Asklemmy

First thing in the morning I chug a tall glass of water. Somehow that's actually made a healthy difference.

I have a set of stretches I've been doing every morning (or 95% of mornings) upon getting out of bed, for over 30 years. The only thing that's different these days is that I have to go pee first.

After I walk the kids to school I just keep walking. Sometimes it's ten minutes, sometimes it's an hour. I come home with a clear head and ready to be productive.

Commuted to work by bicycle.

it's a 10 minute ride.

flash forward 25 minute ride...just commuting

flash forward 45 minute ride...still just commuting

ended up at 1hr 25 minutes, then alternated with running in the winter & swimming on my lunch break in the summer (I was at a small university).

Turns out my brain is super gullible and is easily fooled by...my brain.

Biggest one for me was swapping from setting the alarm as late as possible and then rushing to get out of the house, to setting it an hour earlier and using that to read, do a little qi gong and have a leisurely breakfast.

I have my alarm clock require solving 5 arithmetic problems before it cancels (e.g (16*8 +10-6)/6) . It makes me alert way quicker and now I'm pretty quick at mental math.

I think taking the time in the morning to enjoy myself. I WFH these days so it's a easier (yet sometimes harder) to do that, but when I was commuting, I'd wake up early enough to get ready of course, but also take sometime to have a cup of coffee and read some news and such. Maybe even have a breakfast sandwich or something. Because for many years, I did the whole wake up the last minute, get ready, and get out the door ASAP thing. I always felt like I was in a panic.

I can't say it led me to be more productive or whatever. But it just felt nicer. To not be so rushed. And that's worth something.

I don't know if it's the best (what defines that?) but it's what I do.

I wake up, my dog notices and jumps around in excitement. I greet him, pet him, then take my phone, do the daily NYT Mini Crossword and browse around for a few minutes while he lies down again, waiting patiently. I stand up, go pee, then I take my dog out for a walk. Afterwards I prepare my oatmeal, then prepare my dog's food (it needs to soak a few minutes), go open all windows to get fresh air in, start the work computer and quickly check my mails, then we both eat our breakfast while I check my RSS feeds.

No one seems to have said it yet, but consistency. Waking up at the same time every day including weekends. Eventually, you just wake up early naturally. I get up at 5:30 am every day on the dot with zero alarm just because it's when I wake up. And I'm never groggy, because I've adapted to it. It's not early anymore it's just when I wake up

I think the second half to this is that it can't be a chore. You have to want to wake up. If you wake up and think about how much you hate being awake it will be all the harder

As part of my fitness training earlier in my life, I got used to getting up early (somewhere between 5am and 6am). I'm nowhere near as fit as I used to be, but I still get up early.

taking a shower first thing (well, second-- first is a cigarette) while listening to a general news podcast. not only does it wake me up, but it keeps me updated on the general goings-on in the world while getting my brain going. it also keeps me on time rather than dilly-dallying in the shower. 15 minutes in enough time to wash and do some minor stretching in the shower. then a second podcast (usually one on a specific story-of-the-day) while i shave and brush my teeth.

One cup of coffee on the balcony every morning. Just sitting there, enjoying the atmosphere, watching people walk by (I live near a park), maybe meditating a bit.

No alarm. I go to bed on time and my body gets it somehow what a good wake up time is.

Also related is that when I wake up at night I take the time to think things through. Often a few hours, and then sleep again.

Waking up at the same time 7 days a week. I never feel overly tired and my body feels better.

Waking up at 4:30 to hit the gym before work. Took some getting used to, just commit to waking up when your alarm goes off and go through the motions, you will feel good once you start actually exercising. Then eating a nice breakfast after, the best.

Thc

Wake up at the same time (6am)

Chill for 10 minutes in bed

Make a coffee top go

Walk for 30 minutes.

Work from home

I have this one KILLER technique for getting rid of morning problems. Been using it for years.

I'm an second shifty. :P

^(^^In^ ^all^ ^seriousness^^,^ ^consistency^ ^is^ ^a^ ^good^ ^tactic^^.^ ^Even^ ^on^ ^your^ ^off^ ^days^^,^ ^try^ ^to^ ^get^ ^up^ ^at^ ^about^ ^the^ ^same^ ^time^ ^roughly^^.^ ^Makes^ ^it^ ^easier^ ^to^ ^get^ ^up^ ^at^ ^that^ ^time^ ^on^ ^your^ ^on^ ^days^^.^^)^

Not eating breakfast. Seriously. Breakfast is to blame for a lot of obesity. The idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day is an invention.

Sleeping in.

Keeping my pre-workout drink at my bedside table. It made more of a difference than I expected.