Many of my friends and colleagues have finally discovered my blog. They also know about all of the other activities I am involved in, as well as the fact that I have other jobs. Without fail, the question always comes up:
“How do you have the time??”
It’s simple, really. I have added hours to my day, and so can you.
Never mind the fact that GTD implementation can add 3-4 hours to your day just from organizing workflow, your best bet to finding time for extra things is to wake up early.
I used to wake up at 5am in order to embark on a 1 1/2 commute to work every day. Add the commute back home and I had quite a bit of time stuck in a car doing nothing. Now that I no longer have a commute, that time is used for productive activities.
Many of you may now be thinking that waking up earlier is not an option. If you are reading this blog, you obviously are interested in making some changes to your life; don’t tell me that an extra hour of sleep is worth giving up a potential side hustle or passion you want to pursue. You can do this.
Here’s how I started waking up early:
- Just start. Same as learning to do your first pull up, commit to starting the process of being an early riser. Set your alarm for 10 minutes earlier for one week, then another 10 the next week.
- Go to bed earlier. Even if you are not that tired, get in bed and read a book (you know, that other thing you have no time for!). Besides, if you are planning on being an early riser, going to bed a bit earlier is going to have to be part of the equation.
- Get an app to help you wake up. I fell in love with Sleep Cycle, an app that analyzes your sleep patterns and wakes you when you are in your lightest sleep phase.
- Get up as soon as the alarm goes off. Get in this habit immediately. The hardest part is literally getting out of the bed, then you are golden!
- Give yourself one “sleep in day” a week. Call it a cheat day.
- Do something for yourself during this extra morning time. Don’t you dare wake up earlier to check email or get on Facebook! Instead, choose to write in a journal, set your daily/weekly goals, take a walk, or read. I honestly believe that by 8am I have done more than some people do in one day. It is a great feeling, you have to try it!
- Treasure the silence and stillness of the morning. Enough said.Some other great posts about sleeping better and waking up earlier:
Free iPhone apps to help you sleep better
Think Simple Now : How To Wake Up Early
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