Commuting - I need a kick in the arse in the morning! Help...

I need some sure-fire ways to motivate myself at the crack of dawn in the morning for the commute in. Any suggestions?!? I guess, the fact that I HAVE to ride in (car is in town) is one huge part of the motivation, but I really need to wake up fairly FAST. I am not even anything close to a morning person. How do you morning people do it?! I think once I get going it'll all be good, it's just getting up and moving.

Is there some secret elixir I can take that will instantly wake me up (other than coffee)?

Put your alarm clock as far away from you as you can while still hearing it, this way you have to get out of bed to turn it off. Once your up, then it's just the will power game to stay up the 5-10 minutes it takes for being awake to kick in.

Also, you can try going to bed early, or having some kind of energy boost, like coffee, ready for you when you wake up.

I don't know how much light you have in the house, but buy one of those digital lamp timers so you can set a weekday schedule and have it automatically light up your room about 10 minutes before your alarm goes off.

Put the alarm just out of your reach. Leave the alarm a loud volume; if it's a progressive alarm, great, if it's a cd alarm, make a custom cd with a few pieces of music that starts out low. Having the volume ramp up wakes you up easier than being suddenly jolted.

Try setting your thermostat (if its adjustable) to warm up the room slightly about 30 minutes before you wake up.

Keep a couple of TDF dvd's around in the morning. Even better if it's paris to roubaix.

Too bad you're not my girlfriend, I personally (and literally) kick her ass out of bed every morning.

I work the night shift, so I wake up and have a few hours before I even have to gain cognitiveness. However, I *used* to work in the day time and here are my tips to you.

Have everything ready.
Pack your lunch the night before. Fill your water bottle(s). Lay your clothes out. Have the cat/dog food ready.
Hell, even have your bike at the door ready to go.

Trick yourself.
Set your alarm clock ahead by 10 minutes and then forget that you did it. So when you wake up when it goes off at 5:00AM, it'll really be 4:50AM.

Forget unimportant things.
If you can shower at work, there is no reason you can't brush your teeth there as well. I used to wake up at 3:45AM, spray some "Smell Good" (tm) under my arms, toos on my clothing and hit the door by 3:55AM.

Just do it!
Dunk your head in a bowl of ice cold water, slam a pot of coffee and hit the road.

Drink six tall glasses of water just before going to bed. Everything I need to know I learned from Bart Simpson.

Walk your dog every morning as soon as you get up. In less than a week your dog will get the picture and start waking you at the crack of dawn.

Also having a spouse to kick your butt out of bed in the morning works well.

Ha, great ideas. I think I'll have to do the coffee thing regardless.

I already have two alarm clocks - one that is far away. One is a radio and one is a super annoying buzz that is constant. It's a good one for me. :)

pj7 - I already do that 10 minutes ahead trick! It works most of the time too. In fact, all my clocks are 10 minutes ahaed. And I have a shower/bathroom at work - I can do all that stuff there, so it should be easy... right?!?

250mL of RedBull or something similar Sobe Arush

much more caffeine and other ingredients

also combine with sunrise setter
http://www.serenityhealth.com/sunrise_alarm/sun_alarm_descript.jpg
http://www.sunshinesales.ca/images/sunrise_alarm_clock-d.jpg

Believe it or not, it's all a state of mind. Kind of a cool "Tony Robbins" thing that I picked up is about how to greet the day every morning. When the alarm goes off, literaly perk yourself up as best you can, and shake the sleep off with every bit of your will. Start doing some deep breathing, and don't think at all about sleep. Energize yourself as best you can before you even climb out of bed, thoughts of work, the ride, friends, family, activities etc... GET YOURSELF PUMPED FOR THE DAY! You will find that you will start to wake up this way without having to be deliberate about it. Give it a week and a half to two weeks, but it will work. This is of course contingent upon you getting enough sleep etc... I used to drag-ass around the house in the am, but not any more... A quick 5 min shower, and I'm out the door. Give it a try!
Ryan

I never was a morning person, but the thought alone that I'm riding my bike to work is motivation enough for me. For the past 2 months I have my alarm set 20 min before 6am and I am usually up by 6 and out the door by 6:25am. Oh, I alos pop 2 of these in the morning right after I wake up. ;)

http://www.hydroxycut.com/MAIN/PRODUCTS/Hydroxycut/PRD_HYD_MOCK_MED.jpg

I used to take this for weight loss(hangs head in shame). Now I take it for the caffeine rush. Don't worry, its ephedrine free. I do have 2 bottles of the old stackers with the ephedrine but I'm too chicken now to try them.

I am a morning person. This is fortunate since I am allergic to caffeine.
My complete fall into darkness occurred after my son was born. It is about physically impossible to not turn into a morning person with a child (or at least mine).
Anyhow, morning is nice and quiet and I tend to wake up before my alarm goes off.
It takes me an hr to get ready in the morning. I can do it in 15 minutes but choose not to. My head is in a more appropriate place when I take the time. Plus, hot tea helps regulate a few GI issues I have. Mmmmm.... cinnamon apple tea....mmmmm.

Trick yourself.
Set your alarm clock ahead by 10 minutes and then forget that you did it. So when you wake up when it goes off at 5:00AM, it'll really be 4:50AM.

I've never known anyone that works for. Everyone I know always gets used to it. Hell, the clock on my bike computer is off by 51 minutes (non daylight savings) and 9 minutes (daylight savings... did I mention I'm too lazy to adjust the clock?) and I always know the real time.

If you can get up enough times in a row, it'll become easier. Kinda like riding to work ;).

I agree with DJ. Kids will get you waking up. Even on days when my the kids stay at the grandparents I wake up.

So my suggestion is have a few kids to wake up every morning!

I have a sort of expensive suggestion which I use to get motivated to ride in the morning. I install some 'upgrade' to the bike like new tires, new saddle, handlebar, etc. or in my case I swap parts around on my bikes so I have a 'new' bike to ride in the morning. Gets me excited to try it out. Also works with new gear for me (wow, I can't wait to try my new xyz backpack!).

Put a coffee maker on a timer in your bedroom so it starts making coffee 10 minutes before you need to wake up?

And where can i get one of those sunrise clocks?!? That looks awesome! :) I could really use something like that to supplement my two alarm clocks... :lol:

Import howler monkeys - sounds like we are inside a zoo at 5:00 in the morning - there is no sleeping through it.

I got the sure-fire cure: I'll just come and stay with you for a few days, under the condition that if you don't wake up and get out of the house before I wake up, you gotta have let me have my way with you for the full 22 seconds I can muster. Glad I could be of help, ma'am. :eek:

get a very small puppy that you need to walk promptly as soon as you (or it) wakes up so it doesn't pee in the house. Easier than having a kid (?) and cuter too.

Is there some secret elixir I can take that will instantly wake me up (other than coffee)?

More coffee. Maybe a coffee pot that has a timer so it's ready when your alarm goes off?

Kids are good for this, too.

Keep the number of the local taxi service handy. in case all else fails.

Go to bed earlier.

get a very small puppy that you need to walk promptly as soon as you (or it) wakes up so it doesn't pee in the house. Easier than having a kid (?) and cuter too.


my kid is cuter than a puppy. Not as easy to train though. That and does not retrieve balls very well. He does manage to kick them quite painfully. :eek:

Getting up fast is a decision. Make it. I made the decision when I was about 14 years old, I'd lay in bed for an hour before that. I made the decision that when i woke up I'd get up. I think I read a book called "I Dare You" which was a young person's life motivation plan, and that was one of the main points.

I think a key part is changing your norm. Make taking the bike not the exception but the norm; make driving the car some weird thing that you only do if you have to. That way, you don't have to DECIDE to take the bike, you just do, and you have to have a reason to take the car (other than "I'm lazy today" every day).

Trick yourself.
Set your alarm clock ahead by 10 minutes and then forget that you did it. So when you wake up when it goes off at 5:00AM, it'll really be 4:50AM.

My daughter does this, and it's the stupidest damn thing in the world. Nobody's that dumb, they just know they've got the extra time. All it does is irritate me when I'm near one of her clocks and it's 10 minutes fast.

The truth is, if you decide to do something, then just do it, don't rely on tricks and gimmicks. You control your actions.

My daughter does this, and it's the stupidest damn thing in the world. Nobody's that dumb, they just know they've got the extra time. All it does is irritate me when I'm near one of her clocks and it's 10 minutes fast.

The truth is, if you decide to do something, then just do it, don't rely on tricks and gimmicks. You control your actions.

+1 Just get out of bed. Once you get into the habit it shouldn't be so hard.

How much sleep are you getting at night? Maybe too much or too little?

I got the sure-fire cure: I'll just come and stay with you for a few days, under the condition that if you don't wake up and get out of the house before I wake up, you gotta have let me have my way with you for the full 22 seconds I can muster. Glad I could be of help, ma'am. :eek:
22 seconds? She'd still be asleep, which probably would be for the best ;)

I agree with DJ. Kids will get you waking up. Even on days when my the kids stay at the grandparents I wake up.

So my suggestion is have a few kids to wake up every morning!

Hmm, that is by far the most, um, INTERESTING suggestion so far!! Now I just have to find some takers! (or A taker that is...)

I got the sure-fire cure: I'll just come and stay with you for a few days, under the condition that if you don't wake up and get out of the house before I wake up, you gotta have let me have my way with you for the full 22 seconds I can muster. Glad I could be of help, ma'am. :eek:

Guess I spoke too soon on the last one!

And... 22 seconds?!?! Why even bother!

Get a riding buddy. You're a lot less likely to hit the snooze when you know that a friend is waiting for you.

The shower is what really wakes me up in the morning. I still rinse off when I get to work but if I don't shower at home the commute is just a drag. I eat an english muffin after the shower and a glass of water and then I get going.

Well, whatever it was - it seemed to work this morning. Although, I was so paranoid about sleeping in that I tossed and turned all night and barely slept! Now at noon, I'm ready for a full-on nap. Argh. But the ride was fun!

I agree that I should just say to myself: "Just Do IT!" and get up. Although I love coffee, I need a wake-up period before I can drink any, so that's out first thing.

I never get enough sleep at night - so that is most likely one of my problems. I am totally nocturnal. For some reason I seem to gain energy as the day goes on. My evening rides home are the BEST because of this. I'd like to balance it out a bit more though, and getting up at 6:00 will have me heading to bed much earlier than normal.

Setting the clock a few minutes fast works for me. Only because I don't know how fast ahead it is. I closed my eyes and held the "^min" button for a while. I have made a point of not discovering how fast ahead it is, and I have set the other clocks in my house poorly to keep me from learning the actual time. This only goes so far though.

I also fight with my roommate about keeping our blinds open. I find that I can awake far more easily with the blinds drawn, but he always closes them if he goes to bed after me. Sharing a bedroom with someone sucks. Guess I'm experiencing what I may have missed out on by being an only child.

I set the alarm clock way away so I have to get out of bed to turn it off. I then turn the radio on and head right to the washroom/shower - that's a good wake-up for me - I do this whether I'm riding or not.

+1 to having everything ready/waiting for you to leave is a great idea and saves mucho time and potential silliness (morning sleepiness + forget something important = the suck).

If you prefer to shower AT work, then just have a cool (or cold) washcloth ready at home, wipe your face and around your ears/neck - that should spark you up. I hate getting up in the mornings, usually only because I don't go to bed at a good time - force yourself to eat properly (3 or more hours before bedtime!) and to rest well and getting up will become easier as your body gets used to it - easier said than done for me, hehe.

two words..ginsing extract

I've never known anyone that works for. Everyone I know always gets used to it. Hell, the clock on my bike computer is off by 51 minutes (non daylight savings) and 9 minutes (daylight savings... did I mention I'm too lazy to adjust the clock?) and I always know the real time.

If you can get up enough times in a row, it'll become easier. Kinda like riding to work ;).

It works for me. It helps for the clock to be in a position that you can only see from your bed. I wake up in such a confused state, that I never remember the time offset. It's been working for quite a while.

One of my other roommates tapes his clock with duct tape so that he has to fumble with it for a while before he can flip the alarm switch off. Works pretty well for him.

let me have my way with you

Threaten her with chipcom and she'll never sleep again!

Guess I spoke too soon on the last one!

And... 22 seconds?!?! Why even bother!

I'm trying for 23. :lol:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/9171/

You need one of these:
http://www.businessinnovationinsider.com/images/2006/08/DIY%20Alarm%20System.jpg

If you don't wake up and disarm it, you die.

I think slashdot.org posted an article about an alarm clock that rolls off your nightstand and hides if you hit snooze.
Also - get lots of bright light - that wakes you up.

I'm trying for 23. :lol:

Well, we all have to have a goal to strive towards I guess... ;) :p

slvoid - now THAT would do the trick!

robtown - daylight will be screaming through my window pretty soon here as the days get longer, so that won't be a problem. Yippee!