Get me out of bed

January 15, 2015 8:15 AM

What are your tips for getting out of bed in the morning? I'd like to hear your advise on going from first waking up to 'up and functioning' as speedily as possible. I'm always groggy (and if I'm honest, cranky) first thing, but OK after the first 10-15 minutes. So my main problem as I see it is that initial movement to the vertical (no pun intended). What methods have you used to get you staggering to the shower? I can't be too noisy, as my partner is legitimately sleeping in beside me, so I'm really interested in what you tell yourself or motivational thoughts that get you moving.

I've always woken up and not wanted to get up. I've never been one of those people who leaps out of bed singing 'carpe diem', or whatever. Once I get going - within the first 10-15 minutes I'm pretty good, and at various stages of my work life I've got up at 6am for 10 hour days and 12 noon for 12 hour taxi shifts. I'm currently self employed and struggling to get myself out of bed in the mornings. The business is struggling also, and the two things aren't mutually exclusive. My working week doesn't have much formal structure, other than 2-4 classes that I'm teaching. My partner often works in the evening and sleeps in (the flip side is that I don't find it easy to go to bed early either!!); I've also fallen into the bad habit of seeing my stepson off to school and then slipping back to bed for a cuddle that turns into a sleep in. How do I limit this without completely missing out on a smooch and then off to work? FYI I've also been drinking 2-3 glasses of wine in the evening, which I'm now trying to stop (mostly successful).

posted by M.Onniker to Work & Money (40 answers total)

Keep a bottle of water by your bed and chug it as soon as you wake up in the morning. That sudden burst of hydration (especially if you drank alcohol right before bed) does absolute wonders for getting your body and brain unfogged.
posted by phunniemee at 8:18 AM on January 15, 2015 [18 favorites]

Counterproductive though it sounds, I get up earlier. I have just accepted that I need that first 10-15 minutes as a buffer between "being asleep" and "getting ready for my day." Also that I cannot spend that buffer time in bed or I revert right back to sleep.

So I set the alarm early enough to let me have that buffer, and when it goes off, I stagger out of bed and into the other room where I sit on the couch under a blanket, catch up on the internet I missed overnight or perhaps read a book, and require of myself nothing more than that. I'm usually awake enough after 15 minutes of that to go ahead and move on with my morning.

I have to get out of bed when the alarm goes and into an upright position in another room. No arguing with myself. I don't have to do anything productive after that for a while, though. The combination is the key for me.
posted by Stacey at 8:20 AM on January 15, 2015 [4 favorites]

1. Take your showers before bed instead of in the morning.
2. Get your clothes ready the night before. socks, unmentionables, shirt, pants. Dress as soon as you get up. put shoes on. Then see your stepson off to school.
posted by royalsong at 8:22 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

A tiny bit of caloric food might help. Maybe some dried fruit to go with the water, or a banana.
posted by amtho at 8:22 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

If you drink coffee, a programmable coffee pot set to start just before you wake could smell inspirational.
posted by tomboko at 8:24 AM on January 15, 2015 [5 favorites]

I have a hard time getting up if bed is cozy and warm and the bedroom is freezing. We have a programmable thermostat, and I've set it to get the house pretty warm about 20 minutes before I need to get up.
posted by tchemgrrl at 8:24 AM on January 15, 2015 [6 favorites]

I have found that having my thermostat set to start climbing to "several degrees warmer than I like when I'm under blankets" about a half-hour before I actually want to get up has made getting up a lot easier, at least when it's cold out. If I'm kicking off the covers because I'm too warm, it's easier to get up.
posted by jaguar at 8:25 AM on January 15, 2015 [2 favorites]

Or, jinx, tchemgrrl!
posted by jaguar at 8:25 AM on January 15, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I'll refer you to my answer in this very similar thread.

Having to hop over my wife to get out of bed is just enough of a barrier to get me past the reptile-brain-collapse-back-into-bed thing. By the time I've picked my towel up and had a slug of water, I'm on my way.
posted by Happy Dave at 8:26 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

Can you set something that you Get to do for those first 10-15 minutes? Internet dinking, coffee making, something luxurious in the shower, a sugary treat you can now afford now that you're saving all those wine calories? Combining something I Want to do (in my case, a CrossFit class that is the right time) with the fact that I don't want to wake my partner has helped me slip out of bed and start moving even when I very much don't want to. Like you, after the first few minutes, I'm fine and glad I'm up.
posted by ldthomps at 8:39 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

I pet my cute chihuahua who sleeps with me. I'll be like UGH I HATE THIS UGGGH I DON'T WANNNNAAAA and then I rub his little belly and feel like there's at least one good thing in the world and it is a cute chihuahua.

I also get up bananas early so I can go back to sleep for 30-60 minutes before work because I hate rushing. This is not for everyone but on mornigns I'm really tired I get myself out of bed thinking "if you just get up and finish everything quick you can go BACK TO BED OMG"
posted by Juliet Banana at 8:42 AM on January 15, 2015 [5 favorites]

Actually waking up with someone sleeping in next to me is great motivation to get out of bed as quickly as possible as so not to disturb them. I can't really hit snooze on my alarm so I know just got to get up...then the promise of freshly brewed coffee (I set my the night before to start a few minutes before my alarm) is just the extra motivation I need. I also need to give myself an extra half-hour before hopping in the shower.
posted by Shadow Boxer at 8:47 AM on January 15, 2015

Best answer: Make sure you are getting enough sleep - most people require between 7 and 9 hours. 8 is about average, so if you're consistently going to bed less than 8 hours before you need to wake up, try going to bed earlier.

Also try a Sleep Tracker app which will set your alarm to wake you up when you are in your lightest sleep phase - I love this because I'm not jolted out of a deep sleep, and it cuts down on the morning groggies.

Agreeing that a warm house makes it easier to crawl out of bed, so if you can program your thermostat so that the house is warm in the morning, do that. And seconding give yourself enough time to get going in the morning - I wake up just fine, but I need to have an at least somewhat leisurely morning routine of tea, breakfast, net-surfing and kitties. I can't deal with having to rush, rush, rush first thing in the morning.

For busy mornings, it helps me SO MUCH to have everything ready the night before. I have an outfit completely assembled and waiting for me - and I mean completely: clothes, shoes, underwear, tights, jewelry, eyeshadow, everything. If I'm taking lunch, it's packed and ready in the fridge with my water bottle next to it. Coat, purse, keys and tablet are all grouped together and waiting where I can grab them. I can't tell you how much easier and less rushed my mornings are since adopting this routine - and I rarely forget something on my way out the door.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 8:47 AM on January 15, 2015 [5 favorites]

I set my schedule to have morning meetings that are unmissable when there is a need for me to be awake in the days. It's the only thing that gets me out of bed.
posted by nat at 9:00 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

I plan ahead for a really good breakfast as an incentive to get out of bed. Get a programmable coffee maker if you drink coffee.
posted by desjardins at 9:04 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

Oh, yes, the heater! I actually got a wall outlet timer, so that I can have a little space heater turn on every morning about 30 minutes before the alarm goes off. I can wake up to a nice warm room, without heating the entire house to super-comfy temperatures (the house is heated, but not _as_ warm). Then I turn the heater off when I'm dressed, and I can turn it on for a few minutes before sleep -- the timer automatically turns it off at a certain time.

It's nicer to actually sleep (under a warm blanket) with the room being slightly cool, not cold, but not super warm. However, having a super-warm room to wake up in is extremely helpful.
posted by amtho at 9:10 AM on January 15, 2015

We have a remote control hot water recirculator, with a button on the headboard. Press the button, by the time I get to the bathtub the shower will be hot. Great motivator to know that I won't be standing there waiting to warm up.
posted by straw at 9:17 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I've answered a similar question before.

The general advice in this scenario is that you're not getting enough sleep, or enough quality sleep at any rate. Sounds like you also have a sleep inertia problem, which may or may not be related to the amount and quality of sleep you're getting (sleep inertia can be a problem without being a symptom of another problem, though, so YMMV). Anyway: your best bet is to try to improve your sleep.

Alcohol can inhibit sleep, so those glasses of wine could be hurting your sleep as much as they're helping you relax. Only you know what constitutes too much for you, but the general assumption is that if you drink "too much" you'll sleep poorly because you end up dehydrated. Personally I'd assume that 1-2 glasses is OK and 3 is maybe too many, but you should know what works for you.

If you can use a dawn lamp without waking your partner, it is a good way of resetting your circadian rhythm. My sleep doc recommended I combine light therapy with exercise first thing, but I have enough trouble getting out of bed without also trying to force myself to exercise. In fact, I think for me the dread of exercise would make the morning worse.

You don't mention anything about coffee, but an addiction to a morning jolt of caffeine can be helpful as another physiological driver to help you get up and out of bed.

And this might be utterly impractical, but you could also get a dog. The dog needs to go out every morning and that could be your job. I acknowledge that this is a ridiculous suggestion, but maybe you've been thinking about getting a dog for other reasons and this would just be another one.
posted by fedward at 9:41 AM on January 15, 2015

Quality sleep is essential. Blue light glasses (and F.lux) helped me big time - before I stumbled upon them, I was convinced that I would never be a morning person; now, I finally remember what a decent night's sleep feels like... AND can wake up at 6 with no alarm! Of course, this is a moot point if you don't tinker with your cell phone/laptop/ipad before bed like I do.

Also, when I was initially trying to reset my internal clock, I took two Benadryl a few hours before I would normally go to sleep. That stuff knocks you out like a light.

Another potential strategy: I have a friend that places a shot of espresso by his bed before he sleeps, and downs it in the morning.

Oh yeah - DO NOT HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON ON YOUR ALARM CLOCK. Not even once! And place it so that you have to get up to turn it off.
posted by CottonCandyCapers at 9:53 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

Go outside and get some sun.There are real physiological reasons for this but basically the sun tells your brain to wake up.
posted by eq21 at 10:27 AM on January 15, 2015

My husband moved the alarm clock across the room, near the bathroom door. Getting out of bed to turn the alarm off means I'm most of the way to the shower, so I may as well keep moving. And make sure that alarm is annoying!
posted by waving at 10:40 AM on January 15, 2015

Do you have low blood pressure? Are you low on iron? These things could play a role.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 11:13 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

The grogginess may actually be your friend here. It's possible to get out of bed and hit the shower before you really realise that that is what you are doing. Don't give yourself the time to think about whether you actually WANT to get out of bed, just get up before the thinking starts.
posted by Too-Ticky at 11:13 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

Two things. Jump out of bed when the alarm goes off. Then drink water. Just tell yourself, "I am a person who gets out of bed when the alarm goes off." Because now, you are.

Turn the lights on, pee, and by that time you'll be up and functioning. The hot shower will seal the deal.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:15 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

More suggestions from this question.
posted by Triumphant Muzak at 12:26 PM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

2nding the sleep tracking app. Right now I am using Sleep for Android (it gives you a free 14 day trial then you have to purchase it to use it). I have it set to wake me up during the lightest part of my sleep cycle, and more importantly, I have it set so I can't hit snooze, and in order to turn off the alarm I have to go into the kitchen and scan a QR code. So, if I was sleeping with a partner, I would rush out of bed to turn off the stupid alarm. Even though I'm not, I rush out of bed to turn it off because it is annoying. For me, once I am out of bed then I am out, but it sounds like this might work for you in concert with a few of the suggestions above.
posted by tweedle at 12:58 PM on January 15, 2015

My alarm clock has to be across the room or I won't get out of bed.
posted by wryly at 1:14 PM on January 15, 2015

I set the coffeemaker to make the coffee at the time I want to get up. I wake up to NPR, and at some point, I realize "Hey, there's Fresh Coffee" and this gets me out of bed, pouring coffee and looking out the window as I drink it.

I leave my alarm set every day. I generally wake up 5 minutes before the alarm goes off. My body & brain work better when I keep to a schedule. I try to go to bed at the same time every day, not as successful, but when it works, I feel better and get up with less difficulty.
posted by theora55 at 1:16 PM on January 15, 2015

I came here to say the "chug a glass of water" trick, too. It's legit.
posted by saul wright at 1:36 PM on January 15, 2015

I have got a lot, lot, lot better about getting up early since my boyfriend and I adopted a dog (and I'm the one who takes her outside first thing in the morning, which is typically at 5am for me). You don't need to get a dog for this, but going out for a breath of fresh, cold air while your coffee brews could be effective and even enjoyable.
posted by littlegreen at 1:38 PM on January 15, 2015

Might work - I promise myself that if I get up, have a shower and get dressed, I can go back to bed if I want to.
posted by kjs4 at 3:25 PM on January 15, 2015

A job that you like that stipulates that you be in at 7:30 AM.
posted by McMillan's Other Wife at 5:18 PM on January 15, 2015

I agree with setting the thermostat to get slightly overwarm right around the time you need to be up. I hate being overwarm in bed, and when I am I *want* to get up. We've also started using one of those light up alarm clocks (we call it 'the fake sun') and find that it actually works! Not sure the science behind it, but I find myself awaking with the alarm (which sounds 30 minutes after the light starts to come on) and feeling ready to get going.
posted by AliceBlue at 5:49 PM on January 15, 2015

Ideas:

1- Setting the alarm with upbeat songs that make you want to dance.

2- Make the morning the time you do something that you love the most. Ex: If you LOVE to play video games, schedule yourself to play them for 15-20 minutes first thing every morning. It's a lot easier to get up in the morning if you're doing it for something you adore.

3- Set up an appointment with someone in the morning. Ex: You can meet up with someone to go for a run each morning. You're more likely to get up if there's someone expecting you.

4- Sunrise Alarm clocks. There are alarm clocks that will shine a bright light in the morning. It's not as easy to go back to sleep when there is a bright light shining in your face.

5- This one only works for some people because of the religious/spiritual factor: Associate prayer for a particular time in the morning. Many religions claim that Sunrise and the time before sunrise is Holy and the best time for prayer and spiritual practice. It gets me up because if I stay in the cozy bed I will miss the Holiest time of the day to say my prayers and express my hopes.

6- Vitamin B spray: Spray vitamin b in your mouth each morning. It will give you a bit of an energy boost.

7- CDP Choline: A supplement that gives you a nice energy boost when taken.
posted by rancher at 6:17 PM on January 15, 2015

I sleep in a pretty dark room so I don't wake up at dawn. What I have been doing recently is turning on my bed side lamp as soon as the alarm goes off. This has greatly diminished my don't-wanna-get-out-of-bed-yet time.
posted by sacrifix at 7:24 PM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

I very much enjoy having two or three glasses of wine in the evening, but I've had to accept that even a moderate amount of alcohol like that (and even when sipped slowly over hours and with food) will have a serious impact on the quality of my sleep that night. It's sad, because i love nice wine, but for me a maximum of one glass (or a nice beer, since opening a bottle of wine in order to drink one glass makes no sense) is the rule on a work night.

Not everyone gets affected in that way, but try a few days of zero alcohol to see if it makes a difference for you.
posted by Dip Flash at 10:55 PM on January 15, 2015

As someone who gets really bad sleep inertia, I use a dawn lamp at the highest setting and just put it right next to my face. Eventually the endorphins from the sunshine end up making me feel positive instead of dreadful, and drinking a lot of water helps jumpstart. A splash of cold water at the sink also helps too.

At night, f.lux, and the most soothing Pandora station (I like the "Spa Radio" one) really help.
posted by yueliang at 1:51 AM on January 16, 2015

Not very inspirational, but I always tell my sleepy self, "If you get out of bed now, you can take a nap later." I never end up needing a nap later, but in the midst of the grogginess this always makes me feel better.
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 3:56 AM on January 16, 2015 [1 favorite]

Hot beverage of choice, if at all possible maybe even RIGHT NEXT TO THE BED. I know a person who's rigged up a tea station at her bedside using one of those 3-tiered Ikea carts, where she brings a thermos or flask or whatever of water to bed for the kettle and sets the tea up. When she wakes up all she has to do is turn the kettle on and steep, which she can do without getting out of bed. (Meanwhile, I desperately wish they would make Swan Teasmades for the US, alas.)

And this time of year, if it's cold where you are, I find that's the biggest detractor from getting out of bed. So I make sure my warmest fleeciest robe and schlub-house pants and slippers are hanging right next to the bed so I can pretty much climb out right into them and not be bare and cold for more than a second.
posted by ifjuly at 1:35 PM on January 16, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thank you all. I'm taking on board the chugging of water, the popping of iron pills; the house is warm and the dog is to hand.
posted by M.Onniker at 3:23 AM on January 19, 2015