How to wake up early

Do you struggle to get out of bed in the morning? You’re not alone. A 2022 YouGov study found that 68% of people reported feeling tired very or fairly often when they wake up in the morning. Four in ten said it was difficult to get out of bed in the morning and the same number said they hit the snooze button at least once in the morning before getting up.

It’s so tempting to sleep in for as long as possible in the morning, especially if you’re not a morning person. However, waking up just a little bit earlier can give you time to create a relaxing morning routine and set you up for the day right. Plus, early risers tend to fall asleep faster at night so it’s a win/win, really.

But waking up earlier is often easier said than done. The science behind why some people find it easier to wake up early than others is down to our circadian rhythms. The 24-hour cycle is essentially the body’s internal clock that helps determine our sleep-wake cycle. It’s influenced by environmental cues, especially light, so that’s why our natural sleep-wake cycle is tied to the cycle of day and night. An irregular or disrupted circadian rhythm can have a negative effect on your mental health.

Dr Craig Heller, who researches the neurobiology of sleep and circadian rhythms at Stanford University, explains the science of why some of us are morning people and others are night owls. “Some people, known as larks, have circadian rhythms shorter than 24 hours and others, called owls, have circadian rhythms longer than 24 hours,” he tells woo.

However, if you’re a night owl, all is not lost. There are some ways you can hack your natural circadian rhythm to change your sleep routine to wake up earlier. “Owls can shift their circadian rhythms by avoiding bright light in the evening and being exposed to bright light in the morning,” continues Dr Heller. “The alarm clock is the crutch that will help get into a new routine.”

Following expert advice on sleep and circadian rhythms, we’ve selected a bunch of products to help you wake up earlier so you can become the morning person you’ve always wanted to be.