Do you dread the sound of your alarm every weekday morning? Are you guilty of hitting the snooze button multiple times before you finally crawl out of bed? If any of these sound familiar to you, odds are you aren’t a morning person. The good news is that you can become one! And wouldn’t it be so much better to wake up feeling excited to start the day? Here are some tips to help you become a morning person…
1. Create a sleep schedule.
One of the most important things when trying to become a morning person is creating a schedule and sticking to it. If you’re going to sleep at different times every night, it’s no wonder you’re having trouble waking up in the morning. You need to figure out how much sleep you need (7.5-8 hours is recommended) and give yourself a bedtime. It may seem silly to have a bedtime since we aren’t children, but it’s necessary if you want to ensure your body gets the rest it needs.
Get into the habit of going to sleep at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning without hitting that snooze button. In time, you will adjust to this routine and waking up will become so much easier.
2. Create the right sleeping conditions.
To help encourage sleep, there are a few things you should keep in mind before you climb into bed. When you fall asleep in the right environment, you’re more likely to get a restful night’s sleep. Studies have shown it’s actually easier to fall asleep in a room that’s cooler than normal. Consider turning on the ceiling fan or switching on the air condition before you go to bed to ensure your room is nice and cool.
Also, you’ll want to make sure there aren’t any distracting lights in your room, which includes your alarm clock and street lights. If you live in a city area with lights shining in your window, invest in some curtain to help block out the light.
3. Wake up at the right time.
If you ever wake up feeling tired despite getting a full eight hours, it could be that your alarm woke you during a deep sleep. Ideally, you want to wake up during the beginning stages of a REM cycle because that’s when you are in the lightest sleep. The great thing is, there are apps that can help you with this.
You can go for an app like Sleep Cycle, which detects your movement while you sleep. All you have to do is give the app a preset time for when you’d like to wake up. The app is then designed to detect your movements and wake you during light sleep, which is when you are most likely to be moving around. So, your alarm may sound a half-hour early, but you’ll wake feeling more refreshed because you weren’t disturbed during deep sleep.
4. Let in natural light.
The natural light from a sunrise is a great way to gradually wake up in the morning. When you first hop out of bed in the morning, head to your windows and open up your curtains or blinds and let the sunlight in. If you have to wake up while it’s still dark out, there are special alarm clocks that emit a light that mimic the sunrise to help you wake up more peacefully.
5. Drink a glass of water.
Did you know that your body gets dehydrated while you sleep? You need to make sure to rehydrate as soon as you wake up, otherwise you might still feel tired and fatigued. If you want to become a morning person and feel more energized, grab a glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning. Drink it while you’re fixing breakfast and getting ready for the day.
6. Exercise in the morning.
There really isn’t any better way to start your day than with a morning workout. Getting some exercise in before you start your day is a great way to wake up your mind and body, while giving you the energy boost you need to take on the day. Plus, you’ll feel so satisfied about accomplishing your workout, that it’s sure to put you in a good mood!
7. Reward yourself.
And finally, try rewarding yourself for waking up early. Even as adults, we can benefit from a little positive reinforcement. If you get out of bed on time without hitting the snooze button, reward yourself! What can you add to your morning routine as a little treat to start your day off right?
