7 Secrets to Becoming a Morning Person

Running low on motivation? Keep reading for 3 Mindset Hacks that are sure to set the wheels of change in motion on your motor scooter.

I don’t know if it’s just me but one of the seemingly hardest parts of adulting is all of the not sleeping. Being tired all the time sadly seems to be one of the universally accepted parts of adulthood. And, if you’re not a morning person by nature, getting up early can be one of the most agonizing parts of the day.

I should know. I’m one of those people who should absolutely be avoided pre-caffeine in the morning. I cannot think of anything worse than having to speak to another human the first hour that I’m awake. Like, literally-- don’t even look in my direction.

And because snapping at people for doing basic stuff, like breathing, is frowned upon-- I’ve had to figure out a way to make mornings easier for everyone. But mostly for myself. Here are my go-to tips for easing into the morning like sunshine.

Slide out of bed as soon as you wake up

Personally, I like to give myself 20 good minutes to luxuriate before actually getting up and moving so I can recall dreams and the like. But if I don’t want to risk falling back asleep, I will literally slide out of my bed and sit on the floor to think and let myself gradually wake up by sitting upright.

Take a shower

Nothing gets me going and washes away the sleep like a quick splash in the shower, especially if I have to wet my hair. Morning showers are my fave.

Listen to something uplifting or motivational

Feed your mind with positivity instead of mindlessly scrolling the ‘Gram or checking in on everyone else on FB. You can feed your brain while making your bed, in the shower or making the caffeinated beverage of your choice.

Replace your blaring alarm with something more soothing.

I haven’t used an alarm clock to wake me up in quite a few years. But when I did I had a great app called Sleep Cycle, that would wake me up at or before the appointed time when my body was experiencing a lighter sleep so I’d feel more refreshed. The app senses your movements in bed and calculates your sleep cycle accordingly. And my favorite part was the alarm tone was quite soothing.

Add something you enjoy and look forward to in your morning routine.

Whether it’s tip-toeing around your house before everyone else is up, or watching the sunrise with your green juice (ok, coffee), find something to love and look forward to in the morning that makes you excited to toss back the covers and get your day started. One of my fave motivations is breakfast. When I know I’ve got something good to look forward to I’m more excited to get moving in the morning.

No caffeine past 5-6 pm

You’d think this one would be a no brainer. But on more than one occasion I’ve found myself talking myself out of that last cup of yerba mate, or in the summer iced tea. Because the sun is staying up later, it seems more acceptable to have a casual cup of tea later in the evening. Then, the next thing you know, it’s 1 a.m. and I’m wide awake googling flight deals to anywhere but here.

Sleep train yourself to go to bed earlier.

There’s literally no substitute for adequate sleep. It’s like water or vegetables-- without it you’ll die. Like, not right away, of course. But you will start to resemble a sad little wilted flower. Droopy, with all of your best days behind you. Start pushing your bedtime up by 15-30 minutes a night to add time to whatever your standard bedtime is.

Similarly, if you want to get up earlier, try setting your alarm for 15-30 minutes sooner in the morning. It’s really important to keep the same (similar) schedule on the weekends, especially in the beginning so that you can keep up the momentum of early to bed, early to rise.

So, go ahead and put your phone down and get some sleep… goodness knows we could all use more or it.

Are you an early or late riser? Leave a comment here or on social.

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