This might be one of the most fruitful tips in our 15 Transformational Tips for the Night Owl.

It is also one of the hardest.

Are you ready for this, 'cause some of you are going to want to slap me after this one...

Ditch the snooze button.

I can't remember how long ago I finally said "Adios!" to the snooze button, but it has been a good change. This is coming from the gal who's college roommates dubbed me the Snooze Queen. So, I totally get this struggle.

To be sure I am clear here, when I...

I tried (unsuccessfully) for years to get up early to spend time with God.

I made it up for a few days, weeks, or even a month; but it never stuck. Today's tip continues to be transformational for me, in meeting my morning goals.

Surround Yourself with Support

This is what the Hello Mornings challenge is all about; providing a group of like-minded friends who are running in the same direction as you. 

The accountability and encouragement of the Hello Mornings community has pushed me toward ...

Having a consistent morning routine is hard. There are distractions and changes in schedule or sleep patterns. There are days when you run out of time or will power to follow through.

But we can prepare in advance for the “fights” that get in the way of the life-giving, God-honoring morning routines that we want.

In this next series of posts, I’ll be helping you train to knock out some of the common morning routine enemies (like morning myths, the snooze button, the phone and more!). So don’t thro...

It's one thing to set your goals, make your plans, and set an alarm for bed time.

It's quite another to tell others of your goals, your plans, and what time you plan to be in bed.

Here's transformational tip #7: Tell others of your attempts to rise early.

It is much easier to give up, if no one knows what you are trying to do. Tell your husband and children what your plans are. Post about it on Facebook (no better accountability for when you are up too late!) Ask some trusted friends to pray ...

I'm in a deep sleep—happy in la-la land—and suddenly I hear the tone of my alarm calling me to the real world.

Is it time to get up already?!

As reality sets in that it is, indeed, time to wake up, I reach for my phone to silence the sound and face a decision.

To get up—or not.

It is in this pivotal moment I can use all the help I can get, so here is our next tip!

Don't linger.

Sit up, place your feet on the floor, and start walking!

It is hard to get out of bed, whether it is 5 AM or 8 ...

Without accountability, I go to bed way too late.

While I am certainly guilty of staying up late watching Hallmark movies, playing games, or wasting time on Facebook, most of my late nights happen because I truly do not realize how late it is!

As a project-lover, I get engrossed in what I am working on and completely lose track of time.

I don't even remember how or when this idea sparked, but one day I had an "aha!" moment. Why not set an alarm for bed time?!

My evening alarm is a reminder f...

 Welcome to a new series of posts designed to encourage and equip you for amazing mornings.

Do you ever get information overwhelm? This blog series is here to help combat the overwhelm by breaking things down to one easy to implement habit a week. This week's habit comes from Jess Connolly, our podcast guest on episode 14:

Keep your To Do list with you during your God Time.

You might think you need to keep your time with God separate from your planning time, but if you feel yourself getting...

 There is an often neglected time of day each of us needs to take a good look at before we can serious about waking up earlier.

Bedtime.

Becoming an early-riser will never be a reality if you do not go to bed earlier. You might be able to make it on fumes for a while but—sooner or later—you will run out of gas.

This getting-up-early thing is more than a line on your checklist. It is a lifestyle change and it is going to take sacrifice.

Sleep cannot be the thing you sacrifice.

You must go to...

Baby steps—small, manageable movements forward—are your friends.

Now that you have a short-term goal in place its time to break it down into smaller, easy chunks.

I like to take these chunks in a month's time. Since my short-term goal is to move my wake time by 30 minutes over 3 months, then 10 minutes a month should do the trick!

Change takes time. 10 minutes may not seem like much of a change, but over time it makes a big difference, and since it is a gradual change it is sustainable.

What...

🎧 Morning Tips for Night Owls: Setting Goals for Your Mornings

Getting up early is hard. We've figured the why behind an early morning, and now we need a what. What is it that we are shooting for?

Plan Your Ideal Goal

I like to start by dreaming about what my ideal morning would be, given my current stage of life. What do I want my ideal mornings to include?

• Time with God
• A bit of planning for the day
• Work on writing projects
• Exercise
• Shower

What does your ideal morning look like?...

Before we dive into the nitty gritty of how to get out of bed when that alarm goes off, we need to take a step back and look at our why.

Why say hello to an earlier morning?

HelloMornings is not a competition to see who can get out of bed the earliest. It is also not a one-size-fits all plan.

You must figure out what will drive you to get out of bed. What is your motivation for change? Is this just a box to check off, or is there more to it than that?

My "why" is simple, I want to glorify ...

You have the best of intentions. You’ve set your alarm for tomorrow with time for your morning routine, but when it goes off the next morning your old enemy the snooze button strikes again.

But the snooze button doesn't have to be your enemy. In fact you can use it to HELP you have your morning routine.

Wha???

It's true! Most snoozes are about 3-5 minutes - the PERFECT amount of time for your... 3-Minute Morning. Oh, yeah!

Just hit the snooze and snuggle under your covers while you pray Psa...