Getting up while it is still dark outside: 7 tips for easier winter mornings
In winter, the alarm often feels as if it is going off in the middle of the night. With a few simple habits, getting up can still feel easier. Here are seven tips you can put into practice as early as tomorrow.
Why dark mornings are so hard
In winter, the alarm often goes off long before sunrise. Your body lacks the natural light signal that tells it the day is beginning. We explain why in detail in our article on winter tiredness. Here, the focus is on practice: what can you actually do to make getting up easier?
A good morning does not begin with the alarm, but the evening before.
7 tips for easier winter mornings
1. Make it light before the alarm goes off
The biggest difference comes when you no longer wake up in complete darkness. The HORIZON wake-up light slowly grows brighter ten minutes before your wake-up time and then wakes you with a gentle nature sound. The room is already light when you open your eyes.
2. Get up at the same time every day
A fixed time to get up, even at the weekend, is one of the simplest habits for a steady rhythm. After a few weeks, getting up often feels noticeably easier.
3. Skip the snooze button
Five more minutes feel good, but rarely bring real rest. Set your alarm for the time you actually want to get up instead, and then get up.
4. The first half hour belongs to you, not your smartphone
If the first thing you read in the morning is news and emails, you are instantly living in everyone else's day. Leave your smartphone where it is for the first half hour. A glass of water, a few deep breaths by the window and a calm breakfast are enough.
5. Lights on as soon as you get up
Once you are up, switch on bright light in the bathroom and kitchen. As soon as it gets light outside, open the curtains and, if you can, step outside for a few minutes.
6. Give your morning a small reason
Something to look forward to makes getting up easier: a good coffee, a few pages of a book, two minutes of stretching. Small rituals give your morning structure.
7. Lay the groundwork the evening before
An easy morning begins in the evening. Dim the lights, switch off screens earlier, capture your thoughts in the RITUAL JOURNAL and go to bed at a regular time. That way you start the next day more rested.
HORIZON brings the sunrise into your bedroom, even when it is still dark outside. No app, no smartphone. Try it risk-free for 30 nights.
Discover HORIZONFrequently asked questions
Getting up in winter
How can I get out of bed more easily in winter?
Helpful habits include fixed times to get up, light straight after waking, skipping the snooze button and a small reason to look forward to the morning. A wake-up light makes the room light even before the alarm sounds.
Is the snooze button bad?
Short snooze phases usually do not bring real rest, they simply drag out waking up. People who get up at the same time without snoozing several times often find their mornings feel clearer.
Why should I not check my smartphone first thing in the morning?
News, emails and notifications pull your attention outwards straight away. If you spend the first half hour without your smartphone, you often start the day calmer and more focused.
What helps in the evening for an easier morning?
An easy morning begins the evening before: dim the lights, switch off screens earlier, write down your thoughts and go to bed at a regular time.
