If you’re going to wake up early, you need to learn how to go to bed earlier.
I talk a lot about waking up early.
In my opinion, your morning routine is the most important routine of the day.
How you start your day matters.
Going to bed earlier and getting enough sleep also matters.
You need your rest, mama.
I know you know this, but sometimes it’s easier said than done, right?
Related articles:
- 10 Smart Things to Add to Your Evening Routine
- 10 Ways to Trick Yourself into Waking Up Early
- Morning Routine Checklist + FREE Printable Workbook
The benefits of going to bed early
Experts still recommend that adults get 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
An adequate amount of sleep can lead to all kinds of health benefits.
Sleep reduces stress and inflammation. It may even reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease.
A lack of sleep impairs your body’s ability to repair itself and regulate hormones, which may lead to illness or obesity.
Deep sleep is when your body repairs tissues and cells, boosts immunity and creates energy for the next day.
REM sleep is important for processing information and storing memories.
Each phase of sleep is necessary for your brain and body to function properly.
Going to bed earlier will ensure that you are getting the sleep you need to make the most of every day.
How to go to bed earlier
Moms are really good at convincing themselves they don’t need much sleep. They compensate with dry shampoo and coffee.
You don’t have to live that way, friend. Let’s flip the script on the #hotmessmom culture.
It starts with taking care of yourself.
A good night of sleep will make you feel like a new woman, so use the tips below to help get your booty into bed on time.
1 // Set a bedtime
First and foremost, you need to know what time to get to bed.
Set a realistic bedtime by deciding what time you want to wake up in the morning. Then, count backward 7-8 hours.
There you have it – your new bedtime.
Simple, I know, but we have a tendency to overcomplicate things, don’t we?
It might take you a few nights to find your perfect bedtime.
Feel free to adjust until you feel like you can easily get up with your alarm.
The more you do this, the more aware you will become of your body and how much sleep you really need.
Try to go lights out 15 minutes before you would like to fall asleep.
2 // Create a bedtime alarm
Setting an alarm is the easiest way to remind yourself to do something.
Once you know what time you need to go lights out, decide how much time you need to get ready for bed.
Set an alarm on your phone to let you know when you need to head to the bedroom to wash your face and put your pj’s on.
You can even leave yourself enough time to read a book or spend a little quality time 😉 with your hubby.
This is super easy to do if you have an iPhone.
Create an alarm in your clock app and set it up to repeat every day, so you don’t have to think about it.
3 // Make it a habit
Consistency is key, my friend.
Once you decide on your bedtime and set that alarm, you have to follow through.
No, you won’t always feel like it. Do it anyway.
Commit to following the rules for at least a week and see how it changes things.
You can do anything for one week.
Show up for yourself and make it a habit.
4 // Eat dinner earlier
If you can, move your dinner time up an hour to avoid finishing too late.
I usually start cooking dinner around 5 or 5:30 p.m.
This gives us plenty of time to eat, clean up the kitchen, and still have some downtime before the bedtime routines begin.
Aim to have dinner on the table at a decent hour, so it doesn’t dominate your entire evening.
If you work outside of the home, start dinner as soon as you arrive home from work or ask your husband to help.
5 // Put your kids to bed earlier
Putting your kids to bed too late is another obstacle to getting yourself to bed earlier.
You can click here to determine how many hours of sleep your kids need.
This will depend on how old your kids are and whether or not they are in school, but you can put your kids to bed whenever you want.
My older two kids go to sleep after I’m already in bed, but I send them to their rooms to read.
That way, I can rest easy knowing they are in their bedrooms winding down for the night.
We haven’t had any issues so far, and they always get up with their alarms.
My youngest is in bed asleep before anyone else goes to bed.
Kids thrive on routine and flourish with boundaries, so don’t be afraid to enforce what works for your family.
6 // Schedule your “me-time” in the morning
One thing I hear often from my night owl friends is that by the end of the day they just want a little me-time.
This keeps them from going to bed on time because they haven’t had any time to themselves all day long.
I am a former night owl myself, so I get it.
The solution is to schedule your me-time in the morning. Make it a part of your morning routine.
This is what worked for me, and it’s how I stay consistent with my morning routine.
I love getting that time to myself in the morning before the day begins.
It’s the first thing that gets done, so it ALWAYS gets done.
Whatever it is that you love to do, start your day with that. It will change your attitude and your day.
If you need help creating a morning routine, click here to grab my free printable morning routine workbook.
7 // Avoid too much alcohol and caffeine
We all love our coffee, but drinking caffeine too late in the day can disrupt your sleep cycle.
Try to have your last cup of coffee before 2 p.m. or at least seven hours before bedtime.
Too much alcohol in the evening can disrupt your sleep as well.
It might seem like alcohol helps you fall asleep quicker, but it actually disrupts your sleep cycle later in the night.
If you want to have a glass of wine, sleep experts recommend that you do so earlier in the evening.
8 // Exercise earlier in the day
Exercise is another activity that disrupts your sleep cycle if done too late in the day.
Regular exercise, however, can improve sleep quality.
Exercise releases endorphins and raises your body temperature, both of which signals to your body that it’s time to be awake.
This effect lasts for a couple of hours post-sweat.
If you feel like exercise is interfering with your ability to sleep, schedule it earlier in the day.
9 // Put your phone away
If you are wondering how to go to bed earlier, you might consider cutting down on screentime before bed.
Not only do smartphones emit blue light, which increases alertness, but they are also addictive.
Once you start scrolling social media, it’s hard to stop.
Before you know it, an hour has passed, and you have added no real value to your life.
Stay off of your phone in the evening to get to bed on time and better connect with the people around you.
10 // Ask your spouse to join you
It is so much easier to go to bed on time when you have someone to hold you accountable.
Ask your spouse to join you in going to bed earlier.
Going to bed at the same time has the added benefit of increasing the connection between you and your spouse.
This helps you prioritize your marriage and get better sleep. Win-win.
Now, it’s your turn
As a former night owl, I can proudly say that I am now a morning person.
I love mornings, but I love them more when I get enough sleep.
It is possible to go to bed earlier.
Follow the practical tips outlined in this post, but also remember that it takes time to create a new habit.
Sometimes you just have to decide you’re going to do it and stay consistent even when you don’t feel like it.
I’m cheering for you, friend!
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