Ask HN: How can I get up early in the morning?

Life is too short to be muttering through the day like a zombie, either, so you're going to need to sleep as much as you need.

Keep going to be earlier until you wake up when you want. Stop using an alarm clock. Be consistent.

I haven't used an alarm clock in years, and when I need to get up at 3:30 to hit the gym, its not a problem. Of course, I'm going to bed 8 hours before that too.

You can't cheat the math. If you want to get up earlier, as pg and others said, go to bed earlier.

EDIT: By nature, I have the damnedest time going to bed. I'm always immersing myself in a programming problem or a TV show or some other time sink (worthwhile or not). To fix this, I started taking melatonin an hour or so before I plan to go to sleep. I know its helped me adjust my sleep/wake cycle.

Find something cool to do the next day. Regulate your body and mind so you can sleep well and wake up early.

Do something you enjoy. Look forward to the next day. Sometimes I find myself going to sleep earlier just so the next day will arrive ( :

I think you just lost your right to complain about comments that are shallow, flippant and/or do not bring any useful knowledge or argument to the table. Sleep is a serious subject with many intricacies and hacking one's sleep can have far-reaching consequences. By reducing it to a short soundbite you set out a bad example, and it will be followed with zeal - already it's been modded to 55. Sad.

Personally, I have noticed that watching tv and using the computer late at night keeps me up later. There have been studies that link tv watching and reduced melatonin levels. So don't use either before you want to go to bed.

Steve Pavlina has written a couple good articles.

Overview.

1. Go to bed when tired

2. Get up at the same time every morning. So if you don't get enough sleep one night, you'll go to bed earlier the next.

3. Don't do anything very stimulating late at night. Don't drink caffeine, or exercise late at night. Stimulating activities will keep you up to late.

4. Don't turn getting up into a problem with self-discipline, turn getting up into a habit. It's kind of corny, but practice getting out of bed during the day. Match the conditions where you get up, turn out lights, take off your work clothes, and get into bed. When your alarm goes off, jump out of bed, thrown on clothes, and do a little bit of exercise or do something else to wake you up. It doesn't matter really what you do, it just has to be consistent. After practicing a few times, it should be a habit, and you will be able to get up with your alarm when it goes off.

Part 1:http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/05/how-to-become-an-ea...

Part 2:http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/05/how-to-become-an-ea...

Getting up with an alarm clock: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/04/how-to-get-up-right...