Early to Rise

Benjamin Franklin is quoted to have said: "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

Anyone that's ever had a sleepover with me probably harbors some resentment towards me about the hour in which I woke up in the morning. I don't really care to apologize, it's not my fault you are a light sleeper. I grew up in a family of (mostly - cough Lisa cough-) early risers. My dad and I were making plans for Saturday morning and I asked what time he would be picking me up and he said 8. My immediate reaction was to scoff and then barter. How about 9? Normally, I am awake, breakfasted, facebooked and at the gym by 8am on Saturday morning, BUT I don't HAVE to do any of that if I choose not to (like when I'm hungover). In return, he scoffed at 9AM. Not only did he scoff, but he said something about wasting the whole day away. I didn't bother arguing. Really, I feel the same way. I agreed he could pick me up at 8 for our errands. I didn't tell him this, but I am making him 1. stop at Starbucks or 2. take me for and buy me breakfast.

My usual route would be to wikipedia this but I had my doubts there would be a reference. Boy, was I wrong! Per Wikipedia:

Waking up early is a productivity method of rising early and consistently so as to be able to accomplish more during the day. This method has been recommended since antiquity and is presently recommended by a number of personal development gurus. The philosopher Aristotle said, "It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom."

Within the context of religious observances, spiritual writers have called this practice "the heroic minute," referring to the sacrifice which this entails.

Personal development writers have noted that waking up early can be developed through practice and correct preparation.

That is pretty much all it had to say, but man did I love every word of it. So now what I would like to do is help you all, all you sleeper-inners. I found a 13 step process called How to Wake Up Early, but that's a lot of steps, and I don't have the patience for that. SO how about 5 steps (with editorial comments in brackets).

1. Get a good nights sleep. (DUH, go to bed early and sleep soundly, keep your bedroom an oasis for sleeping).
2. Never press the snooze button.
3. Gradually go to sleep and wake up ten minutes earlier each day until you reach your goal time (goal time- crack of dawn).
4. Have someone else wake you up (this makes you not responsible for waking up early, so then if you sleep in you can blame the waker upper).
5. Cut the caffeine. No coffee or soda before bed. (I don't necessarily agree with this one, but hey if you suck at being up early you are the one who needs to make some changes).

OK, now go practice.
xo