

Instead of eyeing your warm, unkempt bed longingly, you'll subconsciously resist, knowing that going back to bed means undoing your hard work (and having to do it again later). There are a variety of reasons you should make your bed each morning, but one is that it reduces the temptation to climb back in. Instead try waking up 15 minutes earlier every day until your body grows accustomed to the change. Unless there's a specific reason, you don't have to move your wake time up a full hour overnight. Related: How Waking Up an Hour Earlier Every Morning Can Transform Everything Move up gradually. If a traditional alarm is too abrupt, a gradual wake-up light alarm may be a more palatable option. Simply set your alarm for the time you want to wake up each day and force yourself away from the snooze button. The first key to waking up earlier is forcing yourself to take those first steps.

If you'd like to test out the theory that an early start is the key to success, here are a few tips to help you get started.

But deciding to wake up early and actually following through are two different things. You may even have set the goal to adjust your wake-up time, sure that an extra hour or two at the start of the day is all you need. You've likely read the studies saying that those who wake up earlier are more successful.
