How to be up and moving within five minutes
Short answer: Make it small and do it in order. 1) put your phone face down, 2) sit up and put feet on the floor, 3) open the curtains, then keep going one step at a time. Most people are done in about 13 minutes.
Why this feels hard
Mornings disappear before you get out of bed. It’s really common, especially for people who lie awake scrolling instead of getting up. The fix isn’t more willpower; it’s making the next step small and obvious.
Step by step
- Put your phone face down · about 1 min
- Sit up and put feet on the floor · about 1 min
- Open the curtains · about 1 min
- Drink a glass of water · about 2 min
- Get dressed before checking messages · about 5 min
- Set a 2-minute timer and only do the first bit · about 2 min
- Say out loud what you are about to do · about 1 min
What you’ll have at the end
Be up and moving within five minutes.
Morning Get-Up Starter
The Morning Get-Up Starter app walks you through these steps one at a time, with a timer, reminders and your streak. Works on any phone.
Get the app · $4.99/month
Questions
How do I be up and moving within five minutes?
Make it small and do it in order. 1) put your phone face down, 2) sit up and put feet on the floor, 3) open the curtains, then keep going one step at a time. Most people are done in about 13 minutes.
How long does it take?
About 13 minutes if you follow the steps in order. You can stop after any step and still count it as progress.
Is there an app for this?
Yes: Morning Get-Up Starter from Unstuck guides you through it step by step on your phone, with a timer and reminders.
More free guides
Written by the Unstuck team. Updated September 2026.