The alarm clock rings and it reads 5:20 am. You actually jump out of the bed with a smile on your face and a click in your step as you go to the bathroom to shower and clean up. The extra serene minutes in the morning can be quite rejuvenating if you want to get in a morning workout, read the newspaper, spend quality time with loved ones (this may not be quite so serene), or catch up on some household chores before going to work. You can even go to work earlier to beat the morning traffic and clock in early to get in a full day and leave earlier to beat the traffic in the afternoon. There are very few things in life that are better than having free time before and after work to do what you desire, instead of being constrained on someone else’s for the majority of the day.

Here are 15 top ways to wake up earlier and happier:

1.    Find a suitable reason to get out of bed. We all know the best way to plan a schedule for the day is to write things down. Believe it or not, this can also work for getting out of bed before the rooster crows.
2.    Keep productive in the early mornings. Committing to rising early is just the first step. You don’t want to make it a chore to get up early in the morning, so it’s best to follow through with a productive plan to get the blood flowing.
3.    Receive ample sleep at night. Getting enough sleep can make it easier to get out of bed early in the morning.
4.    Go to bed earlier for a good night’s rest. Planning to go to bed around 10 or 11 pm, instead of past midnight, results in more overall free time for maximum effectiveness.
5.    Sleep more effectively doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping longer hours. Having a better mattress, more comfortable pillow, quiet reading before sleep, or a better room climate are a few ways to attain better sleep.
6.    Fight the addiction to the snooze button. Sleeping for another 10 to 20 minutes can actually be counterproductive in scheduling for a constructive workday.
7.    Jumping out of bed is effective for the early riser. This limits the idea of rationalizing while in a comfortable, warm bed. Leaving the bedroom period is actually a plus, if you want to get the day started early.
8.    Keep the alarm clock at a distance. Placing it away from the reach of your arms forces you to get out of the confinements of your bed. (Again, ignore the snooze button.)
9.    Maintain stability in your daily routine. Especially for those with babies or small children, becoming an early riser due to a routine can train the body to get out of bed before the sun rises.
10.    Find something with which to look forward. Having a real purpose to get a good start in the morning—instead of walking around aimlessly before sunrise—brings plenty of incentive and personal rewards.
11.    Be very well aware of the consequences. Losing that extra hour or two in the morning can bring about consequences for the rest of the day (sometimes the rest of the week). Later workdays can result in throwing the monkey wrench in a well-oiled machine.
12.     Remove the option of sleeping in fully. If actions can have an impact on others instead of just ourselves (scheduled meetings or deadlines), this can be effective to remove the sleep-in option completely.
13.    Have a partner with similar motives. With a husband or wife, companion, friend or relative, receiving encouragement by example can result in the motivation to wake up early. You don’t have to do it alone.
14.    Keep a record of how early you get out of bed. This produces an accuracy of how you’re doing daily, weekly or even periodically. It’s also advisable to review the list regularly.
15.    Review everything that needs to be achieved. Don’t be afraid to look back and see how much has been accomplished and what goals to set for continued success. You may even see where you can make an adjustment to your approach for the weaker areas.

Although being an early riser can be difficult at times (especially on those cold mornings when getting out of bed feels like a punishment), attempting tips to find that healthy balance and even trying different ways can result in getting up on the right side of the bed.