6 Tips for Becoming a Morning Person.

Photo by Joe Loper.

Remember those days where you could just wake up in the afternoon, sip some coffee, munch on some brunch and snuggle on the couch all day? Yeah, me neither. The current morning routine usually involves an endless number of snoozes and an infinite amount of “just 5 more minutes.” 

But that’s adulthood. Things to do, worlds to conquer. And you simply can’t start at noon. So, how do you trick yourself into becoming a morning person? Let’s try these tips:

1. Exercise…Self-Control.

Wait! Don’t go away! We didn’t mean physical exercise! All better now? Okay, in the end, it all comes down to discipline. Design a routine that works for you and try to stick to it. Eat at regular intervals, go to sleep at the same time and most importantly – try to get a good amount of sleep (yes, this means that you should not watch that fifth episode of The Office.)

2. But Seriously, Move Your Body.

You don’t have to start your day with jumping jacks, but do something that will help wake up your body. Start with some light stretches and work it from there: yoga, Pilates or just a short walk in the neighborhood could do wonders for your morning routine.

3. Are You a Dog Person or a Cat Person?

One thing is certain – you’re not a morning person! But that can change pretty soon with some help from our furry companions. Not only are pets natural alarm clocks, but they can teach you how to become more responsible as well! Knowing that your furmates are expecting breakfast or a walk could give you the motivation you need to crawl out of bed.

4. Get Some Help!

We don’t mean hiring people to come and drag you out of bed every morning (Unless that’s an actual thing…in that case sign us up!), but maybe start with something less extreme. There are plenty of apps and smart alarm clocks out there that are specifically designed to keep you awake. Some of them require you to solve a puzzle, while others will urge you to physically get out of bed and chase them around the house…whatever works for you.

5. Treat Yourself!

Congratulations, you made it out of bed – here’s a cookie! Or make it a nice cup of coffee, tea or a scrumptious breakfast. Think of something that makes you happy; something that will help you look forward to getting out of bed. Dedicate the first hour after getting out of bed to doing something you enjoy – reading a book, watching your fav tv show or simply staring into space! Find something that will get you in the zone.

6. Create a Healthy Environment.

Crawl out of that dim den and step into the real world! Open those windows, let in some natural light and play your favorite tunes. Do whatever it takes to make your mornings more tolerable and fun. This also works the other way around. Once you proclaim it’s bedtime, make sure to minimize distractions, turn off the lights, put your phone on silent and adjust the temperature in your room. It will help you get a good night’s sleep and make those mornings more bearable. 

You don’t have to love mornings; you don’t even have to be on a first name basis with them. But there are plenty of things you can do to make sure they don’t become your greatest enemy. Start your day with a puppy kiss instead of a morning jog or treat yourself to some yummy coffee instead of a kale smoothie. Not every routine works for everybody, so find the one that’s suitable for you and finally lose the snooze!