Setting a wake up time can help you to start your day with energy and momentum.
Without one, you’ll be waking up naturally. Yes, you may wake up feeling rested, but there is the possibility to sleep in.
Starting your day with a wake-up time means you start the day on your terms. Waking up to an alarm can be a great way to start your morning routine. It’s consistent and makes it easier to get up daily.
It prompts the first habit in your morning routine’s habit stack.
So, how do you set a wake up time?
How To Set A Wake Up Time – Sleep
Before you can set a wake up time, you first need to figure out how much sleep you need on a regular basis. Or, choose the amount of sleep you want to get.
For most people, this is 7 to 9 hours, or 5 to 6 complete 90-minute sleep cycles.
From there, you can work out timings. If you need 8 hours of sleep, you know your wake up time will be at least 8 hours after your bedtime. Ideally, add another 30 minutes before that. That time is for falling asleep.
Picking a bedtime, or using the rough time you go to sleep, will help you decide on a wake up time that currently matches your circadian rhythm.
How To Set A Wake Up Time – Commitments
Now think about what commitments you have every morning.
Some examples include:
- Taking the kids to school at 8AM
- Getting to work for 9AM
- Going for a run at 7AM
Here, take the earliest commitment. Use your knowledge of how long it takes you – roughly – to get ready, then work backwards.
If it takes you 30 minutes to get ready, work backwards from 7AM to get 6:30AM. You’ll need to be awake at this time, at least, to meet your commitment.
How To Set A Wake Up Time – Morning Routine
Finally, consider your morning routine. Do you have a morning routine?
Do you want one?
Your morning routine is specific to you, and the duration it takes will be different to how long it takes another person.
But, for the sake of example, let’s say it takes 1 hour. Working back from 6:30AM we get to 5:30AM.
Congratulations, you’ve found your wake up time!
That’s how you set a wake up time, in a nutshell.
- Begin by figuring out how much sleep you need, and pick a rough bedtime.
- Then figure out your earliest commitment and the time it takes you to get ready.
- Finally, consider the time it takes to do your morning routine.
Use this information together to work out your wake up time. Boom, quick and easy.
Of course, we can get a lot more specific with this, and we will in a future post.
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