Rise and Shine! – #AlphaTanniaTuesday

Being recently self-employed, I have experienced the initial jubilee of “Yay! I don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn anymore!” to the sobering reality of “ugh, turns out I actually do get so much more done when I get up early,” in the past few months. My current predicament is that while I may not necessarily like to wake up early, I do actually enjoy mornings. 

As a teacher, I used to wake up early every day. However, without the demand of having to get dressed and go to work at any place that is not my home, I find that waking up early has become one of my greatest challenges. According to this article, an important part of becoming a powerful Alpha Female (and then basically ruling the world/Starbucks, like Michelle Gass, pictured below) is to wake up:

“The Secret to Being a Power Woman: Wake Up Early“

3 of My Favorite Tips (Because I Hate When People Tell You To “Just Get Up”)

• Wake up 15 minutes earlier each day until you get to your ideal wake-up time. Mind. Blown. By far, this is the best tip I have come across. I usually set some unrealistic goal (sure, I can barely wake up by 8, but 6 a.m. seems like a feasible time?) and then feel like a complete failure when I inevitably cannot make such a drastic change in a short period of time.
• Lay out your work out clothes and prepare your water bottle before going to sleep. Whether you like to work out outside, in a gym or at home, having one less step to take in the morning will give you one less excuse for not getting up and doing it.
• Don’t snooze and go back to sleep. I am currently still working on this one, but a great tip I heard was to practice during the day:  get in bed, set alarm, and practice immediately getting out of bed when you hear your alarm. It may sound silly, but after years of being accustomed to hitting snooze, it will take time and practice to condition yourself and adapt a new behavior.

3 of My Favorite Reasons (Why I Should Give Up My Beauty Rest)

• I feel less anxiety because I am not rushing, and I start the day on a positive note.
• Waking up earlier helps me feel more tired at the end of the day, which helps me sleep better, which helps me wake up earlier. Ta da! See how that works? Begin this positive vicious cycle asap that will help you maintain regular sleep hours and be able to wake up feeling gloriously refreshed.
• I have more time to do things I love. By working out or getting more work done in the morning, I have much more time to cook healthier meals, explore new hobbies, and spend more time catching up with friends and family.

Remember, the key to achieving success in any new venture is to be persistent, consistent and positive. Before you can rule the world, you must first learn to conquer your mornings!

If you would like any more tips, or if you want to share some awesome things you do that help you wake up early, email me at tannia@crescentcityconcierge.com.