Tip #39: Invest in Your Early Wake-Up Habit

One day I decided that I should start running in the mornings to get back into shape. Two weeks later, I was still thinking it would be good to finally start doing it. Probably from next week… Or better from the first day of next month… It continued this way for almost two months. Do you know how I finally managed to stop procrastinating? I bought myself a pair of new running shoes and some sports clothes, and after that I simply couldn’t hold off any longer. Investing in my new habit was the thing that actually pushed me out of endless procrastination. After you spend money you worked hard to earn, your thinking about it changes completely. You don’t want that money to go to waste!

You can use the same trick to help you start or resume your habit of waking up early. We always tend to care more about things we paid for than things we got for free. It’s a well-known fact that people who pay to go to the gym exercise much more often than people who have a gym at home. I don’t mean to say that we are all greedy, but once we buy something we are more likely to use it — as opposed to something we got for free or as a gift. Probably subconsciously we just feel guilty spending the money for nothing and want to prove it was a justified purchase.

Ways to Invest in Your Wake-Up Habit

So how can you use this effect? First, you can buy yourself a new alarm clock, which becomes a “symbol” of your new habit. Or you can get a Alarm Clock Radio. You can also buy special wake-up devices like a Clocky — a runaway alarm clock that rolls off the nightstand and drives you out of bed. Or you could subscribe to a wake-up call service.

Interestingly, the more you spend, the more likely you are to actually use what you’ve purchased. Can you imagine buying a fancy alarm clock for $200 and not using it? Of course I’m not asking you to spend that much (though they do exist), but you get the point. If you invest $1, it may just not work — you won’t care enough about it. Just spend wisely.

Another option is investing in tracking your progress with a sleep tracker or fitness device. Seeing your data adds another layer of accountability on top of the financial commitment.

If you’re also thinking about giving yourself something to look forward to in the morning, that pairs well with creating a reward for your early rise.

If you have other ideas on how to invest in your early morning wake-ups, I’d love to hear them — share them on X or Facebook.

P.S. Now that I need to get back to running in the mornings, and I already have the shoes, I’m thinking of buying a Garmin Forerunner 265. Once I buy it, the result is guaranteed. And if the watch doesn’t kick me out the door, my wife definitely will.

P.P.S. This is not an advertising post. While I may receive a small referral fee if you follow the links and buy something, that’s not the goal here. I just wanted to be upfront with you about it. Sweet dreams and happy early wake-ups!