Opening Words

They say the morning makes the day. As someone who struggles daily with the temptation to stay in bed, I deeply understand how precious these morning hours are. After two years of continuous trial and improvement, I've finally found a morning management method that works for me, and today I'd like to share my experiences with you.

To be honest, when I first started making changes, it was extremely painful. Every morning I would think: "Just five more minutes," "Let me sleep until 7," "It's the weekend, let me sleep in." But after I truly persisted, I discovered that the benefits of early rising were tremendous. Not only did I become more energetic, but my work efficiency also improved significantly, and even my mood became more cheerful.

Overcoming the Snooze Button

Have you often found yourself hitting snooze countless times in the morning? This actually happens because we're placing our alarm clocks in the wrong location. My personal experience is to place the alarm clock at least three meters away from the bed. This way, you must physically get out of bed to turn off the alarm. Trust me, once you're standing up, the probability of going back to bed decreases significantly.

I remember when I first started practicing this method, it was absolutely excruciating. I had placed the alarm clock on my desk, and every morning I had to stumble out of bed to turn it off. Once, I nearly fell because I got up too quickly. But after persisting for a week, I found myself waking up before the alarm went off, which felt truly remarkable.

According to sleep research experts' data, over 60% of young people have a habit of hitting the snooze button, averaging an additional 30 minutes of sleep daily. These 30 minutes of light sleep not only provide no rest but actually make people more tired. This is because our bodies repeatedly enter light sleep during this time, disrupting normal sleep cycles.

Moreover, hitting the snooze button sends wrong signals to our brain. Each time we press snooze, it's like telling our brain: "The set wake-up time isn't really important, it can be changed at will." Over time, this not only weakens our willpower but also affects other areas requiring self-discipline.

I now use a gradual alarm clock, with sound that increases from soft to loud, and rhythm that changes from slow to fast. This method doesn't startle you awake from deep sleep, and you wake up in a better mood. Additionally, I set motivational labels for my alarms, such as "Day X of Early Rising" or "Important Tasks for Today," which immediately remind me of the purpose of getting up.

Evening Preparation

To have an easy morning, evening preparation is essential. I've developed a habit: 15 minutes before bed, I prepare all the clothes I'll wear the next day, including socks and underwear, arranged neatly in order of wear. This way, I don't have to worry about what to wear after getting up.

Actually, developing this habit has its own story. I remember once when I was looking for clothes in the morning, I discovered that the shirt I wanted to wear wasn't washed, hurriedly changed to another one, only to find at the office that it was missing a button. I felt dejected all day, feeling like everything went wrong from early morning. Since then, I've been determined to do proper evening preparation.

Now my preparation work has formed a complete process: first checking tomorrow's weather forecast, then choosing appropriate clothes based on weather and schedule. For important occasions, I also coordinate matching accessories. Everything is arranged in order of wear, from underwear to outerwear, from socks to shoes, all clearly laid out.

Did you know? Research data shows that average people spend 12 minutes each morning choosing clothes, while advance preparation can reduce this time to under 2 minutes. Over a year, this alone saves more than 60 hours. With these 60 hours, you could read several books or learn a new skill.

Besides clothing, I also prepare items needed for the next day, such as laptop, charger, important documents, etc. Everything is placed in a fixed location, with the bag packed in advance. This not only saves time but also avoids the embarrassment of forgetting important items in the morning rush.

I also check my phone's battery before bed, ensuring I won't miss important information the next day due to a dead phone. Additionally, I review the next day's schedule, giving me a clear expectation for tomorrow and allowing timely adjustment of rest times.

Hydration and Health

At my bedside, there's always a glass of water. Not just any water, but my experimentally determined optimal drinking water formula: warm water with a slice of lemon. Why this formula? Because both the temperature and composition of your first morning drink are important.

Speaking of this formula, there's an interesting story. Initially, I just drank plain water, but later by chance, I added lemon slices and found it worked exceptionally well. Not only does it taste better, but it also quickly energizes you. Now it's become my unshakeable habit, and I even carry lemon slices when traveling.

Medical research shows that the body is in a mild state of dehydration after 8 hours of sleep. Warm water can quickly replenish fluids, while vitamin C and citric acid from lemon help the body metabolize and absorb quickly. According to surveys, over 80% of people who maintain this habit report noticeable improvements in their digestive function.

Beyond the basic formula, I make adjustments based on season and physical condition. For example, in summer, I add mint leaves for refreshment and energy. In winter, I choose to add a slice of ginger for warmth and cold prevention. If I stayed up late the previous night, I'll add extra honey for energy.

The timing and method of drinking are also important. I drink the first glass immediately after waking up, but not all at once - rather slowly in several sips. This allows better absorption of water and doesn't irritate the stomach. After drinking, I wait about 10 minutes before brushing my teeth, allowing the water to take full effect.

Interestingly, since developing this habit, I've noticed my skin condition has improved. This might be because adequate hydration makes metabolism smoother. Moreover, morning hydration helps prevent constipation, making the whole body feel light and comfortable.

Making the Bed

Many people find making the bed troublesome, but it's truly worth the 3-minute investment each morning. My suggestion is: air out the blanket for 2 minutes, then start making the bed from the foot end, and finally fluff and straighten the pillows.

Honestly, I used to think making the bed was particularly bothersome, thinking since I'd sleep in it again at night, making it was pointless. But once, I was extremely busy, running around all day, and when I returned home to see the messy bed at night, that feeling of irritation left a deep impression. Since then, I've understood the importance of making the bed.

Now my bed-making has become a complete routine. First, I air out the blanket and open the windows to let fresh air in. Then starting from the foot of the bed, I smooth out the sheets, ensuring all corners are tucked in. The blanket needs to be shaken first to distribute the filling evenly, then smoothed out bit by bit. Finally, for the pillows, I pat them a few times to fluff them up, then arrange them neatly.

U.S. Navy Admiral McRaven said in a famous speech: "If you want to change the world, start by making your bed." This isn't just a casual statement. Psychological research has found that people who make their beds in the morning generally have 23% higher executive ability at work than those who don't. Moreover, returning to a neat bed at night improves sleep quality by 15%.

Making the bed isn't just a simple household chore; it's actually a ritual with strong significance. When you transform a messy bed into a neat one, it's like drawing a perfect period to the start of a new day. This sense of achievement will make your mood more pleasant and fill you with anticipation for the day ahead.

I've also found that the process of making the bed is actually a good opportunity to relax body and mind. During these few minutes of making the bed, I focus completely on the present, not thinking about work or other worries. This state of focus is, in some ways, a form of meditation.

Moreover, a neat bed makes the entire room look fresh. Psychological research shows that people living in tidy environments have significantly lower stress levels than those living in messy environments. So, making the bed not only improves the quality of our living environment but also helps us maintain a good psychological state.

Practical Suggestions

So, how do we turn these suggestions into habits? Here's what I suggest you do:

In the first week, focus on just one change, like placing the alarm clock far away. Once this habit is formed, start trying the second change. According to psychology, it takes 21 days to form a habit, but if you can persist for 66 days, this habit will become as natural as breathing.

I fully understand the difficulty of change. I remember when I first tried these changes, I would often give up halfway. Sometimes after persisting for a few days, I would suddenly give up because I was too tired, and then feel very regretful. Later I understood that change shouldn't be immediate but needs to be gradual.

To make changes easier to maintain, I designed a reward system. For example, after persisting for a week, I reward myself with a hearty breakfast; after a month, I buy something I've wanted for a long time. These small rewards gave me something to look forward to and motivation during the persistence process.

At the same time, I also record daily state changes. Such as energy levels, work efficiency, mood changes, etc. Through these records, I can clearly see the positive impacts of the changes, and this visible progress also motivates me to continue persisting.

During practice, various unexpected situations are inevitable. Like working late the previous night, or wanting to sleep in on weekends. At these times, I give myself some flexibility. After all, the process of forming habits isn't black and white, and appropriate adjustments can actually make habits easier to maintain.

I've also found that persisting together with like-minded friends is particularly helpful. We check in through group chat, share daily insights, and encourage each other. This social support makes persistence more interesting and easier to maintain.

Conclusion and Outlook

Through these methods, I've successfully transformed from a chronic oversleeper into an early riser. Of course, this process wasn't easy, but the results are significant. Now I have nearly an extra hour each day for exercise or study.

Looking back, this change has brought me more than just time gains. More importantly, I've built confidence in myself. When I discovered I could overcome laziness and form good habits one by one, this sense of achievement is indescribable.

Now, I can enjoy the first ray of sunlight every morning. I love the quietness of this time, the solitude, and slowly planning the new day. This feeling is something I could never experience when I used to oversleep.

Do you have your own morning management secrets? Or which of my shared methods are you planning to try? I look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences. After all, everyone's life rhythm is different, and finding what works best for you is most important.

It's never too late to change; what's important is the courage to start and the determination to persist. Perhaps you're reading this article now, hesitating whether to try changing. I want to say, don't put too much pressure on yourself, start with one small change, take it slowly, but definitely start.

Let's look forward together to tomorrow's first ray of sunlight. Look forward to seeing a better self, look forward to every energetic morning. Life's beauty often lies in these subtle changes. Let's meet a better morning self together.