Summary

The article provides three practical tips for improving one's morning routine: placing the phone across the room, setting the alarm at odd times, and drinking water immediately upon waking.

Abstract

The article "3 Tips to Master Your Morning Routine" emphasizes the importance of a simplified yet effective morning routine to kickstart the day. The author suggests starting the routine the night before by placing the phone far from the bed, which forces one to physically get up to turn off the alarm. This habit breaks the cycle of hitting snooze. Additionally, setting the alarm for an unconventional time, such as 5:57 am instead of 6:00 am, helps prevent the mind from constantly calculating the time until the alarm goes off, which can disrupt sleep. Lastly, the article advises drinking a glass of water upon waking to aid in immediate alertness and hydration, which is especially beneficial for those who typically reach for caffeine first. These tips are designed to streamline the morning process, reduce stress, and encourage healthier habits.

Opinions

The author believes that a simple morning routine is more effective than a complex one.
Placing the phone across the room is seen as a crucial step in ensuring one gets out of bed promptly.
Setting an alarm for an "abnormal" time is suggested to avoid mental calculations that can keep one awake.
Drinking water first thing in the morning is highly recommended for its instant wakefulness and hydration benefits.
The author hints at personal experience with these tips, implying they have been tested and found effective in their own life.
There is an open invitation for reader interaction, as the author requests comments on the "15-minute rule" related to alarm placement.

3 Tips to Master Your Morning Routine

Simple is better

It’s hard to wake up…well, to get out of bed.

I know I can’t be the only person who has set two…three…(six?) alarms in hopes of getting out of bed earlier than usual.

In this article, I will share three simple but valuable tips I’ve found helpful in my own life. You can use the three tips now to wake up more quickly and take control of your mornings.

1. Important Placement

Begin your morning routine the night before by setting yourself up for success the following day. A simple way to do this is to place your phone across the room — not on your nightstand.

I repeat — not on your nightstand.

Don’t get me wrong — it’s a difficult habit to break, but an important one. This simple tip requires you to get out of bed to turn off your alarm, at least if you haven’t figured out what I like to call the 15-minute rule (please leave a comment if you know what I am referring to here).

Let’s discuss an interesting point number two on the same topic of alarms.

2. Strange Times

I began this trick a while back when I used to set five or so alarms (just in case). However, you’ll only see one alarm set in my phone now — if you’re interested why, read here:

Why One Alarm is Better Than Two (or Six)

One alarm for the win

medium.com

The trick is to set an “abnormal” time for your alarm so that if you do happen to wake up before the alarm (say three or four in the morning), you won’t be constantly doing the mental math in your head in advance of your alarm (which keeps you awake).

For example, instead of setting it to an even number, such as 6:00 am or 6:30 am, consider putting your alarm to 5:57 am or 6:24 am.

Bonus tip: Continuously rotate the time so your brain can’t predict when to expect it. Trust me on this one — it does help relieve some stress and help you “give up” on guessing to fall back asleep more quickly.

Now, let’s discuss what you want to do when your eyes are open.

3. A Water Beginning

If you’ve ever started going to bed with a glass (or giant jug) of water next to your bed, chances are you’re still doing it (unless I am the crazy one who can’t seem to break the habit!).

Put your habit to use by keeping enough in your glass to drink a near-full glass of water as soon as you wake up. You’ll notice that you’re instantly more awake.

Hydrating first thing in the morning is also a great idea, especially if you tend to reach for your caffeinated beverage first instead of water.

Conclusion

In the article, I discussed three actionable tips you can implement tonight. First, by placing your phone across the room, you can ensure you have to get your body up and moving when you wake. Second, I discussed how setting alarms at “weird times” can help trick your brain into defaulting to sleep instead of thoughts. Lastly, I discussed the importance of drinking water when you wake for the benefits of wakefulness, hydration, and health.

Implement these three tips to wake up more efficiently and achieve your goals.