Transform Your Sleep Routine: The Power of a Consistent Wakeup Time

Image showing the benefits of a consistent wakeup time for improving sleep routine, with highlighted points on boosting sleep drive, adjusting circadian rhythm, and recognizing sleep patterns.
 
Do you often find yourself too awake at bedtime or too sleepy at wakeup time? Or maybe both?
 
If you're looking for natural remedies to sleep better and improve sleep quality, I have a great first step for you (or maybe the only step you need!)...
 
...But you might not like it:
 
Wake up at the same time every day — even on weekends.
 

The Truth Behind a Consistent Wakeup Time

I’m not one to sugarcoat things, so I'll just say it: waking up at the same time every morning can suck at first.
 
Maybe you had a late night last night, or maybe you've had trouble sleeping all week. Now it's Saturday morning and you're finally enjoying some good shuteye when suddenly BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!… there’s your alarm — at 7 am.
 
The last thing you want to do is to get out of bed if you don't have to.
 
As a former insomniac and natural night owl, trust me I get it.
 
But here’s the thing... if you regularly have sleep problems like insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep), it's worth it. Because a consistent wakeup time helps your sleep in THREE different ways.
 

The Benefits of a Consistent Wakeup Time

 

1. A Consistent Wakeup Time Boosts Your Sleep Drive

The following night, your sleep drive is going to be much higher when you go to sleep. This helps you to fall asleep faster and also helps prevent one bad night from turning into a string of bad nights.
 

2. A Regular Wakeup Time Adjusts Your Circadian Rhythm

Your circadian rhythm (biological clock) eventually sets to your wake up time, especially if you see bright light right after waking up. This means you start getting alerting signals like cortisol at that wakeup time to help you feel more awake.
 
But that's not all... you also then start getting sleep signals like melatonin at your ideal bedtime too. This makes it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep.
 

3. Your Brain Starts to Recognize Your Sleep and Wake Up Routine

Our brain has what I call an "autopilot feature" that recognizes patterns in our lives and then prepares for what's coming next.
 
So if you consistently wake up and do the same morning routine, your mental autopilot starts to recognize that as a cue to rev up and get ready for the day as opposed to taking it as a sign that it's time to hit the snooze button, and preparing for that instead.
 
That said there is some wiggle room. If you really need some extra sleep, it generally considered ok to sleep in by up to 45 minutes. And if that consistency just isn't possible for you just be as consistent as is reasonable for you.
 
You're going to hate it on day 1. But on day 15, or maybe day 30, you’ll thank me!
 
Here's to becoming that person who can not only fall asleep easily, but also wake up on time — without an alarm clock!
 

NEED MORE HELP?

 

Our New FREE TRAINING, "How to Get the Quality Sleep You Need Without Medication, Meditation, Quitting Caffeine, or Giving Up Screens" is packed with tips and insights to kickstart your Sleep Fix journey and teach you all about our Sleep Fix Method course.

HI, I'M DIANE MACEDO

I’m on a mission to help you sleep better with practical, evidence-based solutions. 

As a professional news anchor and correspondent, I saw my own sleep and health deteriorate for years. I tried one standard sleep tip after another. But they either didn’t work, or seemed completely unrealistic — and in some cases both. 

So I used my experience as a journalist and problem solver to research and consult with experts and patients all across sleep science. Together they helped me create actionable fixes that are practical, easy to understand and, most importantly, really work! 

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SLEEP FIX DIARY TO HELP UNCOVER WHAT'S CAUSING YOUR SLEEP PROBLEMS

Keeping a sleep diary is often the first thing a sleep specialist will tell you to do and it can be an incredibly valuable tool, whether you’re tackling your sleep problems yourself or seeking professional help.

DOWNLOAD YOUR SLEEP DIARY NOW!

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