The double morning hack - for special occasions...
It doesn't happen often, maybe just twice a year, but tonight was one of those nights. I woke up at 4:30 am and knew right away that falling back asleep would be really tough, if not impossible.
So, I chose to try something different. But before I share my little secret with you, it's important to know that this isn't a trick you can use all the time. It's meant for people like me who sleep deeply 99% of the time and can afford to lose a few hours of sleep every now and then. To make the most of this tip, you need to have a good sleep routine in place:
Alright, now that we've covered the warning, let's jump in. As I mentioned, I woke up and headed to the bathroom, which is pretty standard. Afterward, I checked the time and realized it was way earlier than my usual wake-up time. Despite feeling wide awake, I didn't want to toss and turn in bed for two hours before finally dozing off again.
So, I decided to start my typical morning routine, just without the sunshine, and test out something I'd learned from a podcast.
I brewed myself a cup of decaf coffee and spent 30 minutes reading, which I found more manageable than meditating. Next, I began writing. It was my first time working on something at such an early hour. I debated whether to write something new or simply edit an existing first draft. In the end, I wanted to see how my brain would perform during this unusual time.
It took me some time to get going, which is quite normal and happens regularly, but then something magical occurred. I'm not sure if it was just a coincidence or if the unusual hour played a part, but the words flowed effortlessly.
I wrote for over an hour without even thinking about another coffee. When I realized how much I'd written and how much time had passed, I felt a sense of accomplishment and relief. Surprisingly, I also started to feel a bit tired and thought, "Maybe I can catch a few more hours of sleep after all." So, I went back to bed and, as usual, fell asleep almost instantly.
Sure, I sacrificed about two hours of sleep, but who knows if I could have slept anyway? The real surprise came when my regular alarm went off – I felt refreshed and well-rested. I got up and followed my routine, this time adding some rope jumping while facing east to catch that early morning sunlight.
After reading for a bit, curiosity got the better of me, and I checked what I'd written during the night. While it may not have been my most creative work, it was still good.
Now, there are a few things to remember and some to avoid to make this "hack" work for you:
1. Keep the lights dim! If you expose your eyes to bright blue LED lights, you can forget about falling back asleep later in the morning.
2. If you're using a laptop, ensure it's set to night mode, you have flux installed and active, or wear blue-blocking glasses.
3. Avoid caffeine. While this might seem obvious, it's worth mentioning, as some people might overlook it.
4. Don't exercise. Keep your body temperature low, as exercising will raise it and make it harder to fall back asleep later.
5. Stick to your usual routine. Don't try anything new or dangerous. Stick with familiar tasks, so your brain can focus and feel rewarded and drained – in a good way – afterward.
6. Lastly, only attempt this if you already have a solid sleep routine. If you struggle with sleep, fix that first. It'll be the most significant productivity boost you'll ever discover.
That’s it for today
Have a successful day.
GNF
PS. If one night you can’t get back to sleep go ahead and try the double morning hack and let us know how it went for you.
Enjoyed the read greatly my friend