The snooze option on alarm clocks lets you sneak in just a little more rest before you get up. Most of us have taken advantage of the snooze button at one time, but for many, hitting snooze is a habit.
While it sounds great if you struggle to get out of bed, snoozing can do more harm than good.
Those extra minutes of rest can leave you feeling worse off since you aren’t getting restorative sleep.
Try these tips to wake up without using the snooze button:
Find Your Motivation
What is it that makes you get out of bed each day? Starting the day with a sense of purpose motivates you to move.
Whether it’s heading to school or work or engaging in a fun activity, have a reason to rise.
Find your motivation and have it in mind when you open your eyes.
Try establishing a morning routine that excites you.
Plan an early workout, enjoy a delicious pre-made breakfast, or set your coffee pot to auto-brew.
Having something you want to get up for can be a powerful motivator.
You won’t want to be snoozing when a fun activity awaits.
Place Your Alarm Out of Reach
An easy trick to try is to make it inconvenient to hit that snooze button.
Place your alarm out of arm’s reach.
Set it far enough away that you have to get up out of bed in order to turn it off.
Once you wake up from the sound of your loud alarm clock, you’ll have no choice but to physically get up and out of bed to shut it off.
By getting up out of the covers, you’ll be less likely to hit the snooze button and settle back in.
Using an online alarm clock on your phone makes it easy to set it across the room.
Change Your Bedtime Routine
One of the biggest reasons that you may have trouble getting up in the morning without hitting the snooze button is because you aren’t getting enough sleep. The CDC reports that 1 in 3 adults in the US does not get enough sleep. 7 hours per night is considered enough.
If you find yourself in that group, make some adjustments in the evenings.
Try changing your bedtime routine so that you get to bed earlier.
You’ll wake up feeling refreshed from a good sleep.
Keep in mind that it typically takes about 15 minutes just to fall asleep once you hit the pillow.
Lighten Up the Room
While darkness helps you get a more restful and restorative night’s sleep, light helps your body to wake.
Try keeping your curtains or blinds partially open.
Once daylight breaks, the natural light can stream into your room.
If that doesn’t work for you, make it a habit to open the blinds first.
Opening your eyes to a light-filled room helps your mind and body.
Your brain will get the message that it’s time to rise and shine.
You won’t need to snooze once you’ve got the signal.
Breaking the habit of snoozing isn’t always easy. Try implementing these simple tricks to change your mornings.
Once that alarm clock goes off, you’ll be ready to get up.