Alarm clock goes off at 5am. I turn it off. Reset it for 6am. It goes off. I turn it off. I reset the alarm for 7am. It goes off for the third time. I don’t bother resetting it this time and roll out of bed at 7.30am. Instantly, I feel like a failure.

The whole early morning starts industry conditions one to believe that the earlier you wake up the more you will accomplish in your day. Forget the 5am start, how about the 4am wake up alarm? Given the push rate for early morning success it won’t be long before we are being told to give up on sleep. I jest here but you get my point.

You’ve probably toyed with the idea already of waking up earlier than you normally do. You’ve heard there are better ways to start your day and even considered how you might become more intentional in your mornings. At the same time, a morning routine can seem a challenging thing. You might not know where to begin.

If this is the case, take heart. Sometimes the best advice comes from people who have already mastered the skill you’re trying to learn. In this case, let’s look at what some people have to say who really know how to make the most of their day.

There is no mention of what time these people wake up at. The point is how they use their mornings productively. The logic behind the waking up very early industry is that giving yourself that extra time before the routine of your days starts – paid job, school runs, voluntary activities – gives you an extra edge to gather your thoughts and actions together.

“The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.”

Paul Valery recognized he wouldn’t get anything done by lying around in bed all day. You need to wake up and get moving to make things happen. Embrace his attitude by rising with your alarm instead of hitting the snooze in the morning.

“Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.”

The Dalai Lama knows a great deal about having the right mindset. To create positive energy which will follow you throughout the day, start with a positive thought from the moment you wake up.

“An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.”

Even back in the early 1800s, Henry David Thoreau knew the value of exercise as being part of your daily routine. By making something so simple as a walk part of the first part of the day, you too can reap the benefits of early morning exercise.

 “My future starts when I wake up every morning.”

Famous Jazz Musician, Miles Davis, realized the value of a fresh and positive start to every day. You can also embrace this attitude by reminding yourself from the moment you wake up just what you’re striving for and why this is important.

Good luck with your early morning routine.