How to Wake Up Early and Not Hate it {Even If You’re a Night Owl}

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be waking up at 5:30 in the morning now, I would have laughed in your face. Because I used to be such a night owl and always hated mornings.

I used to sleep in until I absolutely had to get up, then reach for my coffee, and go through the morning motions in a zombie-like state. That groggy feeling is no fun, especially when faced with wide-awake, lively children first thing in the morning.

That was how I started my mornings up until recently. Now I get up at 5:30 every day. I don’t actually have to get up until 7 am, but I choose to get up earlier. What on earth would possess me to get up at such an “ungodly hour” (as my mom calls it)? And how did I start waking up so early?

The “why” is simple: I need time to myself before my kids get up and the crazy ensues. My day is simply better when I start off that way.

But how do I wake up early and not hate it?

The first step to waking up early (without wanting to sock the next person who bothers you) is to figure out how much sleep you need to function at your best. For some people, like my husband, that’s 6-7 hours. Others, like myself, need a solid 8 hours of sleep. I’d love to be able to get up and go with just a few hours of sleep, but that’s just not possible for me. So instead of trying to force it, I’ve learned to do what my body needs (at least as much as I can.)

Obviously if you have small children, that can be much easier said than done, but you can still try to make sleep a priority as much as possible.

Getting the amount of sleep that you need is often easier said than done. Maybe you’re a night owl, like me, and have a tough time falling asleep at night. It might even be impossible for you to fall asleep without sleep aids or melatonin. You might fall asleep just fine, but you wake up with insomnia at 2am.

Of course, if you have little ones, it’s even more difficult!

The simple reality is that you can head to bed at a good hour and hope to get all the sleep you need, so you can wake up early the next morning, but that won’t happen if you simply can’t sleep.

I’ve suffered for years from insomnia and the inability to fall asleep on my own. In fact, I’ve taken melatonin for 12 years because I simply can’t sleep without it.

Wouldn’t it be nice to wave a magic wand and instantly fall asleep for as long as we need to?

Maybe a magic wand isn’t possible, but there is a solution. It’s what’s helped me to sleep better and how I wake up early without losing my sanity!

It’s called Re-Timer.

Simply put, Re-Timer is light therapy that improves the body’s circadian rhythm naturally without any drugs or supplements. Our circadian rhythm is important because it tells our bodies when to sleep and when to wake up.

With our busy lives immersed in technology, we run on our own clocks. Whether it’s shift changes, jet lag, stress, or any number of things, there’s many things that prevent getting a good night’s sleep every night. Our poor bodies get so confused and don’t know how or when to sleep!

Re-Timer is a natural solution that helps reset that internal clock. It’s like a pair of glasses that you simply wear for about 30 minutes when you wake up.

Unlike typical light therapy options where you have to sit in front of a light and stare at it each morning (who has time for that?), Re-Timer allows you to continue your morning routine hands-free and uninterrupted. You can make breakfast, check your email, get the kids ready for school, pack lunches, etc. (Obviously don’t wear it in the shower.)

The green-blue light signals your body that it’s morning and time to wake up. This is especially useful during the long winter months when the sun takes longer to come up. But it’s good for any time of the year, for anyone who wants to go to bed earlier, fall asleep easier, and/or sleep better.

Before I was dragging myself out of bed at 6:30 and hating it. Since I received my Re-Timer two months ago, I’ve pushed my wake-up time to 5:30 am and now, I wake up quite easily.

That’s not to say I don’t ever feel groggy when my alarm first goes off, but that grogginess doesn’t stick around like it used to.

I don’t dread mornings anymore; In fact, I look forward to waking up early!

Yes, the glasses look a little dorky – my husband and kids laughed at me the first few mornings – but now they love my Re-Timer glasses  because they know it helps “Mommy be nicer.” It’s true!

Since using Re-Timer, I’ve been able to decrease the amount of melatonin I need to fall asleep by 97%! (I used to take 3mg, now I only need a tiny bit of a 1mg tablet, about 250mcg!) That’s not bad considering I’ve taken melatonin for twelve years! My hope is that as I continue to use Re-Timer to reset my body, I’ll be able to get rid of the melatonin completely.

Re-Timer light therapy is also great for warding off the winter blues. I always get a little “blue” this time of year – the winters here in New Hampshire are so dark, cold, and long, we don’t usually see spring until well into April, and that gets to me. But I’m confident Re-Timer will help me get through this year.

A few more interesting facts about Re-Timer Light Therapy:

• it’s conveniently portable (weighs no more than sunglasses) and is easily recharged with a USB cable
• wear for just 30 minutes a day to see results
• developed after 25 years of university research and with evidence-based technology
• 100% UV-Free
• recommended by sleep clinics around the world

Whether you want to learn how to wake up early, beat the winter blues, or simple sleep better and longer, Re-Timer is an incredible product I can’t recommend enough.

I’ve noticed a huge difference. Learn more about Re-Timer here and purchase for yourself. 

Use coupon code: “livingwellmom” to get $30 off your purchase between now and April 30th!

Disclosure: I received a Re-Timer for review in exchange for writing this post. All opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced by the brand.