake up more easily.  When it comes right down to it though, you just have to will yourself out of bed, no matter how badly you'd like to go back to sleep.

you're young hon..   and biologically and psychologically it is harder for young people to get up early than us old fogies...  I used to exercise first thing in the am...  cause I am a heartless old woman - even on myself..  I found a sport that I just love...  and it needs to be done with others...  classes are at 4, 5 and 6 pm....  so.. now I exercise in the evenings..  whats cool about that is it helps with evening eating...   (I dont think Ive been much help but I guess it boils down to 1. get that butt out of bed in the am  or  2.  run at lunch time or after work  or 3. find something you love sooooo much that you will do it no matter what time..

and if its any consolation - you do something 6 or 7 times and it becomes a routine....  and is much easier than trying to implement something new..

by

Try planning for a yummy breakfast that you'll absolutely love!

Before my morning workouts, I never ate breakfast. I never knew how relaxing taking a few extra minutes doing nothing in particular - chewing away at Kashi GoLean, most likely lol - was.

In other words, I don't think of it as waking up to exercise - I'm waking up to eat! =)

I have the same problem, but I think now it's perpetuated by my horrible job. Before, when I had to get up at 5 every morning to catch the bus to get to work, I just made myself get out of bed. Like chriswain said, sheer force of will...

That said, it hasn't worked for me lately. Haven't had an early morning workout in months. Sorry!

I have the same problem........but i found that once I did start getting out of bed early, it WAS easier the next day. When I have a chance (not that it happens all that often), I take a nap! You would be surprised at what a 1/2 hour snooze can for you! I also keep Saturday as my official "Don't wake up Mom" day.

Hey potteryhoney, I have two dogs that just stare at me when I get up and then they just go back to sleep.  If you look in my profile you can see one of them sleeping away his puppyhood. He's a professional when it comes to nap time.

One other tip, if you have windows in your room and if it's safe, open the blinds and throw the curtains open. Sunlight is the sometimes the best alarm clock.

I recommend looking out the window if the sun has risen, or at a bright blue light. In an article in Science New there was this fascinating bit on how there are different receptors in your eyes, besides rods and cones, that are extremely sensitive to blue light, or the color outside when it's a bright day in the sky. That's how blind animals can still tell if it is night or day, and how some blind people can detect changes in light intensity. Try that, possibly, and I hope it helps!

GET A DOG - preferably a Jack Russell Terrier, let him sleep by your side - just opening an eye and they are on the FLOOR - SCREAMING to start their day!!!  I can't remember sleeping past 5:30 for soooo long....

live with anyone?  get them to dump water on you...haha bit extreme but it might work!

I recently just started getting up for early workouts after a year of trying.  Now I tell myself that I will just work out for 10 minutes and if I still feel tired, I will quit and go back to bed.  Always after 10 minutes I'm totally into it and finish the whole workout.  But, thanks for the post, because I've been off track for a few days and now feel motivated and ready to get started with the early workout again!