Black Girl Heal is a reader-supported site. When you visit or purchase through links on the site, we may receive a commission.
Hello, my beautiful sisters.
Today, we’re talking about something small—but powerful. Waking up just 15 minutes earlier.
I know what you’re thinking: “What can I really do with 15 minutes?” Sis, let me tell you—a lot. Because it’s not just about the time, it’s about the mindset.
Waking up earlier is about taking control of your day before the world takes control of you. It’s about setting the tone, getting intentional, and using those extra minutes to create momentum for success.
So if you’ve been struggling to stay consistent with your goals, feeling like there’s never enough time, or just needing a reset—this is your sign to start small and start winning.
Let’s get into how you can wake up 15 minutes earlier and use that time to crush your goals.
It Can Be Hard to Start Getting Up Early
I get it—waking up earlier sounds good in theory, but when that alarm goes off, the bed feels like the best place in the world.
You tell yourself, “I’ll just sleep five more minutes,” and before you know it, you’re rushing through your morning, already behind, and feeling stressed before the day even begins.
It’s not because you’re lazy. It’s because your habits haven’t been set up for success yet. And guess what? That’s an easy fix.
The goal isn’t to suddenly become a 5 AM person overnight. The goal is to start with 15 minutes and build from there. Small changes lead to big results.
Take Control of Your Mornings
15 minutes might not seem like much, but here’s why it matters:
✅ It’s proof to yourself that you’re in control. You’re choosing discipline over comfort.
✅ It gives you time to move with intention. No more waking up in a panic, rushing to get ready, and starting the day feeling behind.
✅ It builds momentum. When you see how much better you feel, you’ll want to keep going—and maybe even wake up 30 minutes earlier!
The goal is to stop waking up reactively and start waking up proactively. Your day should begin with you in charge—not stress, not notifications, not rushing.
Let’s break down exactly how to do it.
Practical Steps to Wake Up 15 Minutes Earlier and Use It Wisely
1. Prep Your Night for Success
- Go to bed 15 minutes earlier. Don’t overcomplicate it—just shut everything down and rest.
- Put your phone across the room. If your phone is within reach, it’s too easy to hit snooze. Make yourself get up.
- Decide what you’ll do with those 15 minutes. Whether it’s journaling, stretching, praying, reading, or planning your day—know ahead of time how you’ll use it.
2. Set Your Alarm for 15 Minutes Earlier (and Don’t Hit Snooze!)
- Treat it like an appointment—you wouldn’t cancel a meeting with someone important, so don’t cancel on yourself.
- Use a gentle but firm alarm sound. Something that wakes you up, but doesn’t jolt you into stress.
3. Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To
- Have a reason to get up. Maybe it’s your favorite morning playlist, a fresh cup of coffee, or simply the peace of having quiet time before the world wakes up.
- Shift your mindset: waking up earlier isn’t punishment—it’s empowerment.
4. Start Moving Immediately
- As soon as your alarm goes off, sit up. This small movement interrupts the desire to go back to sleep.
- Drink a glass of water—hydrating first thing helps wake up your brain.
- Stretch or take a few deep breaths—let your body know it’s time to start the day.
5. Use the 15 Minutes to Get Ahead
Now that you’re up, make those 15 minutes count.
Here are some ways to use them:
✅ Plan your day. Write down 3 things you must accomplish.
✅ Move your body. Stretch, do yoga, or go for a short walk.
✅ Journal. Set your intentions, reflect, or write affirmations.
✅ Read. Just 15 minutes of reading daily adds up to books finished by the end of the year.
✅ Pray or meditate. Start your day in alignment.
✅ Work on your goals. Whether it’s writing, creating, or strategizing—this is your time.
Just Start
Sis, you don’t need to overhaul your entire life overnight.
You just need to start.
And waking up 15 minutes earlier is one of the easiest, most powerful ways to prove to yourself that you are serious about your goals.
Imagine where you’ll be a month from now, six months from now, a year from now—if you commit to small, intentional changes every single day.
It starts today. It starts with 15 minutes.
Uplifting Call to Action
So here’s your challenge:
💡 Set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier tomorrow.
💡 Decide how you’ll use that time to get ahead.
💡 Commit to this for the next 7 days.
No more rushing. No more starting the day feeling behind. No more letting distractions control your time.
This is your moment to take charge of your life—one morning at a time.
And when you master 15 minutes? Imagine what else you can do.
Now go set that alarm and show yourself what’s possible. 🚀
