Has becoming a morning person topped your checklist for awhile now? But no matter what you do, you’re caught in a battle with your alarm clock every morning?
Don’t worry! We’re all in the same boat. Well, at least you and me. I still can’t wake up with the sun. And that’s my motivation behind this article — to teach you (and me) about the perks of getting up early, and how to do it.
We’ll get into details of a good morning routine before work and, hopefully, find enough inspiration for becoming early birds.
As a freelancer, I mostly work in the evenings, but there’s something so alluring about waking up naturally with the sun.
We all know the tale — mornings are quiet and peaceful. It’s that time of the day when you can be alone with yourself and use your time wisely.
Well, that’s easier said than done.
Sentiments aside, let’s figure out how to become a morning person!
1. Create Habits
If you start to create the habit of waking up (and actually getting up) with the first sound of your alarm clock, it’ll become much easier to do over time. But of course, to establish a routine, you’ll have to tackle your willpower first.
Build your habits gradually. And avoid “blue light.”
Believe it or not, it’s doable. One way to achieve that without self-scrutiny is by building your habits gradually. In fact, the average person takes over 60 days to develop a new habit.
Wondering what kind of sleeping habits you should try for the best results? To, in order to wake up earlier, it’ll help if you go to sleep earlier.
Consider a quick siesta after lunch!
Also, you may feel sleepy throughout the day while adjusting to the new schedule. If you want, try a quick siesta after lunch! Many people feel great after some midday shut-eye.
And don’t worry if you fall off schedule from time to time. That’s a natural part of breaking an old routine and starting a new one. We just need to keep going.
2. Bye-Bye Blue Light!
Electronic devices may mess with your good night’s sleep. Blue light has numerous disadvantages. Do your social media scrolling and email checking before heading to bed.
You can install f.lux or Redshift to adjust the display color temperature according to the time of the day and your location. It will reduce the amount of blue light produced by screen, helping both your eyes and sleep schedule. See, technology isn’t all that evil!
Instead of using the computer or watching TV, try meditation, stretching, or preparing an outfit or a meal for the day ahead.
3. Create an Atmosphere
Your bedroom should have a relaxing vibe. Make sure it’s distraction free. Make everything as neat and cozy as possible so that when you enter your bedroom, your brain will know that it’s time to sleep.
You can even read a bit. If in a reclined position, you’ll feel sleepy soon.
On the other hand, your bedroom should have an energizing environment upon waking as well. If your bedroom has windows, make sure that you get plenty of sunlight in the morning. The sunshine will positively affect your circadian rhythm and give you a boost of energy.
4. Get Moving
Your bedroom embodies comfort, right?
So when you wake you have to leave it as quickly as possible. Walk straight to the bathroom or the kitchen to avoid the temptation of going back to sleep.
If you feel tired at the start of your day, a morning cup of tea or coffee may come in handy after breakfast. But before eating make sure you get hydrated. A cup of water (preferably room temperature) on empty stomach is a must – it will help you cleanse.
The first thing I do when I wake up is I start scrolling my social media, checking emails or reading news. And that’s a habit I should get rid off. As we do those things, we allow the morning grogginess to persist.
5. Good Morning Routine & Rituals Before Work
Consider starting your morning with a simple, positive routine or ritual. Some possibilities:
- Stretch
- Drink some water
- Do yoga, martial arts or a small workout
- Meditate and/or pray
- Count your blessings
- Journal
- Do something creative, like music, poetry or drawing
Quick morning workouts will benefit your appetite, metabolism, and productivity.
These suggestions might raise eyebrows, I know. But research has shown that willpower is at its strongest in the morning. By evening time, many suffer from mental exhaustion and decision fatigue; they just want to relax after the day.
And those quick morning workouts will benefit your appetite, metabolism, and productivity for the better throughout the day.
6. Stop Hitting Snooze
Do you think hitting the snooze button will help you wake up more refreshed? Well, science disagrees. Snoozing, in reality, interrupts your body’s natural sleep cycle.
Besides that, snoozing already seems like giving up, doesn’t it? Being proactive is key to becoming an early riser.
Other tips and tricks for your alarm include setting a pleasant alarm noise. Placing your phone farther away from your bed also helps, because if you have to get out of bed to turn off your alarm, you’re more likely to stay up.
7. Keep the Rhythm
Once you’ve succeeded with most of these tips, your internal clock will do the job for you. Soon, you’ll wake up without the alarm!
So if one day you wake up minutes before your alarm, use that time productively. Also, don’t oversleep on weekends.
8. Set Goals
Know your motivation for the day. Research shows that if you get out of bed on a positive note, it will impact your mood for the entire day.
Do you plan to meet your friend today? Or maybe you are excited to go to work or have a good cup of coffee.
It doesn’t matter what awaits, just make sure there’s something that will spice up your day. Find it and look forward to it from the moment you go to sleep to the moment you rise. This way, you’ll not only rise, but rise and shine!
9. Reward Yourself
Hey, becoming an early bird isn’t easy. So don’t forget to reward yourself from time to time. This will become another motivation to stick to your morning routine.
Please remember that waking up early shouldn’t always be your ultimate goal. Some days you might feel more drained and those extra hours of sleep will be the right decision.
Dedicate those tranquil morning hours to yourself. Brew your favorite coffee, go for a walk, read — in other words, do whatever makes you feel content.
Each morning, take a moment to be grateful.
But above all else, appreciate the present moment. Don’t always force yourself to be super productive. Many of us lead busy lives and sometimes hardly find a minute to relax and appreciate what we have.
Finally, each morning, try to come up with a list of things you are grateful for. Also, think of the things you’ve accomplished during the previous week. In short, be proud of your past achievements and more yet to come — it will set a mindful mood for the whole day. Good luck!
Resources
Steve Pavlina
How to Become an Early Riser and How to Wake Up Feeling Totally Alert
The solution was to go to bed when I’m sleepy (and only when I’m sleepy) and get up with an alarm clock at a fixed time (7 days per week). So I always get up at the same time (in my case 5am), but I go to bed at different times every night.
Credits
Coffee Cup Drink in the Morning by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi
Morning Cafe by Pexels (and Pixabay)
Winter Sunrise by Jan Arendtsz
Sunrise on Padarn by Hefin Owen
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