As a freelancer, you’re in control of your schedule. You get to sleep, eat, and work whenever you want. (Unless you have meetings, of course.)
It’s marvelous having the freedom to do what you want when you want. But, there’s just one teeny-tiny problem. Well, it’s a big problem if you get into the habit of doing it.
You’re not waking up on time to get anything done in the morning!
It’s common for freelancers to have distractions if they don’t live alone. And if they live alone, there are still tons of distractions! Often working in the morning can end distractions.
If you’d like to train yourself to wake up on time in the morning (which we recommend!), here are three tips. It’s time for you to improve your productivity by taking control of your mornings!
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1. Don’t Stay Up Too Late
As we just mentioned, a freelancer has control over their career and schedule.
But, your bedtime routine (amongst other things we’ll cover) could be preventing you from waking up at a reasonable hour.
Several things can cause you to stay up too late, which results in you sleeping in too long. Here are some bad habits to look out for that could be keeping you up at night:
- You’re drinking caffeine late at night, making it challenging for you to fall asleep.
- You’re procrastinating and aren’t getting work done until late at night.
- You’re spending too much time running errands during the day and not enough time working.
- You’re attached to your phone, and the bright light makes it next to impossible to relax.
If you’re in the habit of doing these things, then it’s difficult for you to rise early. These bad habits are hindering you from being productive!
The good news is you have the power to change these bad habits! Stop working late and drinking too much caffeine. Say no to these activities, and you’ll have a much easier time getting up early in the AM.
2. Get Enough Sunshine
Believe it or not, a lack of sunshine during the day can contribute to your lack of sleep.
Not only will the sun prompt you to wake up in the morning, but it’s good for your health. It turns out that sunlight can improve your mood!
In addition to waking up to the sun, find a spot in your house where you can enjoy more sunlight. Sipping a nice cup of coffee while reading a book on a favorite chair is the perfect way to get more vitamin D.
We also recommend getting rid of blackout blinds and spending more time outdoors. Here’s how doing these things can help:
Get Rid of Blackout Blinds
To get enough sun, consider getting rid of the blackout blinds. At first, it may not be very pleasant, waking up to sunshine shining through your windows. But that’s a good thing because your goal is to get up earlier. The light will signify to you that it’s time to wake up and get stuff done!
Go Outdoors More Often
Besides waking up to the sun, try to get outdoors once a day. Soaking up vitamin D can prevent depression and other health conditions.
There are going to be days when it’s cloudy outside. Instead of pressing the snooze button on your alarm clock, turn on your lights right away.
Remember – light is what will urge you to get going first thing in the morning. So make sure you’re getting enough of it!
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3. Find Out if a Health Issue is Hindering Your Sleep
If you’ve tried many things to fall asleep and you’re still struggling, your health could be the culprit.
Allergies or Depression
Surprisingly enough, allergies can affect your sleep. So can depression!
Figure out a way to treat your allergies. Take allergy medication, bathe him, and clean the house more often if you’re allergic to your pet.
If you can’t pull yourself out of depression, get some therapy, or take medication if needed.
Side note: Sometimes, it takes strength to get better, so don’t give up on yourself!
Sleep Disorders
And then there are sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, you may be snoring a lot or wake up struggling for air. Ask your significant other or a friend to observe you while you sleep. It sounds creepy, but it can help!
They can let you know your habits, resulting in you discovering you have a sleeping disorder. Go to a doctor to find out if that’s the case, and they can recommend forms of treatment.
If all goes well, you should be able to work on getting up earlier in the morning!
Conclusion
Even if you’re not a morning person, waking up on time in the morning has several benefits. We mentioned a few in this article, and here are some more:
- A regular schedule will keep you healthy.
- You’ll have more energy, which will prompt you to be more physically active.
- You’ll be more productive and get more done in the morning and during the day.
- You’ll be less likely to struggle with depression.
Keep making an effort to become an early riser. In time, you’ll be waking up before the sun comes up (or at least close to it)!
