So you want to become an early riser, but you just seem to avoid hitting the snooze button 1,000 times every morning?  Follow these five tips and you may just stand a chance! Why become an early riser?  Waking up early is one of the best ways to be more productive, so much so that many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs are early risers.

1. GET UP JUST TWO MINUTES EARLIER (EACH DAY)

Setting your alarm earlier doesn't always mean you’ll rise earlier. If you find yourself constantly hitting "snooze" until your regular wake-up time, your body probably needs time to adjust.

Instead of a 5 a.m. wake-up right away, set your alarm two minutes earlier every day until you've reached your goal.

You'll take longer to reach your goal, but by taking baby steps you are sure to build your early morning habit.

2. USE PEER PRESSURE TO WAKE UP ON TIME

Set a meeting with other early risers first thing in the morning.

This is effective because it creates accountability; you won’t want to let them down.  When your alarm clock is the only thing counting on you to wake up early, a warm bed is more compelling.

3. MANIPULATE YOUR ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE WAKING UP EASIER

You’re far more likely to stick with a habit if you set your environment to win. For example, you're more likely to exercise if your gym clothes are set out.

Put your alarm clock across the room so you have to get up to turn it off.

Set your coffee on a timer so it’s ready when you wake up.

4. GIVE YOURSELF AN IRRESISTIBLE REASON TO WAKE UP EARLY

What’s your vision for your extra time when you master the habit of waking up earlier? Have you considered the impact of that vision on whether you follow through?

If your morning vision is to run when you wake up, but you don’t like running, you associate early rising with something unpleasant.

Change typically sticks when it’s associated with something pleasant. Plan to do something you love during your early mornings. When your early-morning plan includes something you’re excited about, that snooze button stops seeing so much action.

5. GET INTO THE EARLY MORNING MINDSET

Did you know that your struggle with rising early has a lot to do with self-belief?  Convincing yourself that you’re "not a morning person" is a limiting belief.  Changing your self-belief from "I'm not a morning person" to "I'm the type of person who wakes up early" subtly changes your behavior because self-belief is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Waking up early won’t be easy for your first couple of weeks.  Your body needs time to adjust to this new routine.  However, once you get adjusted to your new schedule, you’ll be in the in early morning club. You’ll finally know what everyone is talking about!…and you’ll never go back to being "not a morning person."