Amin Ahmed: The early bird gets more than the worm.
Why I wake up at 4 a.
m.
Hello and welcome to the Be Well, Do Well podcast.
I'm your host, Amin, and today we're diving into a topic that might have some of you hitting the snooze button just hearing about it.
Waking up at 4 a.
m.
Yes, that's right, 4 a.
m.
in the morning.
But before you dismiss me as a sleep deprived lunatic, Let's explore why this could be your secret weapon for success, and how even the night owls among us can join the early bird club.
So grab your coffee, because you might need it for this one, and let's get started.
You might be wondering, why on earth would I wake up when it's practically still night?
well let me tell you about some of the most successful entrepreneurs and business people who swear by this.
Apple's CEO Tim Cook, for example, starts his day at 3.
45am.
I know, he beats our 4am by a quarter.
Then there's Michelle Obama, who's often in the gym by 4.
30.
it's not just about getting a head start on emails or hitting the gym.
It's about undisturbed, peaceful time to focus on yourself and your goals before the rest of the world, or in my case, the kids, wake up.
Waking up at 4am isn't just a show of discipline.
It's a lifestyle that brings numerous benefits.
Now before I move on, keep in mind that I was not always an early bird.
I used to go to sleep past midnight easily and wake up right before I had to leave to catch the bus to get to school or to get to work, and that was a really stressful time for me.
But let's look at this early morning routine.
First you get a head start on the day, imagine finishing your workout, planning your day, and still having time for a calm breakfast while others are just hitting snooze.
Also, the tranquility of early morning hours is perfect for meditation or deep work, without the distractions of a busy household or a buzzing phone.
Where we live in Canada, the sun rises very early in the summertime and it's a beautiful time to be awake, even just going outside for a nice short walk.
Wintertime is a little bit different where the sun doesn't rise till quite late, but, You can make your own little sanctuary, your own little space for when you get up in the morning.
Now, for the night owls thinking, that's great Amin, but I can't even wake up at 7am without feeling groggy.
I hear you.
Like I said, I used to be a night owl.
But becoming an early bird is more about habit than a natural inclination.
Here's a strategy to help you ease into it.
The first thing is that you have to remember that this is a gradual adjustment.
Don't shock your system.
Start by waking up even just 15 minutes earlier than usual and then gradually increase it every few days.
I remember for a while when I was trying this, I would actually set my clock to two minutes earlier every single day.
Two minutes was not a big deal, it didn't make a big difference, but in the end, at the end of the week, that was already 10 to 15 minutes earlier than the week before.
It took a lot of time and I didn't always wake up right when I was supposed to, but that helped a lot.
The second thing is you can create a sleep inducing environment.
Make your bedroom a sanctuary for sleep, not for watching Netflix or staying up late.
A cool, dark, and quiet environment is the way to go.
Next is creating an evening routine.
Like I mentioned, your bedroom should not be where you're watching TV.
It should not be where you're doing stimulating activities that keep your mind racing when it's time for bed.
Maybe read a book or do some light stretching instead.
Having some goals and something to look forward to is really great, because that helps you get out of bed.
It could be as simple as a delicious breakfast, or your favorite coffee, or just a quiet moment to yourself.
Right now, my morning routine consists of a short meditation, and I also like to do something called the morning pages, where I grab my notebook, sometimes it's an iPad, sometimes I even use my phone with my stylus.
And I write for about 10 to 15 minutes.
The idea is to write three pages not really writing about anything specific, just whatever comes to your mind.
But the key is to not stop.
So just continue writing until you finish your three pages or if you set a time limit, maybe it's 15 minutes.
And lastly, it comes down to consistency.
Try to wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends, and your body will thank you for it.
You don't necessarily have to go to sleep at the same time.
Go to sleep when you're ready, but try to wake up every day at the same time.
There's a great article by Steve Pavlina about how to become an early riser, and I'm gonna put that down in the show notes if you want to take a look at that article a little bit more.
So is waking up at 4am a magical solution for success?
Maybe not for everyone, but it certainly is a habit that can provide you with more time, and definitely less stress and more calm.
And maybe even a sense of accomplishment before sunrise.
And remember, it's not about sacrificing sleep, it's about shifting your schedule to maximize those quiet early hours.
And if you start waking up at 4am, who knows, maybe you'll even have time to listen to this podcast episode twice.
That's all for today.
Thanks for tuning in to the Be Well, Do Well podcast.
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Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll be discussing balancing entrepreneurship with family time.
Until then, keep striving and thriving, and I'll see you again tomorrow.