Reclaim Your Mornings, Reclaim Your Life

Hey,

As I shared last week, I’m on a journey to build momentum again.

One of the habits I’m trying to reclaim is waking up early—around that 4–5 am window.

I know it works. I’ve lived it. I’ve seen firsthand how much more I get done when I start my day before the world fully wakes up.

Lately, I’ve been easing myself back into this rhythm, and I truly believe it can help you too.

Make It Easier: Think 21 Days

Instead of thinking of it as a “forever” change, what if you decided to give it just 21 days? That’s long enough to build a habit and see results.

Set a time—say, 4:30 am every day—and use the first two hours for what truly matters to you.

It could be working on that side project, reading, journaling, exercising, or simply creating space to think. Whatever it is, make it intentional.

For me, these early hours lay the foundation for an extraordinary day.

No matter what happens later, I already feel accomplished and motivated.

Cultivating the Early Riser Habit

The journey to becoming an early riser takes discipline and a plan. Here’s what I’m focusing on:

1. Establish a Consistent Wake-Up Time
Wake up at the same time every day—even on weekends. This consistency trains your body’s internal clock and makes early rising easier over time.

2. Plan Your Morning in Advance
Before bed, decide what your early hours will look like. Having a clear plan removes the “What do I do now?” mental block and gives you a reason to get out of bed.

3. Prioritize Adequate Sleep
There’s no hack here— Just sleep early.

“Early to bed, early to rise” works because you’re not trying to push through exhaustion.

I’ll be honest: on days I don’t sleep early, I struggle. We both know how that feels.

4. Find Your Wake-Up Ritual
Have a go-to trigger for waking up. For me, it’s splashing water on my face the moment my alarm goes off.

For you, it might be stretching, doing 20 pushups, or stepping outside for fresh air.

Start Small

If 7 am is your normal wake-up time, aim for 6:30 am first. Then inch it earlier until you find your sweet spot. The key is to focus on progress, not perfection.

And remember—the time you sleep matters. You can’t expect to wake up at 5:30 am if you’re going to bed at 1:42 am. Rest is part of the process.

If I could leave you with one piece of advice: protect these early hours.

Don’t start them on your phone.

Fill them with intention, with the things that move you closer to who you want to be.

With you on this journey, always.
Uthman