Azmi Muthi Azzahra

We've all been there. You went to bed determined to get up bright and early; and the next day, you find yourself hitting the snooze button. And hitting it again. And again. Pretty soon, an hour has passed, and you're still groggy and running late. So how do you change this habit and learn to get up earlier? Well, you have to start by establishing a healthy day time and night time routine. That will help you to go to bed faster and to wake up earlier; without hitting that snooze button. See "Step 1" to get started.

1Don't hit the snooze button. If you snooze, then you really lose. Your snooze alarm won't be long enough for you to actually get any more rest, and hitting snooze will only make you fall back into a restless sleep and to waste so much of your precious time. If you have a solid morning routine, it shouldn't be hard for you to hit your alarm once and to get up and start your day. Okay, who are we kidding — of course it'll be hard, at first, but you can build your way towards making it easy.

• One thing you can do to motivate yourself to not hit the snooze button is to come up with something you're looking forward to doing that you can only accomplish if you have enough time. Maybe you can tell yourself that, if you wake up without hitting snooze, you can watch ten minutes of your favorite morning show, that you can read that article you've been meaning to read, or that you can take a quick refreshing walk around the block. If you tell yourself that you can only do this thing if you get up right away, then you'll be much more motivated to do so.
  
   2
  Drink a large glass of cold water. Drinking a refreshing glass of water will start to wake you up and to get your body in order. Stand tall as you're drinking this glass and you'll feel your body and senses slowly come alive. If the water is nice and cold, that can jar you awake even more easily. You can even have a bottle of water waiting for you at your bedside to motivate you to get up early.

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Have a nutritious breakfast. Having a healthy and nutritious breakfast can give you the energy you need to really wake up your mind and body without weighing you down. Don't eat anything too greasy or fattening, such as a cheese-filled omelet or greasy bacon, and opt for healthier options that can make you stay more alert for longer. Here are some great options you can try:

• Lean proteins, such as turkey bacon, lean ham, or egg whites
• Veggies such as kale, celery, or spinach
• Whole grains such as oatmeal or cereal
• A small yogurt

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Have caffeine, but not too much. A cup of coffee or tea can also help you get up early and start your day — some people swear that even the smell of coffee wakes them up! Just one cup of joe can help you feel more alert, but you should avoid having too many cups of coffee throughout your day, or it'll make it harder for you to fall asleep, and to wake up early. If you're a coffee addict, try to work yourself down to just one or two cups a day and avoid having caffeine after noon. This will help you start your day off on the right foot and will keep you from crashing later on in the day.

• It goes without saying: avoid energy drinks! Though these sugary treats may help you cram for your calculus exam, they'll make your heart race and will make it much harder for you to fall asleep.

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Take a cold shower. A hot shower may make you more tired, but a nice cold, or only sort of warm shower can help you feel more alert. Though some people like to shower at night, showering in the morning can help you wake up your entire body. Some people like to shower shortly after they wake up, while others like to eat breakfast first. You have to find whatever works for you — and stick to it.