Tip #9: Do Not Eat Before Going to Bed

This tip is not so much about how to wake up early, but about how to fall asleep faster. Don’t eat too much right before bedtime—it’s that simple. You may have a light snack two hours before bedtime, but not later.

This advice has a simple explanation. Your body stays awake digesting food, so even if you fall asleep, part of your body is not “sleeping.” As a result, your sleep is less effective and not restful. You will need more sleep, which in turn will prevent you from waking up early easily. You should also avoid alcohol and caffeine close to bedtime for the same reason. The same applies to drinking lots of water, soda, or other beverages—you may feel discomfort and have to get up to go to the bathroom during the night. If you feel thirsty, put a glass of water near the bed and take a small sip from time to time before falling asleep or if you wake up during the night. And in the morning, drinking a full glass of water is one of the best ways to wake your body up from the inside.

Please note that going to bed hungry or thirsty is not good either and can be just as disruptive to sleep as going to bed too full. Having a light snack or a glass of milk can help ease hunger. Check this EatingWell guide to decide what to eat for better sleep.