I limit my daily internet usage with LeechBlock (for Firefox; compare StayFocus’d for Chrome). Until a few months ago, I had allowed myself to access all of the internet only from 8pm to 10pm. LessWrong, Wikipedia and similar sites are freely accessible. This has led to me always going to bed after 10pm, and often much later than that.
A few weeks ago, I shifted my “allowed internet time” to the morning hours, to 6-8AM. Then even further back, and now I wake up at 4:30 and may then browse the internet for an hour.
I now reliably get up at 4:30, and I go to bed when I feel tired—typically around 8 to 9 pm. Getting up at a regular time really has helped my sleep, and I have an incentive to not just turn around and nap for another half hour. Aligning my goals and incentives made it easy.
Additionally, I installed several really bright LED bulbs I switch on in the morning. About 40$, but effortless once installed. No habits to remember, no willpower to fail.
(Minor English language note: “stand up” can’t be used as a direct synonym for “get out of bed”. Try “get up” instead. Hope you don’t mind my pointing this out! Thought it might be helpful.)
I limit my daily internet usage with LeechBlock (for Firefox; compare StayFocus’d for Chrome). Until a few months ago, I had allowed myself to access all of the internet only from 8pm to 10pm. LessWrong, Wikipedia and similar sites are freely accessible. This has led to me always going to bed after 10pm, and often much later than that.
A few weeks ago, I shifted my “allowed internet time” to the morning hours, to 6-8AM. Then even further back, and now I wake up at 4:30 and may then browse the internet for an hour.
I now reliably get up at 4:30, and I go to bed when I feel tired—typically around 8 to 9 pm. Getting up at a regular time really has helped my sleep, and I have an incentive to not just turn around and nap for another half hour. Aligning my goals and incentives made it easy.
Additionally, I installed several really bright LED bulbs I switch on in the morning. About 40$, but effortless once installed. No habits to remember, no willpower to fail.
(Minor English language note: “stand up” can’t be used as a direct synonym for “get out of bed”. Try “get up” instead. Hope you don’t mind my pointing this out! Thought it might be helpful.)
Edited. Thanks. I remember thinking about it, and noticing that it doesn’t quite match.