Surviving Public School: 11 Ways to Get Up on Time

It is very, very hard to get out of bed at 5:30 AM. If you have to get up this early also, I feel your pain. There is no feeling more wonderful than that of there being a school delay and getting to snuggle back into your blankets after the alarm goes off and go back to sleep.

I am still experimenting to find ways to improve the ease with which I get out of bed in the morning, but I have gleaned some tips that I would like to share.

The Night Before

• Plan your day. Even if you aren't super-organized like me, getting your daily schedule out of your head and onto a piece of paper will help you sleep better. Whether this means jotting a to-do list on a sticky note or crafting an elaborate, prioritized to-do list or schedule, you will go to sleep faster if you don't have your to-do list floating around in your head.
• (Girls) Lay out your outfit/hair/makeup supplies. Congratulations, now you can bump your alarm clock forward five minutes (or ten, depending on how long you usually spend on this...). It will save you massive time in the morning if every piece of your outfit and all of the beauty supplies you need are ready to grab.
• Take a shower. This will save you boatloads of time in the morning as well.
• Make sure your alarm is set for the right time. And then double-check, because nothing ruins a morning faster than waking up 30 minutes late and realizing your alarm clock was set for 5:30 PM instead of 5:30 AM. 
• Go to bed at a reasonable time. Depending on your body clock and whether or not you are a morning person, I would say no later than 10:30 PM. So don't start watching Netflix at 9:00! If you need to, enlist your parents to keep you accountable with this.

In the Morning

• Listen to music. This is my favorite tip; it really works!! Start your day by listening to a few songs, still laying in bed. It makes you more likely to start your routine on time if you don't have to get up immediately, and the music will help wake you up. (Tip: if you go to sleep again really easily, turn your light on while you listen to the music so you stay awake.)
• Turn the lights on all the way. If it's still dark when you get up, turn your light on all the way immediately. If it's light, open the blinds. This will help wake you up.
• Splash your face with cold water. It's a guaranteed wake-up call. 

In the Long Term

• Rethink your morning routine. If it's taking you more than an hour to get ready for school, consider why. Should you shower at night? Are you constantly losing your homework? How can you shave your routine down to give you more time to sleep?
• Keep to a consistent bedtime. Even on weekends, if you can. If your body knows when to go to sleep and when to wake up, it will adjust accordingly and be easier.
• Get a new alarm clock. If your alarm sound annoys you, it will make your morning bad. Get a clock with an alarm you like, or try a radio clock.

Getting up will always be hard, but hopefully these tips will make it slightly easier for you!

What do you think? Do you like these tips? Do you have any that you would add? Share in the comments!