How to Get Out of Bed if You're Not a Morning Person

For a non-morning person, waking up is hard. Some might even call it impossible, agonizing, or a form of mild torture.

It’s common knowledge that most non-morning people don’t bound out of bed eager to take on the day, but if the simple act of peeling back your covers is cause for excessive whining and cursing, you may need a little help.

Try these foolproof strategies to get yourself up and out of bed.

1. Put Your Alarm on the Other Side of the Room

Instead of silencing your alarm/phone from a comfortable position beneath your cozy covers — a dangerous move which lets you stay holed up in your cocoon forever — give yourself a reason to actually get out of bed.

Strategically place your alarm clock/phone somewhere far enough away that you’re required to stand up and walk several feet to reach it when it goes off.

Here’s the catch, though: Once you’re up, you have to stay up. Resist the urge to stumble back to bed to sleep for “just five more minutes.”

2. Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To

Use the promise of a cup of hot (or cold) brew, a warm shower, or 15 minutes to read your favorite blog to get you out of bed.

These things may just seem like normal morning behaviors disguised as indulgences, but when you’re suddenly emerging from eight hours of sleep inertia, even the small pleasures can have a big impact.

3. Drink a Tall Glass of Water

OK, so drinking a glass of water won’t exactly motivate you to get up, but it’ll definitely help you stay up once you accomplish the tough task of getting vertical.

Drinking enough water is a key part of maintaining a strong and healthy body, so a big glass (or two!) of water to rehydrate after seven or eight hours of no liquids is a great way to start your day right.

Warm or room-temperature water may go down easier, but if ice-cold H20 is your jam, that works too — nothing like a morning brain freeze to get you fired up.

4. Turn the Lights on Immediately

As soon as your eyes flutter open and the first few moments of post-sleep reality hit, turn on the light nearest to you.

Exposure to light signals tells your brain that it’s to get up, which is why everything you read about how to fall asleep tells you to put away smartphones, TVs, and laptops before you go to bed.

5. Set Your Alarm 10 Minutes Earlier

To trick yourself into feeling like more of the morning is yours, set your alarm 10 to 15 minutes earlier than you need to.

Use these precious extra minutes to take your time adjusting to being awake, rather than launching into your morning routine full-force.

Treat yourself to a little “you” time: journal in bed, scroll through your Instagram feed, read another chapter in your book, cuddle your cat, or just stare off into space if you feel like it.

6. Make Food You Can’t Wait to Get Up and Eat

The smell of pancakes can lure even the most disgruntled, disoriented person out of bed and into the kitchen.

Instead of grabbing a muffin or banana in your hurry to get out the door, stock your pantry and fridge with healthy, flavorful breakfast foods you enjoy and want to get up for, like breakfast quesadillas, blueberry maple muffins, or apple cinnamon protein pancakes.

7. Bribe Yourself With the Promise of a Nap Later

Sometimes the only way to muster the strength to leave your warm, soft bed is to think about the next time you can get back in it.

Tell yourself you can take a quick nap at lunch or come straight home from work and crawl into your bed if you want to.

You probably won’t even have the time or desire to nap once the day gets rolling, but in your half-awake state, this little white lie is a great trick to get you moving.

8. Get Up and Work Out

If you’re not a morning person, it’s probably safe to assume you’re also not someone who enjoys leaping out of bed and lacing up your trainers for a workout.

But an a.m. sweat session can do wonders for your day — it can improve your focus, brighten your mood, and relieve anxiety with a good old-fashioned dose of endorphins.

9. Get Up and Meditate

What’s more similar to sleep than quietly resting with your eyes closed, breathing deeply, and trying to clear your mind of all its thoughts?

Beyond just being a relaxing activity, meditation creates a peaceful state in which to calm your scattered thoughts, focus your energy, express gratitude (even if it’s only for the coffee you’re about to drink), and set your intention for the day.