5 Tips on How to Become a Morning Person
Have you ever looked at those people who wake up early, workout, make an entire course breakfast and show up to work/school looking like they stepped out of a TV show and wondered what their secret is? I'll tell you, it's their habits. Habits are the building blocks of life and so often, we get caught up in doing the most that we forget the obvious. James Clear defines habits as "the small decisions and actions we perform everyday." Studies show that the average adult makes about 33000-35000 decisions per day, and that's a lot. Being a morning person requires you to be conscious of the decisions you make when you wake up. It requires intention and discipline to create the habits that will allow you to enjoy your mornings and join the coveted 'morning person' squad.
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If you want to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day, then you need to get enough sleep. An adult requires 7-8 hours of sleep for the body to fully rest and wake up at optimal best. Getting less than this leads to sleep deprivation that will make you feel groggy and even stressed. Lack of sleep raises cortisol levels (a stress hormone) that will put you on edge the entire day. Here are several things you can do to get enough quality sleep.
- Set the right ambiance for your room, get some bedroom lamps, a fan to have the right temperature in your room and even a diffuser if you want to go the extra mile and have nice quality sleep.
- Have comfortable beddings. Choose the right linens according to your preferences, make sure your pillow is soft and right for you.
- Get some noise cancelling headphones if you have noisy roommates and neighbors that disturb you at night
I know you need your caffeine to function but listen to me, do not drink coffee first thing in the morning. Studies show that when you wake up, your cortisol level is at its peak and drinking coffee only makes it worse. On the other hand drinking water the first thing rehydrates your body, makes you feel more awake and is overall more healthier for you. If you don't like the taste of water, you can add some orange or lemon slices to it for flavor. You can also use these sugar free, zero calories water enhancer packs that come in so many different flavors. Aim to drink your first cup of coffee 1-2 hours after waking up and you are well on your way to becoming a morning person.
Our bodies have natural circadian rhythms and they go hand in hand with nature. It is scientifically proven that exposure to sunlight early in the morning plays a crucial role in regulating our sleep-wake cycle and maintaining a balanced circadian rhythm. Getting sunlight provides you with vitamin D which increases hormone production that boosts your mood. Getting sunlight in the morning can be as simple as standing on your porch or taking an extra minute while you open your windows. You don't have to do much to get the benefits.
Moving your body in the morning works like magic in helping you become a morning person. When I say move your body, I don't mean a 2 hour gym session (but hey, if you want to, go for it!). It can be doing a 5 minutes yoga stretch while in bed, it can be a walk around the block or a solo dance session while you make your bed. The important thing is to get your heart pumping and body working. Movement or any type of exercise hacks your happy hormones, it releases dopamine and serotonin which are the feel good chemicals. This will help you start your day on a happy note and as a bonus, you get a sense of accomplishment that you did something difficult in the morning so you'll be able to take on harder tasks with ease.
You woke up early and you didn't hit the snooze button, you did the damn thing! give yourself a reward. Mornings don't always have to be about rushing, take some time for yourself and do what makes you happy. If you want to sit down and sip on some fresh juice, or journal, or watch an episode of your favorite show, do it. We dread mornings because we are not looking forward to the day so create something that makes you excited to wake up. Create a ritual you enjoy so that you can ease into your day instead of stumbling into it.
Conclusion
Being a morning person is one of the traits that 90% of successful people have. It's a practice that will help you level up your life and feel more fulfilled with how you spend your days. It's not easy to wake up early, but you can do it, just be patient and consistent. That's all for this blog, let me know in the comments what your favorite tip was.
until next time
xo xo
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