How To Wake Up At 5AM Feeling Bright And Happy
Waking up at 5am sounds amazing to some people and like pure torture to others.
We all know the benefits—more time to think, get things done, and take care of ourselves before the day really begins.
Still, the thought of setting an alarm that early feels impossible.
And even when we do, it’s way too easy to hit snooze and crawl right back into bed.
Trust me, I’ve done that plenty of times.
But after testing different tricks for weeks, I finally figured out how to wake up at 5am without hating it.
And no, it wasn’t simple at first.
It took a lot of trial and error before I became someone who actually enjoys mornings.
If I had known the tips I’m about to share with you, it would’ve taken me a week—maybe less—to get the hang of it.
The good news? Waking up early is not as hard as it seems.
You don’t need to take freezing cold showers or pull off impossible morning routines.
The secret is to build a habit that feels natural and enjoyable.
And that’s exactly what we’ll focus on in this post.
Don’t Miss: 6 Daily Habits That Changed My Life
1. Start by Sleeping Earlier
You can’t wake up early if you’re not going to bed on time.
That was my biggest mistake for years—I’d stay up scrolling on my phone or watching “just one more” episode.
Then I’d wake up exhausted and blame my alarm instead of my habits.
Now, I plan my nights backward.
If I want to wake up at 5am, I aim to be in bed by 9:30 or 10.
I set a reminder an hour before to start winding down—dim lights, no screens, no work talk.
Your morning success actually starts the night before.
If you protect your sleep, waking up early won’t feel like punishment.
2. Prepare Everything the Night Before
One thing that helped me stop hitting snooze was making my mornings easier.
I lay out my clothes, prep breakfast, and set up my workspace the night before.
This tiny habit removes decision fatigue and gives me fewer excuses to stay in bed.
When everything’s ready, the morning feels smoother and calmer.
You don’t waste time figuring out what to wear, what to eat, or what to do first.
You just get up and start.
If you wake up knowing exactly what your first task is, it’s a lot easier to keep moving instead of crawling back under the covers.
3. Stop Snoozing (Seriously)
That snooze button?
It’s your biggest enemy.
I used to tell myself, “Five more minutes won’t hurt.”
But every time I did, I made it ten times harder to actually wake up.
What worked for me was placing my alarm across the room.
That way, I had to physically get up to turn it off.
And once I was up, I made sure to move—stretch, drink water, open the blinds.
Your brain needs movement and light to realize it’s time to wake up.
So don’t stay in bed negotiating with yourself.
Get up, and your body will follow.
4. Have a Reason to Get Up
When you don’t have a clear reason to wake up early, staying in bed feels too easy.
I learned that motivation fades fast unless you connect it to something that matters to you.
For me, that reason was peace.
Those quiet hours before the world wakes up became my favorite time to think, plan, and take care of myself.
Sometimes I write, sometimes I read, and sometimes I just sip my coffee in silence.
Find your “why.”
Maybe it’s exercise, journaling, or working on a personal goal.
When your mornings have purpose, waking up becomes something you want to do—not something you have to do.
5. Create a Morning Routine You Actually Like
If your mornings feel like a list of chores, you’ll never want to get up early.
I used to make strict plans—workout, meditate, read—all before 6am.
It looked great on paper, but in reality, it made me dread my mornings.
Now, my routine is simple.
I stretch, drink water, light a candle, and write for ten minutes.
Some days I exercise; other days, I just enjoy the quiet.
It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to make you feel good.
When your mornings feel enjoyable, you’ll naturally want to repeat them.
That’s how habits stick.
6. Don’t Expect Perfection at First
When I first started trying to wake up early, I failed—many times.
Some days I woke up late, some days I hit snooze, and some days I questioned why I was even doing it.
And that’s okay.
What matters is progress, not perfection.
If you wake up at 6am instead of 5am, it’s still progress.
If you get up but don’t do everything you planned, it’s still a win.
Building a new habit takes patience.
The more you do it, the easier it becomes.
Eventually, waking up early won’t feel like a fight—it’ll feel normal.
7. Use Light to Your Advantage
One of the biggest reasons it’s hard to wake up early is darkness.
When it’s still dark outside, your body thinks it’s time to sleep.
So I started using light to signal my brain that morning had arrived.
I open the blinds right away, even if the sun isn’t fully up.
If it’s winter, I turn on warm, bright lights.
Sometimes I use a sunrise alarm clock—it slowly brightens the room before the alarm rings, which makes waking up feel natural instead of shocking.
Light tells your body, “Hey, it’s morning,” and helps you shake off that groggy feeling faster.
8. Avoid Screens Before Bed
This one was tough for me.
I used to scroll through my phone before sleeping, convincing myself it helped me “relax.”
But really, it did the opposite.
The blue light from screens messes with your sleep cycle, making it harder to fall asleep and wake up early.
Now, I have a simple rule: no screens 30 minutes before bed.
Instead, I read, stretch, or journal.
When I started doing this, I fell asleep faster and woke up feeling more rested.
If you want your mornings to feel easy, start by protecting your nights.
9. Be Kind to Yourself on Hard Days
Not every morning will be perfect.
There will be days when you oversleep, feel tired, or lose motivation.
When that happens, don’t beat yourself up.
Instead, ask yourself what went wrong and adjust.
Maybe you stayed up too late.
Maybe you need a slower morning.
Whatever it is, give yourself grace and keep going.
Consistency matters more than perfection.
It’s better to wake up early most days than to quit altogether after one rough morning.
10. Make It Part of Your Identity
When I stopped saying, “I’m trying to wake up early,” and started saying, “I’m an early riser,” everything changed.
It might sound small, but that mindset shift made a huge difference.
You become what you believe.
If you see yourself as someone who wakes up early, you’ll act like it.
You’ll make choices that support that identity—like sleeping on time, prepping your mornings, and skipping late-night distractions.
It’s not just about changing your schedule; it’s about changing how you see yourself.
