How To Become a Morning Person
I’m very much a morning person. I look forward to making a cup of coffee and enjoying the stillness of the morning before the world wakes. Growing up I can recall that I was not a morning person neither during my undergrad career. I made sure that my classes did not start until after 9 AM, but now, as an “adult,” I have found that my days are much better and much more productive if I wake at 5 AM. Yes, 5 AM.
You can say that I have become that morning person who’s very excited to be awake, especially on trips. But just give me a cup of coffee, my blanket, a candle to burn, and a comfy chair, and I can sit for hours.
In today’s blog post, I want to share some obtainable strategies that I have used to turn me into a morning person:
Take a Look at Your Evening Routine
I believe what you do the night before will set you up to have a great morning. I spend a few minutes before bed picking out my clothes for work, checking to make sure I have packed my work tote and placed it by the front door, filling my Stanley cup with water, and packing any snacks I plan to take with me to the office. I also double-check my alarms and review my calendar for the next day to ensure I’m not missing anything. I also set my phone to “do not disturb” from 8:45 PM to 7:00 AM the following day. My bedtime is 10:00 PM, leaving me an hour and a half to wind down. My family and a few close friends know that my phone is set to this schedule, so if they need me, they either call or text before 8:45, or they’ll know that I’ll see their message the next day. I also have my parents and a few family members on my “emergency list” so that they can reach me past the “do not disturb” status in the event of an emergency.
Purchase a Real Alarm Clock
This has also been very helpful. Here is the one that I use. Having an alarm clock has been great practice for me not to reach over and pick up my phone to check the “time” because if I check the time, I will likely start to scroll right on to TikTok. If you have an alarm clock all ready, one tip is to move it to the other side of the room. This will force you to get out of bed and walk to turn off the alarm. Making it less likely to hit “snooze” since you’re already up.
Find at least one Energy Activity
I have multiple energy activities. It involves anything between loading the dishwasher and setting it to go when I get ready to leave. Start a load of laundry. Tidy up a room or an area of my closet. This part excites me because it’s like I’m preparing my apartment for when I return from work in the evenings. You can also add going to the gym or taking a morning walk to get those endorphins going. I go to the gym on set days during the week, so on days I don’t have a gym, I fill that time with continuing my energy activity or working on some content and checking a few emails. Whatever you decide, make sure that you are looking forward to it so that it can give you a boost.
Meditation
I use the extra time I wake up in the mornings to have some quiet time and read my devotional. It’s a sweet time to sit in the stillness and talk with Jesus about my day to come. Sometimes, I do nothing but play music and practice gratitude. I have significantly improved my mental clarity and focus when I spend about 30 minutes to myself before heading out the door.
Go to Bed Earlier
We touched on this in strategy one, but it goes without saying that going to bed earlier impacts your becoming a morning person. Gone are the days when I was in college and had the mindset of “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” now I’m all for sleep and the occasional “nap” on the weekends. Many studies have shown that the right amount of sleep improves your brain performance and mood and helps. Not getting enough quality sleep regularly can raise the risk of many diseases and disorders like heart disease and obesity. Set your phone to “do not disturb” and ensure all your notifications are silent. If you struggle with falling asleep, here are a few tips:
Read something light and light a candle
Take a warm shower or bath.
Use blackout shades to keep your room dark. Here is a link to the curtains I have from Target that I love
Use a White Noise Machine; here’s a link to the one I use
Make sure your sleep environment is the right temp. I keep my thermostat on 65 for a great night’s rest!
I have been using the above strategies for two years and have never felt better regarding my mental clarity and focus. Starting my day 2-3 hours before I have to be at work gives me a sense of accomplishment and more time in the evenings to work on content, hang with friends, or do absolutely nothing. On the weekends, I still find my body waking up at 5 AM, and if I can’t force myself back to sleep, I go ahead and get up to start the day. If that’s the case, I will fit in a “nap” or two later in the day. Those who truly know me know that even on the weekends, I still keep my 10 PM bedtime; I just can’t help it; I’m in a routine that I just don’t want to break right now.
I would love to know if this blog post relates to you and hear your thoughts on being a morning person. Leave a comment below, and let’s chat.
*Note: This blog post contains affiliate links at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business.
MKDecker Designs - Chinoiserie in Blush
