Have you ever felt inspired to wake up early and start a new morning routine? If so then you’re in luck, because I’m here to help with some motivational quotes to wake up early!
Maybe you’re fed up with rushing around at the last minute, or you’ve heard about all the amazing benefits of starting your day just one hour earlier and want to see what all the fuss is about. I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been here, and it sounds deceptively simple, doesn’t it?
So why can setting your alarm earlier and following through sometimes feel like the hardest thing in the world?
Whilst starting your day when you say you will may well prove to be one of the best habits you can cultivate, it’s surprising how many of us struggle with this. Statistics show that we younger Brits are heavily dependent on the snooze button, with 58% hitting it at least once in the morning, and a guilty quarter of us pressing it at least three times.
Whether you’re a night owl playing video games until two in the morning, or you just can’t get enough of that cosy cocooned feeling when your alarm rudely interrupts, we have all experienced that sweet short-term gratification of hitting snooze (‘just 15 more minutes…’).
When I’ve thought about my own relationship with over-sleeping, it always grimly fascinates me that I have no problem forcing myself up to go to work (which at a basic level means respecting someone else’s time); so why on earth do I find it so damn difficult respecting my own time?
In all seriousness, do you ever seriously stop to consider the rather more gradual but devastating long-term effects of habitually starting your days unintentionally?
Why Should You Get Up on Your Alarm?
On a psychological level as much as a physical one, setting an alarm the night before represents setting an intention for the day. As your first decision, this sends an important signal to your subconscious mind.
Arguably, getting up on your alarm is about far more than just being organised or getting stuff done. On a deeper level, every time we press the snooze button, we erode a little bit of faith in ourselves and our self-worth. On the flip side, every time we do what we say we are going to do, we build trust in ourselves and show ourselves on an unspoken level that we are important.
Of course, what makes this so difficult is that no one apart from you knows and no one apart from you particularly cares. When you were a child, your parents would have taken care of this for you. And possibly this is the real transition into adulthood, where you have the frankly terrifying realisation dawn on you that you and only you are responsible for your own life. No one is going to tell you what to do, set deadlines or tell you to sort your shit out. As Mel Robbins bluntly but necessarily puts it:
No one is coming to save you.
Before we get too depressed by this tragic epiphany, we might also take a moment to breathe a sigh of relief. What a blessing to realise that we don’t have to worry about anything outside of ourselves; about people and things that we have no control over. How daunting but wonderful to truly comprehend that we are fully accountable for ourselves, and how we conduct ourselves in the world. Even and most especially in the moments that no one else sees.
Waking Up Early Builds Your Own Personal Integrity
In a nutshell, this is about building your own personal integrity.
You have probably heard it said that what we tell ourselves matters – and it does. But how we treat ourselves matters too. And I’m not just talking about getting that spa day booked (as important as pamper sessions are). Not to be too fatalistic about it, but my sincere question is; do we fundamentally treat ourselves as though we are worthy of our own time and respect? If you don’t start your day caring about your own time, how does this affect the rest of your day, your short-term goals, week, month, year, even your long-term goals? How does it affect the direction of your life?
The combination of getting enough sleep and doing what we say we will is the springboard for lots of other healthy habits. Understanding your why behind things is always the most important catalyst for making and sticking with change, so I hope this gives you initial push you need to develop this habit!
Read on for 21 motivational quotes to wake up early and start your day with intention:
- Adopt an attitude of gratitude for each new day
- Learn to seize the day by being fully present in the here and now
- Set the right tone for the rest of your day
- Build your daily routines to see positive change in your life
- Work towards your goals whilst everyone else is still sleeping
Inspirational Quotes to Wake Up Early
Have Gratitude For Each New Day
When you’re tired, it’s dark outside, and your work desk is beckoning, you could be forgiven for feeling disgruntled when your alarm goes off in the morning. It’s easy for us to forget what a miracle it is for us to be alive in the world, with the opportunity to experience a new day. Try changing your perspective by opening your curtains with a smile, and journaling three things you’re grateful for.
1.
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.
Marcus Aurelius
Whilst ‘gratitude’ may not have been so well-coined a term when Aurelius wrote Meditations nearly 2,000 years ago, this lesson remains as relevant then as it is today.
2.
The first thing I do in the morning when I awaken is say, ‘Thank you, Lord!’
Maya Angelou
Popular American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou understood the importance of daily gratitude, despite the many hardships and inequalities she experienced throughout her life.
3.
Always when I woke up, I had the feeling which I am sure must be natural to all of us, a joy in being alive.
Agatha Christie
One of our best-known and loved crime novelists, Agatha Christie’s prolific output shows the compound effect of making the most of each day.
4.
Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Revered throughout the world as the ‘father of mindfulness’, we could all learn something from the teachings of this pioneering Buddhist monk.
5.
Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.
The Dalai Lama
Take a leaf from the Dalai Lama’s book and be thankful for your precious human existence.
Live In The Present Moment
When we practice mindfulness, we can learn to experience each day being truly present. Waking up early is an acknowledgement that the only power we have is to affect the here and now; this present moment. Instead of regretting yesterday or worrying about unknown events in the future, we can be intentional in the present moment with our choices.
6.
Live today. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Just today. Inhabit your moments. Don’t rent them out to tomorrow.
Jerry Spinelli
This is a quote from one of my favourite Young Adult books, Love, Stargirl. Take this inspiration into your morning, and make the most of the here and now.
7.
Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.
Seneca
Another of our greatest early thinkers, Stoic philosopher Seneca understood the importance of being present in each moment.
8.
Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.
Buddha
Follow Buddha’s advice and don’t be afraid to seize the day. It’s all we have.
9.
Realise deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.
Eckhart Tolle
Modern-day spiritual leader and self-help author Eckhart Tolle has written extensively on the topic of living in the moment. To get started, try his classic texts The Power of Now or A New Earth.
Set the Tone for the Rest of Your Day
We’ve all had days which have run away with us and spiralled into stress or procrastination, but more often than not, this starts with a morning where we didn’t set a clear intention for the day. Build a morning routine that aligns with the person you want to be, and make time for this consistently. This may include creative time, exercise, meditation, a walk in nature or a healthy breakfast.
10.
Take excellent care of the front end of your day, and the rest of your day will pretty much take care of itself. Own your morning. Elevate your life.
Robin Sharma
Robin Sharma’s The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning, Elevate Your Life is a must-read if you want to get more out of your day and achieve great things. Use it to develop a morning routine that supports your well-being and that you look forward to.
11.
Morning is an important time of day, because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have.
Lemony Snicket
As Lemony Snicket perfectly puts it, our morning has a direct impact on the rest of our day, so make your morning a positive and productive one!
12.
Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.
Mark Twain
This is such a memorable piece of advice from Mark Twain! Whatever it is you’re putting off or procrastinating about, tackle the ugliest job on your to-do list first thing in the morning. Not only will your general productivity sky-rocket when it comes to achieving your goals, but once you come to understand that difficult things are figure-out-able, anything is possible!
13.
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau understood the powerful combination of early morning and getting your body moving. Get up and get outside quickly after waking. You will feel re-invigorated and re-energised with an early morning walk in nature.
Change Begins With Your Daily Routine
I’ve been guilty in the past of thinking it’s all about the big events in our lives; the graduation ceremony, wedding, or winning that prestigious award at work. But it really is the small habits we fill our days with which have the potential to change our lives. Starting a new morning routine may on the surface of it appear fairly trivial, but if you can develop it and stick with it, it is mind-blowing what you can achieve. Overall, this 1% change will have compound effects that you can’t even imagine right now.
14.
Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.
James Clear
One of my favourite books, I can’t recommend James Clear’s Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones enough! For clear and insightful ways to build a new and positive morning routine through manageable habit changes, look no further.
15.
You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.
John C. Maxwell
American author, speaker and pastor John C. Maxwell wrote many books, mainly focusing on leadership. To reach your potential and become the best version of yourself, create your daily routine with intention.
16.
No one is coming to save you.
Mel Robbins
This quote really hit home for me! No one else is going to get up in the morning and work towards your dreams for you. So what are you waiting for?!
17.
The secret to change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but building the new.
Socrates
Greek philosopher Socrates encourages us to focus our energies on what we want to achieve in life, rather than wallowing in the mistakes of the past. Use your morning to start building the new!
Get Ahead On Your Goals
What is your passion in life? Your purpose? Tap into the quiet hours of the morning to enter a flow state, and propel yourself forwards towards your dream life. As soon as you’ve got clear on your values and know your why, write a mini pledge to yourself which you can refer back to whenever you’re feeling de-motivated or questioning the importance of following through.
18.
Wake up early in the morning so that while others are still dreaming, you can make your dreams come true.
Hal Elrod
Hal Elrod’s The Miracle Morning is for anyone that wants to step out of their mediocre life and achieve their full potential. If you want guidance on how to get the best out of your morning routine, this is the book for you!
19.
What is the point of being alive if you don’t at least try to do something remarkable?
John Green
What a beautiful quote from John Green’s Young Adult novel An Abundance of Katherines. We all have a gift. It’s your job in life to find it and get to work!
20.
No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.
Tony Robbins
Self-help guru Tony Robbins is a straight-talker and will give you all the motivation you need to revolutionise your morning routine. Read his book Awaken The Giant Within to start the inner work required for change.
21.
You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.
Stephen King
Last but not least, you probably know Stephen King for his bestselling horror and supernatural fiction, but try his lesser-known memoir On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. You can’t help but feel inspired.
So what are you waiting for? Commit to your best life and build a morning routine that works for you today!
For tips on using your morning to build a creativity habit, check out my post here.
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