How to Wake Up Early

I went to my first professional seminar in 2011. It was the Perform Better Summit in Providence Rhode Island. I was in college and couldn’t afford it so I snuck in. I had to go. They brought all the big names in the industry in for a 3 day seminar covering all aspects of the fitness industry from what is fascia, business, training athletes and how to write more effective training programs. A lot of what I learned that weekend, and the people whom I heard speak, drastically influenced my career.

Nothing stuck with me as much as Mike Boyle’s talk. He’s been in the game (created it?) for over 40 years and his talk had nothing to with with the ins and outs of training young athletes like I expected. Instead he gave a piece of advice I still think about all the time.

I’ve always been an early riser. Always the first one up at the sleepover as a kid and was never able to sleep in till 10am like other teenagers. That summer I had started a new 5:00am boot camp at the gym I was working at. This turned out to be early even for me. I had a hard time waking up for it, and would yawn the whole way there sucking down a cup of coffee trying to bring the energy.

At the time I had an alarm clock habit that many people employ. The old double alarm with a snooze trick. I would set my first alarm for 4:00am, snooze it for 10 minutes and after snoozing the 4:15 am alarm I would finally get up at 4:30am.

Boyle’s advice was, when the alarm clock goes off, your feet hit the floor.

Fortunately I don’t have to wake up with an alarm clock very often any more. I’ve trained myself out of it over the years. I love my early morning alone time. I’m productive, I mobilize, I move or train and it’s without a doubt my favorite part of the day.

On those days that I wake up, and don’t feel like getting out of bed though because it’s cold and I’m comfortable, I remind myself of that quote and get my feet on the floor.

Justin Miner

@justinminergain