Like most people, I used to struggle to get back to sleep if I woke up too early. Then I realized that there's a better way.

I created The 4 AM Rule. It's simple. If I wake up after 4 AM, I get up. I might need a nap later, but I find that I'm more alert and able to face the day doing this than if I toss and turn and try to force myself back to sleep.

This morning, I woke up a bit after 4. I recorded this video, showed, juiced, did pushups, produced an episode of The Guy Who Knows A Guy Podcast, then posted this. It's 7 AM when I post this.

I might take a 15 minute nap, but that's THREE HOURS of productive time. Three hours of productivity in place of three hours frustrating, tiring, tossing and turning. Pretty good trade.

What do you do if you wake up an hour or two early?

Check out my other podcast, The Guy Who Knows A Guy Podcast.