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History doesn’t lie. You are not an exception and neither am I. Waking up early will increase your productivity, bring more clarity to your work and benefit more than it will cost. I hate waking up early, for about 10 minutes. In Andy Andrew’s Book “Mastering the Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success” he profiles great people in history who woke early. Scriptures I believe are Holy even talk about waking early (Romans 13:11-12). I still hate it, for about 10 minutes.
Join the challenge at http://www.TakePermission.com/EarlyToRise
The 30 Day Early-To-Rise Challenge is where you wake an hour before there rest of your household. If there’s no one else in your household then wake up an hour earlier than you normally do. They don’t even advise you go to bed earlier. Change your alarm and obey it.
Why wake up early?
Andrews challenges readers (p 68) to wake up early to come up with new ideas that inspire and motivate them. They could be ideas on how to improve your work, spend more time with your family or ways to resolve conflict. Only when there are no distractions can clarity truly be achieved. You are hounded by distraction. You want to check your email right now. You are hungry. You just answered a text message. There are 136 hours of your favorite shows waiting for you to watch on your DVR. There are things to clean in your house. Distractions are not the exception, they are the rule. Waking early eliminates many distractions.
It’s harder than you think
The reason this challenge is harder than you think is you. You are the biggest obstacle to waking earlier. You are also the only one that will make this challenge work. Coming up with 24 reasons not to stand up apparently is easier than actually standing up. You will consider the slight sniffle in your nose, how much more productive you will be if you sleep just 30 more minutes so you are fully rested (this is a lie),
Join the challenge at http://www.TakePermission.com/EarlyToRise
It’s easier than you think
When you have a 5:30am flight you need to be at the airport fully clothed and relatively awake by 4:30am. You will do it because if you don’t it will cost you hundreds of dollars if you don’t. If you have to wake at 6am to travel to see your favorite team because your buddy got you free tickets you’ll get up on time. If I told you that if you woke up 30 days in a row an hour early and that ONE of those days you would get an idea that made you $5,000 you would get up early. Would you get up early if it helped your marriage last forever instead of having a 30% of getting divorce? Would you get up early if it I promised you’d grow in your faith?
Thought + Action = Change
You don’t take actions without having thoughts about those actions first so the best way to change your life is to create time to think new thoughts that will lead to taking new actions. Most of us have neither fresh thoughts nor time to put them into action. Wake an hour early for 30 days and capture your thoughts and circle the thought that most excites you each day. Write five specific actions to take within 24 hours towards making that thought a reality. Create space for thoughts, plan actions and change your life.
Use two alarms too. Just in case.
So are you up for the challenge? Let me know in the comments below. You can start anytime, so why not today? Sign up below to get an email reminder every day to KEEP GOING!
UPDATE: This challenge was popular we made an automated course. You get an email every day for 31 days!
You can join the challenge by visiting http://www.TakePermission.com/EarlyToRise
My name is Andy Traub and I help people tell their stories in a way that maximizes their impact. If you'd like to create your own custom channel to reach the world then I can help. Just 
{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
I like this Andy – I’m in. I was waking up at 5 or 5:30 and walking and praying every day for a while, but one thing lead to another and I stopped. It was a great time and invigorating. I need to get back to that, plus just getting up before my girls do is always a nice quiet time.
Wow, that’s early! Way to go Rob. What time zone are you in? I would LOVE some accountability.
Awesome Andy – I’m in the eastern time zone. Was up at 5:40 this morning and (almost) got a complete post done about who I follow on Twitter and why. It was a great time!
I like it too, I’m in as well. My getting up time has varied a bit recently with the new baby so this will help me get back onto a routine.
Sweet. What time are you getting up and what’s your time zone? Need to get some accountability going here.
I’m going to get up at 5:30 EST and accountability would be great. What time are you getting up?
I started this in April. I was getting up at 6:00 to leave for work by 7:00 and barely having time for a little Bible reading. I pushed back my start time at work so that I don’t have to leave until 7:30 and then I set my alarm for 5:00. Now I have 30 minutes for God, 30 minutes for exercise, plus time to prepare healthy breakfast and lunch meals.
However, since I am changing my exercise routine, I’ll be getting back 30 minutes and I should invest it wisely. 30 minutes of quality reading and reflection on books like The Power of Less, The 4-Hour Workweek, A Whole New Mind, Tribes, Drive, and Andy Ansrews’ books would be a great addition.
I’m in the Eastern zone, so my 5am is way too early in Sioux Falls, but I’m there with you!
Stud. You’re on the email list. Don’t call at 5am or we won’t be friends anymore. Good job bro.
I have been thinking about this doing this. Especially since we are harvesting now. I can’t seem to get everything done.
You’re on the email list. We will do it together.
So what if I already get up 1 to 1.5 hours earlier than anyone else??? It’s great for quiet time and I can squeeze in some business activities now that I have A Better Way of Business going. The majority of the people I know think I’m CRAZY for doing this. I even do it on the weekends because then I can get in 2 TO 3 HOURS!!! before anyone else wakes up. SUPER PRODUCTIVE TIME! Way to bring attention to this Andy and get people DOING IT!
~Ivan
Then you’re a stud and I want to be you. You want to be in our email list for the challenge just because?
Just signed up! Keep sharing with the world what God’s placed in you Andy! Way to rock it!
I love this, Andy, and I’m glad to see you’re doing it. I’ve been getting up at least an hour earlier than everyone else for the past 7 months. I’ve only missedone 1 day due to a surgery.
This exact technique has allowed me to pare back to a 3-day workweek in fact. (http://www.coachradio.tv/a-peak-inside-my-three-day-workweek)
It’s an incredible strategy that anyone can learn from and improve their life with. I get to read Proverbs each day, write for a secret project that I can’t talk about until August, 2012, and catch up on most of my emails before the day even starts.
- I’m doing it because I need the accountability so leading it and participating is pretty much the same thing right?
- I love 3 day work week because you’re doing it for the right reasons brother.
- I love reading Proverbs too! I read each chapter for the day (16th chapter on the 16th day) because they are all so THICK with wisdom.
- Secret writing project. Um, we’ll talk about that soon.
Great, I’m on board. I struggle with waking up early & going to be early. I’m looking forward to the accountability! Where can we share our successes?
You can talk about it on Andy Andrew’s wall and reference my post if ya want – http://www.Facebook.com/AndyAndrews – You’ll get an email every day reminding you to get up!
I signed up. I’ll keep it up as long as my wife doesn’t wake up early with me. She needs her sleep.
added you to the list Jason. Hope it goes well. We’ll be here to hound you if you don’t get up!
Thanks so much for taking this challenge to the next level and making it personal. I have been practicing this and cherishing the sacred early time for a long time. It is my deep diving into the scripture time, allowing myself visioning time. Sometimes I fail and the world encroaches before I know it. Keep getting up though. I am currently trying to become more self disciplined in just being still for a bit. Very hard but necessary.
You’re welcome Romey. Congrats to YOU for stepping up and joining us. Self discipline might be a myth though. I am not self disciplined. I am disciplined by things that motivate me to be disciplined. That’s why YOU are my accountability partner and why we’re doing this challenge with 8 other people. Let’s keep it up! Thanks for reading and commenting my new friend.
Andy,
I have been listening to you for some time on your various podcasts and have also read your posts and really enjoy what you bring. I appreciate you taking permission and doing what you are meant to do.
I have done the rising early thing for a while and then also tried staying up late as well. I am finding that this can only work for so long, burning the wick at both ends. I will be joining you in your “30 Day Early-To-Rise Challenge” and know that it will produce great benefits. Thanks again for all you do.
Matthew L.
Thanks for listening to my stuff Matthew. That means a lot to me. EVeryone wants to be heard ya know? We need to help you get a handle on the early to rise/late to bed deal. That’s gonna kill ya. Welcome to the challenge. Maybe you should go take a nap? Look for an email from me soon. Oh, and you’re welcome.
Been wanting to do this for a while. Thanks for the challenge.
Thanks for manning up to the challenge.
This is a pain in the ass. And now it’s your fault. I know it’s best. I don’t like early mornings and I’m pissed I haven’t been able to sleep in for about 6 years now. But I need to do it anyway. This is why I advocate and don’t like…accountability.
You’re a good man. And a pain.
Here’s why I wake up early, but I still don’t like it - http://ow.ly/6AzHD (verses 3-5)
Here’s why I wake up early, but I still don’t like it - http://ow.ly/6AzHD (verses 3-5)
I think Kevin should drink more Whine…
oh man, I resemble that remark…
Too bad you’re human… like the rest of us…
“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” – Benjamin Franklin
This is all such a no-brainer. I have been getting up early for about 25 years, and that was just about the time that I began succeeding in enormous ways. Yes, there were other disciplines and habits I took on at the same time, but getting up early is like the #1 requirement for success. My alarm goes off around 4:50am, and I purposefully don’t have a “snooze” function. When it goes off, I am programmed to swing my feet to the floor and walk into the bathroom and get in the shower. Done. I’m up. Then breakfast, which is the #2 most important requirement for success — eat a good breakfast EVERY SINGLE DAY. 25 years later I make millions of dollars per year in personal income, I am a multi-millionaire and completely financially independent. The only time I sleep in some is when our family is on vacation in Hawaii. Now please everyone just set your alarm as early as you can, and when it goes off, JUST GET UP!!!
sweeeeeeeet. thx Stuart
sweeeeeeeet. thx Stuart
Ok, it’s 5:32am EST… I’ve already got my shower, shave, I’m all dressed (one step above everyone else — I hope you all follow that rule of success), and I’m in the kitchen making my breakfast — an omelette, english muffin, juice, etc. In about a half an hour I will be waking up my kids and getting them their hot breakfast and they’ll be getting ready for school. No, I didn’t say it was easy to get up early every single day, but the key to success is to form good habits and make them your slaves. And then it almost becomes hard NOT to succeed! Have a great day!!
Andy,
Sorry I’m late to the party. I over slept! Will get an hour early starting tomorrow. Love your podcasts. Thanks for the challenge.
You’re in the loop now. No apology necessary. It’s YOUR life
Andy,
Sorry I’m late to the party. I over slept! Will get an hour early starting tomorrow. Love your podcasts. Thanks for the challenge.
Andy…I am starting late but just saw your post. I feel the exact same way when the alarm goes off…hating life for 10 minutes, and then glad I did it. It has been a few months. Thanks for the inspiration.
This challenge does work for those that actually have little to do and get up late in the morning because they have no job or anything useful to do, when you are literally wasted from work and family issues, you just need to sleep.
@30 Day Challenges I wholeheartedly agree that there are days when you should just sleep. Like today!
This is a great idea. I generally already get up before everyone else in my household, but there are times I struggle. With a 8, 5, and 2 year old sleeping patterns can get interrupted. That being said, I am most efficient when I wake up around 5:15am, do 15 minutes of bible reading and then go exercise. It makes the whole day go better.
Was up from midnight to 2am last night. Man I hear ya! I need to get into the exercise routine next. Sitting on my a** apparently isn’t good for me? Who knew!?
Andy,
Quick question. I totally agree with your premise here about the need for time to recharge, be with God, and be more creative while the distractions are gone. Is it possible to do this as the LAST one up each night for 1.5 hours instead of being up before everybody in the house? Is the main priority getting that time alone or making sure to do it first thing in the morning? I’d be curious to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
My wife can’t go to sleep without me next to her so that’s why mornings work best for me. Creatively speaking mornings are my best time for coming up with fresh ideas. The day pollutes my thinking. But if late works for you then late works for you!
Wow, what an awesome podcast episode.
Thanks again guys for all you do, thank you (:
* I’m In…
sign me up!
I’m in too, please sign me up! I’m a night owl, so this will be a big change for me, but I’m up for the challenge!
Starting now due to not seeing the previous post. So, meant to be now.
I have a 92 year old aunt who has done this most of her adult like and she is such a joy to be around.
I am starting tomorrow!
Thank you for such a remarkable uplifting site and giving as much as you do.
I have heard the term life-coach tossed around recently, and thought what a blessing it would be to find one. Ask and it shall be given?
I accept the challange!
Sounds Fun. Better late then never
I just signed up for the challenge. Gotta say…I’m terrified! I know that this is what I need to combat my chronic fatigue, and make everyday run smoother. But still, as a life-long insomniac, sleeping in gives me an illusion of “getting more rest” though I never do feel rested. I’m looking forward to the challenge for the results. Combined with another challenge (100 days without processed food), this is going to be a great year!
Way to go Debbie!
I’m really enjoying the Early to Rise emails, but I may have a problem…The other day I was awoken by Fred singing “You’ve lost that loving feeling”…I’m not really sure how to take that?
Had to reset the email sends. I was sick for a period and it threw me.
Great motivation ! I’m using it for practicing. I’m a jazz guitar player and I need it to shed tunes to start playing out soon.
I was doing it without the encouragement and book a coupe of years back but life changes and lack of discipline kept me from continuing to get up early. I had a two year run.
Back on the wagon now
Thanks Andy !
Victor
Way to go Victor! Send me some of your music. andy at takepermission.com
This is such an exciting challenge. I accepted and succeeded! I am finished with the challenge and now waking at 5 a.m. has become a lifestyle so thank you for that Andy
Andy, I just heard you on the Dave Ramsey show and knew I had to get your book, but I have a Nook, not a Kindle. Am I out of luck for your book?