Every weekday morning I get up at 3:15am.

I know exactly what you’re thinking when you read this. Trust me – I hear it all the time. Everyone thinks I am out of my mind. That it’s complete insanity to get up that early. That sure, Mike Regina does it, but the rest of the world does not. 

But, I get up every day at 3:15am for a reason.

I want to explain why I started getting up early, and I want you to see that you also could benefit from getting up earlier. Am I saying that if you don’t get up at 3:15am you will not be a success in the world? Absolutely not. 

What I am saying is that if you could get up earlier, it could lead you to having a more fulfilled, productive life.

I didn’t always get up early like this. For most of my 20s, I got up to go to work around the same time most people did. Early enough to take a shower and eat breakfast, then head off to my day. But no more, no less. 

Then, I had kids, and our entire schedule changed, and working out took a serious back seat in my life. Then, the following year, and my second child arriving on the scene, I started my first company, Big Sky Enterprises. I started to notice that I wasn’t feeling my best. Working out had become non-existent for two years because I didn’t have “time.”

At least that was my excuse. 

Let’s be honest with ourselves. We all have the time. It’s up to us how we spend it.

After feeling sluggish and out of shape, I changed my ways and began working out in the morning before work. This boosted my energy and confidence, and gave me the ability to take on the physical requirements in the construction business. I started to feel better physically and mentally.

How did I do it?

Did I go from 7am to 3:15am right away? Of course not. I adjusted my schedule by getting up earlier in 15 minute increments. This made adjusting to the earlier schedule manageable. As my entrepreneurial drive grew, so did my desire to focus on being the best version of myself. I began getting up a few minutes earlier to maximize every minute of my day.

My Morning Routine:

3:15am Wake up

3:25am Prayer – Spirituality gives me the proper mindset when challenges and successes come my way. It allows me to be a better leader.

4:00am Gym – Hitting the gym helps me to feel physically better about myself and delivers the necessary energy I need for my day at work.

5:30am Arrive at the office – This uninterrupted time at the office is crucial as I read entrepreneurial and leadership books for inspiration and ideas for my businesses. The benefits of this are endless!

Focusing on the spiritual aspect allows me to have an attitude of gratitude and gives me inspiration for the day.

The 15 Minute Magic

If waking up early seems like a daunting task, I'd challenge you to adjust your schedule by 15 minutes at a time. Start by going to bed 15 minutes earlier in order to get up 15 minutes earlier. Focus on the benefits you gain – feeling better physically, mentally, and gaining uninterrupted time. I always hear people say they don’t have enough time. If that’s you, I’m here to tell you there is 15 extra minutes waiting for you.

Make Small Adjustments

Is this easy for me every day? No way! Of course getting up that early can be a challenge some mornings. I didn’t have to give up a lot, but I did have to make some small adjustments. Here are a few:

  • I gave up having my coffee on the couch and now have it at the office.
  • I used to watch the news in the morning and now listen to it at work in between calls.
  • I used to stay up late binge-watching Survivor (LOL), and now I am preparing for the next day and go to bed earlier. 

I evaluated what was most important and prioritized my spiritual and physical aspects, because that was going to produce the greatest benefits for me.

Evaluate your routine and decide what is most important for you. What will help you to be the best version of yourself first thing in the morning? After answering this, you can start making practical adjustments to your routine – making sure to prioritize the important things first.

So, you still think you aren’t earlybird? I think it’s time to prove yourself wrong. It just starts with setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier tomorrow. You know you can do it.