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You’re here because maybe you’ve been trying to wake up early, but it hasn’t worked, or you want to learn how to wake up early without feeling tired to maximize your productivity.

No matter your reason, planning to wake up early begs the question of how to actually do it without feeling tired or sluggish all day.

Is waking up early without feeling tired even possible?

Short answer: Yes.

Now, there will be many skeptical people reading this post, sure that there could be nothing done to prevent being tired once one starts getting out of bed earlier, but I’m living proof that it works AS LONG as you embrace the lifestyle changes.

These tips come from a former night owl (me) after hunting, analyzing, and trying to grasp just how to make sure I got out of bed way earlier than I was used to so I could have time to build my dreams.

It’s worked, and I’m not looking back.

In fact, I want you to join me in the early morning club.

I want you to wake up at your desired time without using an alarm clock. (gasp)

Since waking up early, I’ve been able to:

✔Bring my work-from-home mom goals to fruition.
✔Boost my productivity and get more done.
✔Slow down my busy mom life and practice self-care.
✔Have more energy.
✔Sleep better at night.

So, what do YOU need to do to wake up earlier without feeling tired?

Let’s take a look at how to wake up early successfully…

12 Tips To Wake Up Earlier Without Feeling Tired

1. Go To Bed Earlier

No kidding, right?

When it comes to figuring out how to wake up early, isn’t going to bed earlier the most obvious thing to do?

Yes and no.

Not only should you go to bed earlier (and fall asleep earlier), but you should also go to bed early consistently.

That means on weekends too! 🙂 (Time to ditch the late-night scrolling and Netflix marathons!)

If you want to wake up earlier without feeling tired, then treat your body to a consistent bedtime routine, sleep schedule and morning routine. This will help set you body’s internal clock (aka circadian rhythm).

If I go to bed later than my normal bedtime, I pay for it the next day by getting tired earlier in the day.

It’s like my body expects me to pay back the sleep or something! 🙂

Related read: How to Design a Stay at Home Mom Schedule for Sanity

2. Keep The Same Wake Time No Matter What

The body works very well on a regular sleep routine. A regular routine equals high-quality sleep and a good sleep cycle. 

So help your body by getting up at the same early wake-up time every single day, and you’ll be a morning person before you know it.

You’ll put your body in rhythm with your early bedtime, which means you’ll have an easier time waking up early without feeling tired because your body is getting good consistent restful sleep. (Maybe even without an alarm clock or having to hit the snooze button!)

Become a regular early bird, and you’ll never feel tired or sluggish when you wake up!

This get up early tip is probably the most important, if I really stop and think about it.

3. Outline Your Tasks The Night Before

If you need some motivation to wake up earlier without feeling tired, then outline the tasks you’ll work on when you get up.

Having a plan of action every day will give you an energy boost and prompt you to throw off those blankets and get to work. It’s great feeling organized and having a good reason to get your booty out of bed! 

Every night outline the first 3 things you plan to accomplish when you get up early the next day. 

Stop and think… what could you accomplish with a little extra time and energy each morning? It might be just the early wake up call you need.

Related read: 9 Easy Morning Routine Ideas for Moms

4. Do 5 Mins Of Stretching In The Morning

After I get out of bed, I stretch for 5 mins.

The house is calm and quiet, and those 5 mins of stretching do wonders for releasing any stress I may be carrying from the day before. Talk about a boost to my energy levels! You can also try a few jumping jacks, yoga poses, or whatever helps you feel good first hign in the morning.

When I sit down to work, my body is relaxed, and I feel awake with a clear mind.

Perfect for getting the work I set out the night before done!

5. Put Down Your Phone

This one is hard.

With the multitude of social media sites and apps to distract you, how do you get over the temptation to look at your phone for a few mins when you get up early?

I always remind myself that what’s happening in the virtual world will still be there later in the day.

I won’t miss anything.

And that thought holds true for using your phone before you go to bed (a common course of sleep deprivation).

The key to waking up earlier is decluttering your mind before going to sleep with a relaxing bedtime routine.

Playing around on your phone only fills you with more information and ongoings of your friends and family that truly aren’t important to tap into at that time of the day. (Plus- the blue light affects your sleep cycle!)

You’re looking for restful sleep at night and zero distractions when you get up early.

Save phone time for other times of the day- in fact, keep it out of your room to avoid the temptation if possible. Which means not using your phone as an alarm clock.

This brings me to…

6. Read Before Bed

According to this article, reading for only 6 minutes before bed can reduce stress by 68%.

That’s amazing!

I read a fiction book every single night before bed.

I get excited knowing I’m heading up to read a couple chapters of my book! 🙂

It’s relaxing, shifts my focus from work, and gives my lil ol’ brain a much-needed break.

What does that lead to?

Restful sleep that’s easy to wake up from without feeling tired.

Falling asleep easily and avoiding sleep deprivatoin, is the most important ingredient to waking up earlier without feeling tired! 🙂

If you’re looking for inspiration for your new morning routine, I highly recommend The Miracle Morning.  There is even an edition specifically tailored to families to maximize your morning potential! (My family loves all the tips from these books- I know you will too.)

7. Drink Lots Of Water

Most people are dehydrated and don’t even know it.

When you’re not hydrated, you feel sluggish and tired.

Even if you got 8 hours of sleep the night before!

I challenged myself to drink two liters of water every day, and I can’t even begin to tell you how much it’s helped me get up earlier without feeling tired or run down.

I just feel better overall.

Give it a try.

Keep a 1-liter water bottle beside you and sip away at it during your day.  My daughter now has her own mini version that she loves that comes with a baby-friendly straw (win-win!). 

I bet you start feeling energy you didn’t know existed!

8. Eat Dinner Early

Eating dinner early is good for your digestion which then means it’s good for your sleep and sleep schedule.

Since you’ll digest your food earlier, your body can focus on getting the restful sleep quality it needs.

A huge thing when you’re trying to wake up earlier without feeling tired.

9. Meditate Before Bed

I admit I don’t meditate every night before bed.

Sometimes the chaos of raising a family does get in the way, ha!

But when I can get a quiet 10 mins before I hop into bed (often when I’m in the bathroom, ha!) I meditate. It’s the best sleep medicine around!

There is nothing more relaxing, calming, stress-reducing, and spirit-aligning than meditation.

Not sure how to get started meditating?

Here are some books on meditation that I’ve read and loved to help you on your journey:

1. 5-Minute Daily Meditations: Instant Wisdom, Clarity and Calm
2. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself
3. You Have 4 Minutes to Change Your Life: Simple 4-Minute Meditations for Inspiration, Transformation, and True Bliss

10. Skip The Alcohol

Drinking disrupts your sleep pattern because your body must burn all the alcohol off, which messes with your hormone balance for sleep (among other things) and keeps you from getting a deep restful sleep.

That means you spend less time at night getting good restful sleep no matter how early you go to bed or how fast you fall asleep.

Skipping the drinks means you get more restful sleep, making it much easier to wake up earlier without feeling tired or burnt out!

11. Have An Exercise Regime

A body that moves stays healthy for so many reasons – most of us know that.

But when it comes to your sleep schedule, exercise can help you feel energized during the day and sleepy when you should be going to bed.

Exercise also reduces stress, so you won’t worry about that big project you’re working on.

If you think about it, exercise ultimately helps your body’s internal clock and sleep pattern, meaning you’re getting that restful sleep important to your getting up early.

Try working out at least 3 days a week.  As a mom, it might be easiest to sneak in some workout time when you have a spare moment at home (that’s what I do!).  You can simply use your body weight or grab some easy home gym accessories like weights or resistance bands. 

Your early morning self will thank you for it!

12. Take Melatonin

Your body naturally produces the hormone Melatonin (it regulates your sleep and wake times).

If you’re struggling to get a good night’s rest, you can also take a Melatonin supplement to help regulate your sleep pattern when you want to start waking up early in the morning. (Talk to your doc if you are taking other meds or have concerns). 

You’ll fall asleep faster and stay sleeping longer.

You’ll wake up early feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day!

Other natural options for encouraging sleep are ginger and chamomile. 

Related read: How Can I Help My Baby Sleep?

Waking Up Early Benefits

If you’re still on the fence about waking up earlier consistently, here are some of the benefits of being a morning person:

✔Better quality sleep.
✔Good sleep pattern.
✔Reduce stress.
✔Allow you to be more productive.
✔You can work on your goals.
✔Time to yourself for some mom self-care.
✔Better mental health.
✔More energy.
✔Quiet time.

Like anything you do in your life, take your time getting into a routine of getting up earlier and becoming a morning person.

Start by getting up half an hour earlier than you do now to avoid unnecessary sleep deprivation as your body adjusts.

After about a week, get up another half an hour earlier.

Keep doing this until you’ve reached the time you desire to wake up each day.

Make notes in a journal about how good you feel and what you’ve accomplished in your newfound hours!

Waking up early is key to the success of your life goals.  Morning is when we’re most productive (I can vouch for that!)

Use some of my tips to help you stick to waking up earlier without feeling tired.

It can be done. You just have to commit to it. 🙂

Are you a self-professed night owl like I was?

What tips do you plan to use to wake up earlier without feeling tired?

Do you have any other tips for helping others wake up early?

Let me know in the comments!