So we all know the saying “the early bird gets the worm”, but what about the night owls who just aren’t wired for early mornings? If you’re a night owl, your energy hits you in the evening, but chances are, you have to wake up early for work and are then left feeling tired and sluggish in the mornings. Of course, you probably WANT to be a morning person though and feel like life would be so much easier if you could wake up earlier and feel energized throughout the day. If this sounds like you, don’t worry – because it is possible to train yourself to go from night owl to early riser! Read on for some great tips to help you get out of bed earlier and start off your day feeling refreshed and motivated.
One | Go to Bed Earlier
I know, this is easier said than done, but this is the first step in becoming an early riser. Set bedtime goals for yourself and start with small incremental changes. For instance, if you typically don’t go to bed until 11 pm, make your first bedtime goal 10:45, and slowly work your way up from there.
To help yourself fall asleep, create relaxing bedtime rituals to get yourself in the right mindset for sleep. Some things to try include:
- taking a relaxing bath
- listening to soothing music
- reading
- drinking herbal tea
- meditating and relaxation exercises
Two | Set Earlier Alarms
Don’t expect yourself to suddenly wake up an hour or two earlier – instead, start off waking up just 10 or 15 minutes earlier at first. Most sources suggest to stop hitting snooze, because it disrupts your sleep routine and causes you to wake up with that groggy feeling. To help yourself get out of this habit, move your phone or alarm clock to the other side of the room, so that you are forced to get out of bed to turn off your alarm.
Three | Create Pleasant Morning Rituals
It’s easier to wake up when you have something to look forward to. So plan to do something enjoyable as soon as you turn off your alarm and get up. Here are some ideas:
- Watch the news or a short, favorite show
- Read a blog post
- Drink energizing tea or coffee outside and enjoy the crisp, morning air
- Take a short brisk walk or do some other form of exercise
Four | Listen to Upbeat Tunes
Music can be a huge influence on your mood, so choose to listen to upbeat music while getting ready to help energize yourself. Make a morning motivation playlist of songs you find energizing and uplifting.
Five | Eat a Healthy Breakfast
When you’re rushed in the morning, it’s easy to either skip breakfast or grab an unhealthy snack. When you start waking up earlier, however, you will have time to eat a fulfilling, healthy breakfast. Not only will this give you some extra motivation to get out of bed, but it will give you the fuel you need to stay productive throughout your morning at work.
Six | Organize Your Thoughts
Before you start your day at work, take a few minutes to write down the tasks you need to accomplish. Either record your tasks in your planner (click here for planner tips!) or make a simple to-do list.
Seven | Choose Your Morning Work Carefully
Some say it’s best to “eat a live frog first thing in the morning” – meaning to start your day with the hardest or most unpleasant task. However, if you’re naturally less energetic in the morning, this may not be the best option for you.
For many who struggle with mornings, the better option is to ease your way into your day by starting with some lighter tasks. Set aside 30 minutes or an hour for lighter work (checking emails, etc) and then tackle the hardest task of your day. By starting with lighter work, you’re slowly getting your energy going, so you’re ready for your more difficult task. And then hopefully, you have your hardest task done by noon and are left with your medium level tasks for the afternoon.
All of these methods should help you wake up earlier and feel more energized and productive throughout the day. Just be patient with yourself as you slowly work on changing your routines, and before you know it, you’ll become the morning person you always wanted to be!
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