This article is the 5th in the 6-part series, Lifehack Challenge: Become An Early Riser In 5 Days. If you’d like to join, leave a comment that includes your promised wake-up time. The hard part is actually getting out of bed!

Do you have a strange sleep habit? Perhaps you like to eat cheese right before bed, sleep with all the lights on, or put a pillow beneath your feet instead of your head?

There’s a reason for my asking this beyond the sheer enjoyment we’ll all get from reading your confession. Namely, that you may find it helpful to view your entire rest-wake cycle holistically and not put all your effort into dragging yourself out of bed at a certain time each morning.

Of course, this IS your week to rise early, but then what? You signed up to try and become an early riser not because you want to sleep less but because you want to do more. You want to experience more of your life as a well-rested individual who has an idea of when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to celebrate (or, in most of our cases, work).

So how will you make your new habit stick and help you view your sleep differently?

  • Get some friends involved – Many of you found value in this challenge because you knew you weren’t the only one trying something new. Take that knowledge home with you and find some close friends who will help you keep your habit going. Perhaps you met somebody through this challenge who will keep you on track?
  • Embrace the idiosyncrasies of your schedule – You’re going to have weird days and odd things that help you sleep when you’re feeling stressed. The important thing is that you figure out what works best for you and act upon that knowledge on a regular basis. If you need another challenge in a few months to get you back on track, just say the word!
  • Don’t let becoming an early riser be the last thing you change this year – Now that you’re proving to yourself and those around you that you can change in ways you want, keep that train moving! Decide on something else you’d like to change, map your path to success, and push for it!

If you have an idea for a future challenge, let me know. Otherwise, it’s your turn to check in with the scoop on what makes your sleep different from any other’s. This has been a great challenge so far. Thanks for your participation and encouragement you’ve been giving to each other. That’s what makes this work so well. That’s what will help so many of you change in ways you want to. Let’s keep this going!

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