Waking up early is hard. There is no doubt in my mind, the most difficult time of the day is crawling out from under the warm blankets, placing me feet on the cold ground, and getting out the door. However, waking up early provides opportunities that make up for the challenge.
As a commercial photographer focused on outdoor lifestyle, the best light comes at sunrise and sunset. So, I always aim to be photographing at sunrise and sunset. However, early mornings are not my favorite. So, how do I overcome this?
Sunrise on the Middle Tetons after waking up early to be at the base of the route to climb the Grand Teton. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
I think about the reward of waking up early.
I am embarrassed to admit it, but, I love to hit snooze several times before crawling out from under my covers. Living in a van, I don’t don’t have a thermostat, so every morning is cold! The ground is cold, the van is cold, and I just want to keep sleeping. But, I know I need to get out of bed. To do this, I think about the benfits.
I think about the awesome photographs I will take, which usually motivates me to get out of bed. However, if it doesn’t help, I think about the athlete that will be outside of the van waiting, or what I would have to say to a client. Surely, those last two will get me out of bed.
Tips for waking up early:
Have a reason to wake up (a passion project, a goal, a dream)
Meet somebody at a location, this will hold you accountable
Set multiple alarms
Have something to motivate waking up early (a reward, caffeine, etc.)
Go to bed early
Two love birds dancing at Glacier Point for sunrise in Yosemite National Park. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
Benefits of Waking Up Early:
The world is quiet
You can watch sunrise
Time to reflect
You can have unique places to yourself
Waking up early is a novelty. Crawling out from under your covers is difficult, but worth it. Throughout a year, at least one of my highlights comes from waking up early to catch a sunrise. Often my motivation is a photo idea, but sometimes it is a climbing mission, or an outing with a friend. Regardless, do something hard and wake up early a few times a year! It’ll be worth it.