The following is a guest post from Andy Traub, the author of the new book, Early To Rise: Learn to rise early in 30 days.
You bought the Macbook Pro, distraction free word processor, a subsription to Spotify for inspiring music, created a blogging calendar, went to Bryan’s Killer Tribes Conference and have listened to the audio every day since.
You’re a blogger, or at least you’re supposed to be. Your blogging production has been dismal for as long as you can remember because you don’t have time to write about the great ideas that you’ve got scribbled in the $14 Moleskine you bought.
Adding one habit to your life will help you achieve the blog you know you’re capable of writing. You need more time and last I checked they’re not making any more of it.
If you really want to be a successful blogger then you need to write more and write more often. If you’re not as successful as you want to be then do something about it. The single habit that changed my business and the rest of my life was learning to wake up early.
Let’s be clear on something, I hate waking up early but I love being up early. My kids are 5, 3 and 15 months old so if I want to get any writing done while I’m at home I have two options. Wake up early (around 5:30am) or stay up late.
Have you ever stayed up late with the intention of finishing some work but then watched TV instead? That doesn’t happen at 5:30am. Have you ever fallen asleep working late at night? That doesn’t happen at 5:30am. Have you ever sat down to write and been tempted to check Twitter, email or your site analytics? That doesn’t happen (as much) at 5:30am.
How to Build an Early Riser Habit
If you want to build a habit of rising early you need three things.
1. A purpose – No one wakes up late for a flight to Mexico to go on vacation. Give yourself a purpose for rising early unique from the rest of your day. Make the time special and selfish. It’s just for you.
2. A bed time – You will not get up early if you stay up late. You’ll never regret going to bed at 9:30pm but almost every time you go to bed at 1am you do regret it. Go to bed earlier.
3. A plan – Buy a good alarm clock app (Sleep Cycle or Rise Alarm). Set up your coffee maker the kick on early. Buy some sweet slippers to wear when you get out of bed. Set out a book and something to write with and on at your favorite spot in the living room. Equip yourself to have a productive morning.
If you say you need more time then get up earlier. Morning hours are usually twice as productive as late night hours. I’ve added 10 hours a week to my creative work since starting this habit. That’s 520 hours a year, an extra 13 40-hour work weeks.
You say you need more time to blog?
Learn to rise early and watch your writing radically improve.
Andy Traub is a full time podcaster and founder of the Take Permission Media Network. He’s the author of Early To Rise: Learn to rise early in 30 days. Every copy of his book includes the full audio edition as well as 30 days of email encouragement. You can learn more about his book at EarlyToRiseBook.com.
I appreciate the idea of having something special waiting for you when you get up. A hot cup of coffee and a comfy place to sit and do something that I need to do, but maybe more importantly, for this first thing of the day, WANT to do. Great tip!
I hate to get up early, but this book has given me the inspiration and tools I needed to make it happen. I’ve been getting up early every morning now and have gotten so much more done and felt so much more accomplished because of it. Thanks Andy!
[...] Head over to check out this week’s post: The One Habit That Will Make Your Blog Prolific [...]
BTW, got up at 5:15am the past two mornings. So yeah, I’ve been inspired.
Great tips! I think what would help me most is remembering to make the coffee the night before and have it set to turn on a few minutes before my alarm goes off. A fresh cup of coffee waiting for me would be good motiviation to get up and moving a little earlier!
Thank you for the information; I have tried to do the rise early thing, but most of my ideas come at night. Will have to definitely schedule some time to try this again, though.
Getting up early is something I personally struggle with. I tend to stay up very late since the kids are asleep. I do feel if I started getting up a couple of hours before the kids then I would probably get more done. Thanks for the tips.
Great tips! I get up early to blog while the kids are still asleep!
Great, no-nonsense advice. I love the idea of making the morning special, just for you and you alone. Also impressive how your extra morning time adds up to 13 full work weeks over the course of a year – WOW!
I definitely need more time to blog, but I’m student teaching for the next couple of months, and I already get up at 5:00 a.m. I don’t think I could get up any earlier. Maybe I should give up that nap I take at 5:00 p.m.
Sadly, I have to admit that I am guilty of the “staying up late to blog” routine and I never get anything done. I end up doing everything except blogging (like all the things you mentioned above)! I know that it is better for me to get up early because the few times that I have managed to do so, I got a TON of stuff done online because I can actually hear myself think in the peace and quiet early in the morning. It is nice to have that wonderful feeling of accomplishment before my kiddos are even out of bed! It sets the tone for a super productive day! I struggle with getting up early and am now going to revisit that issue and see if I can find a motivating factor (better known as a bribe!) that makes it easier for me to get in those extra morning hours! Thank you for the great post!
I do wake up early and I agree that it gives me extra time to blog before the morning routine with the kids start.
I tend to be more of a night owl – it is much easier for me to stay up than it is to get up early. However, I did the “HelloMornings” challenge in the Fall and I managed to get up earlier than usual for one straight week and a few other days here and there. The days I did get up, it was definitely more focused time and I felt more productive. It didn’t last, though, and I slipped back to old habits. Anyway, I love the mind-set to get up with a passion so that you *want* to get up… and that you have some special selfish “treats” to help with motivation! Great tips! Perhaps I’ll try again…
Sounds good but doing it will be hard for me. My 3 year old goes to bed at 11pm and I will have to work a week on getting her schedule changed to go to bed earlier then get to sleep. That will be the hard part for me but I am going to do it. I already have a notebook by my favorite stop in the livingroom
I’ve been trying to wake early for years…but I have a bad habit of staying up late watching tv with my husband. I really need to set a limit for myself and spend less tv time with my husband, and find something that is more quality time together. 2-3hours of tv watching, isn’t as great as one full hour of one on one time with your spouse….I really need to enforce that. I love the idea of waking up for a reason. I don’t want to wake up because I have to, I want to wake up because I WANT to wake up! I will start an earlier bedtime tonight.
Great advice, I love it when I get up early, I get so much done before the regular work day begins.
I THINK I can get up before my girls (6 months and 2 years), IF I go to bed before midnight! I’m shooting for 11:15 tonight! Thanks for the suggestions!
I appreciate this post because I already get up early to make time to exercise, blog, and just get some alone time before I spend the whole day as a stay at home mom. I laughed when I saw the part about going to sleep at 9:30, because it drives my husband crazy that I like to go to bed so early.
I like what you have to say here but I agree with Nicole. I get most of my creative ideas late at night. But I really should get up earlier so I can get everything else I need to do done, then once everyone has gone to bed I can focus on writing and not the dishes.
I’m definitely a night owl and not an early bird, but my New Year’s Resolution was to post more on my blog so I need to become an early bird because I get distracted easily at night. :O
I keep trying to do this.
I think it is AWESOME advice. However, as a mom of a 6 month old who still nurses several times a night, and a potty training toddler who still gets up several times a night to (theoretically) use the potty… even if I get to bed early, I am so exhausted by 5:30 am I can’t get up! 
However, once we get in a better schedule of actually SLEEPING through the night – I am definitely going to rearrange my schedule so I am getting up early to blog! Thank you!!!
There’s no question about the habit of waking up early being good. Most achievers from all forms of discipline, be it in sports, martial arts, philosophy, religion, even in business, have this habit.
This is definitely a timely post! I have been working on shifting my naturally night-owlish ways to one that will support early rising! I am one that hates getting up early but loves being up early as well! I just recently bought a Keurig so this makes my coffee time extra special. I love the idea of having purpose and a plan. Thanks so much for the post as I am sure it will mean more in the morning.
I wake up around 5am, about 4 hours before my biological clock, as it is and would love to use the time productively. The problem is I am woken up by either 5 month old or 3 year old and don’t have much control over my morning hours. Any advice for that? What I will implement switching things up and use the time that we tend to be most productive, the am hours, when my baby takes his first nap, to come up with the creative content for my blog instead of doing my “resrearch”, reading others blog posts etc. Thanks for sharing this!
I love this post. It’s something I strive to do [on weekends] when I’m not working outside the home. The house is quiet, nothing is on TV and I get more accomplished at, okay 730am, then I would any other time of the day. I had no idea there were alarm clock apps…heading there now to get one. Great habit.
I’m a night owl and do a lot of writing then (or used to), as it seems that it’s getting harder and harder to keep it up without the bed calling my name. Lately, I have been setting the alarm at an earlier hour…and I do find myself more productive. Now…I need something to keep me from being distracted. But…I do like the point about the earlier it is, the less it feels that ‘more’ is going on and you don’t feel as compelled to check social media/email as much. I’m going to try setting the alarm at 5:30 and see what happens.
I’ve tried getting up early and just dragged. Going to bed early without getting everything done, I wake up throughout the night making sure I don’t sleep through the alarm. When I stay up and complete the tasks and make it to bed by 1:00 a.m., I sleep so well as my day is done. I appreciate your points and have given it a try for a 2-week period. I fell behind on more items and hated trying to write as my brain would not function that early. By writing at night, I have all day to think about the post and knock it out. Thanks for the specific ways to make that time fun. I wish those well who can get up early.
Great advice, totally looking forward to putting it into practice!
thanks!
I love this post. I enjoyed hearing your story , then getting some ways to encourage me to get up as well as the results I can achieve by doing so. I will definitely strive to do so start with small increments !!
Great tips. I always sit up late to blog and end up feeling drowsy for a better part of the morning. Will certainly follow the tips, and maybe I will be lucky enough to catch the sunrise from my balcony.
Great tip! I think this is a great idea for those who don’t have other things on their schedule. I personally use the ‘get up early’ tip for morning workouts/runs. The only thing about not being a morning person is that my brain doesn’t typically “wake up” until about 10:30am so that means I’m not as alert or creative. I’m more creative at night but staying up late at night is not healthy of course.
This is a great advice! My husband tries to talk me in to this habit for a long time, too. And sometimes, I even manage to do so. The only problem I have with this- is Murphy (‘s law): Whenever I get up at 5:30, guess who is awake about 10 min. later..? Yeap..one of my kiddos..or two..or three
After this happend a couple of times, I gave up! Getting up this early(something that isn’t one of my favorite thing, to say the least) and not to be able to actually do what I intended…is kind of frustrating!
BUT..I might just be ready to give it an other try..:-)
I actually purchased the “Early To Rise” book yesterday, before I saw Tanya’s post. I am already an early riser, but I’m planning to focus on being more productive (instead of Facebook, Twitter, and email) during the first two hours or three hours of the day. Woke up (AND put my feet on the floor!) a few minutes before 5:00 a.m. this morning. Day 1 of 30!!
Getting up early is not my strong suit either. Since my husband is retired and I work from home, we use that as an excuse to stay up late and sleep in. I have a schedule printed out that starts my day at 7:00, and this has inspired me to get back to that. I was 90% more productive when I was doing that.
I get exactly what you mean by liking the early morning feeling, but struggling to wake up early. Now I’m going to find something I really love to do first thing in the morning and make it a reason to get up!
This is so true! In fact, I challenged my readers last week to get up 15 minutes earlier (starting on the path to early rising): http://behealthybehappywellness.com/2013/01/tuesday-challenge-wake-up-15-minutes-earlier/
My issue is always staying up late – so I’m going to make it a habit to be in bed by 10:00 every night!
I do often feel as if people who get up early get more done. I, on the other hand, usually just fall asleep again, no matter what time I go to bed. Maybe something to look forward to would help.
Great advice. My husband always goes to be earlier and I find when I stay up late I don’t really get things done like I thought I would. I’ll try getting in bed earlier and moving my wake up time a little earlier too. Already up at 6, but maybe it could be a little earlier. Thanks for the tips!
Getting up early is a great thing to do when you have young kids. I agree with everything your post says. When the kids get a little older, it is sometimes possible to go into your room and shut the door for a time. I work mornings and do my writing when I come home at lunchtime and the kids are still at school. Setting aside time is the only way anything will get accomplished, that is the truth!
I was already leaning this way, so you just put the cherry on top. Tomorrow morning I will be up at 5:30!
This is a great tip and one I need to pay close attention to. I always stay up late to work on my blog only to do exactly what you said, just watch TV or I am too tired to work for long. The few times I was up in the morning before my children (I have young children too) I was productive and started the day off right.
I VOW to go to bed earlier and wake up early to blog instead. I’m going to slowly wean myself the rest of the week and weekend bringing my bed time earlier and earlier and starting Monday, I’ll get up at 6:00 and we’ll see how that goes.
These are some great tips. I like getting up earlier than everyone else it gives me quiet time to write posts, brainstorm post ideas, read comments and so much more. It is definitey true if you go to bed late you are not going to want to get up early.
I keep saying to myself everyday that I need to wake up earlier. I always feel like the day is longer when I do. This is so true! This time of the year when it is dark and cold makes it so much harder. I so need more time though. Thank you for the encouragement.
I am not a morning person by any means. However, when I get my older daughter up for school, I try to stay up for a bit if I can before my younger daughter wakes up, and I use that time for my blog. I’m actually working on it right now, which is how I came across this awesome article. Thank you!
You’re such a jerk. Here I was minding my own business, wasting time and complaining about how there isn’t enough of it.
Great stuff, Andy. Thank you for the advice. I’m good about getting up early, but I don’t spend the extra time very wisely.
I was thinking just this morning about the need to get up earlier than my little one, in order to get some writing done (I don’t typically blog at night because I want to spend that time with my husband). Even getting an extra 30-40 minutes would be fabulous. I’m definitely going to take this as a challenge and work on getting up half an hour early two times a week for the rest of February. That’s a non-overwhelming goal, right? And maybe I’ll tell myself I can have a chocolate muffin on the mornings I succeed.
I entirely agree with the rise early technique – I am so much more productive. My husband goes to work early and always encourages me to lie in (bless him) but I get up when he does and I’ve already done an hours work before he leaves in the morning.
I really, REALLY need to make this a daily habit. I keep telling myself I’m going to…but then I wind up staying up way too late (I know, I know)…and then I sleep right through the alarm (seriously, I don’t even HEAR it)…and then I wake up so late that it throws off my day, my mood, everything. I’m hoping I can change this as of tomorrow morning.
The purpose I made for myself is the fresh cup of coffee and the quiet time in the morning before my toddler wakes up. It only takes 20 days to form a habit right, and I will start it tomorrow. Thank you for this post.
For me I rise early as it is my ‘ME” time. I am able to get more done before most people get up. With doing this I do not feel as rushed. I also get to sit and plan my son and my day so I know when I need to work on school with him and the times I need to be on the blog.
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I have found my way for getting up early it’s all about motivation and and not sleeping too lateI think when you love what you do you have a inner power a energy that let you get for getting you cup of coffee to begun things that you are passionate about.