The Brian Lehrer Show Your Optimal Morning Routine
Oct 2, 2025
Listeners share their unique morning routines, inspired by a popular article. Michael Hill discusses his pre-dawn wake-up strategy and the importance of sleep. Callers reveal how Tai Chi, reading, and gym sessions energize their days. One listener sings praises for morning radio as a comforting routine. Others highlight practices like early prayer and using sleep calculators. Tips for maintaining sleep hygiene, like avoiding phones and enjoying quiet moments, are shared, making mornings seem both productive and serene.
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Pre-Dawn Mornings Can Boost Focus
- Arthur C. Brooks optimizes mornings to build positive energy because he feels most negative early in the day.
- Waking before dawn may increase attentiveness and recall, according to some evidence Brooks cites.
Michael Hill’s Ultra-Early Schedule
- Michael Hill wakes between about 1:30 and 4:00 a.m. depending on the day and sets multiple alarms as safety measures.
- He goes to bed around 8:00–8:15 p.m. and enforces strict sleep hygiene to sustain the early schedule.
Prioritize Sleep When Rising Early
- Respect your sleep by going to bed early and keeping a consistent bedtime if you must wake very early.
- Use alarms as backup but prioritize a predictable sleep schedule to avoid fatigue during the day.
