Don't Hit Snooze

In this day and age, there is so much emphasis on a strong morning routine.  I have read many an article about the importance of having such a routine.  Drinking lemon water, stretching, meditating, drinking coffee, practicing positive self-talk.  But, I have seen nothing about the sounds that wake you up and its impact on your day and overall well-being.  The first thing you hear in the day is your alarm.  Isn’t that right?  That is how you officially start the day.

It is so important to have the proper alarm sound and with technology today, you can choose to wake up to any sound you would like, and any song you would like.  Why anyone would choose to wake up to anything other than a great tune is beyond me.   I have always chosen to wake up to music, as soon as my alarm clock/smart phone would allow.

I woke up to, “Gimme Shelter” by Puddle of Mudd, “Get Stoned” by Hinder, “Frantic” by Metallica, “Try it Out” by Skrillex, and “Outrageous” by The Cataracs, to name a few.   However, the longest running alarm—the one I currently have is . . .

“Main Theme” by Ramin Djawadi.

Yup, the theme song from Game of Thrones.  Nothing is going to get me out of bed in a more “LET’S DO THIS!” type of way than this song.  It gets me fired up, ready to tackle all the obstacles that may come my way.

Even though this alarm has served me well, even outside Westeros, I feel that as the New Year approaches, it might be time for a new alarm.  The song you pick for your alarm should be similar to the theme song you would like for yourself.  The attitude you want to embody throughout your day.  If you were to walk into a big meeting and have a song playing, what would it be?  That might not be a bad choice for an alarm.

And though I have loved going into my days with a look-out-or-I’ll-send-the-Hound-after-you attitude, I feel like it is time for a change.  And to those out there who just wake up to a regular alarm sound or a song you haven’t really thought about in in a bit, perhaps it is time to rethink.

It is a hard decision because it not only needs to be a song you like; you really need to focus on the first 10-30 seconds of the song (depending on how long it takes you to hit “off” or “snooze”).  Some of the songs I have woken up to in the past had a gradual beginning. They eased you into the idea that it was morning and time for me to get my ass out of bed. Some of my other alarm choices were more abrupt.  The first few seconds were loud and harsh.  They were letting me know I needed to get up NOW!

If you have yet to pick your morning song, here are some great suggestions to start your day off right:

If you want to kick ass and take names:  “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC or “’Till I Collapse” by Eminem & Nate Dogg

If you want to be calm, cool and collected:  “Adiemus” by Adiemus or “Wild Child” by Enya

If you want to be positive and energized: “Happy” by Pharrell Williams or “The Greatest” by Sia

And if you just need something to jolt you out bed:  “Jump” by System of a Down or

Anything by Taylor Swift (that would certainly get me out of bed to turn the alarm off quick)

So now that I have given suggestions and talked at length of the importance of a great morning alarm, I will be changing my song as well. 

“She is Beautiful” by Andrew W.K.

In the morning, I need a little rock, a little confidence, a little head banging; this is a perfect fit for my mornings.

I hope this post inspires you to realize that it is ok to do things in the morning, however silly or stupid they are that set you up for success, whatever your success looks like, and get you in a mindset to be the best you YOU can be.  So go ahead, “ring the alarm . . . I’ve been through this too long, but I’ll be damn if I see another chick on your arm!” . . .sorry, I got carried away.