Rise and Shine: How to Become a Morning Person

Many people will start the new year with big goals, like exercising more, eating well, or reading more books. There’s a simple solution to starting your year off right and it all starts with how you begin your day. There are tons of idioms that tell us why becoming a morning person is great. Just think of all the times you’ve heard, “the early bird gets the worm” or “looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the bed.” This is the year to embrace the brisk morning air and jump out of bed with excitement to start the day. All you need are a few changes to help you thrive in the mornings!

Treat yourself like a toddler

Get a bedtime routine. Take a shower or bath and use calming fragrances like eucalyptus or lavender. Relax in a nice bubble bath with a book. Then, make sure you have a set bedtime! Keeping a schedule will make sure that you get plenty of sleep before the rooster crows.

Avoid going towards the light

We’ve all heard about how bad blue light can be for your sleeping schedule. Make sure to avoid the temptation of sitting in bed and scrolling through your phone before going to sleep. This sends your brain the wrong message and will interrupt your sleep pattern. Also, invest in curtains or blinds. Especially if you live in a city, making sure your bedroom is an oasis of darkness will help you get to sleep.

Don’t be alarmed

Everyone dreads that morning wake up alarm, but pressing snooze isn’t a good way to start your day. Think of the way that the sun comes up. It’s not suddenly blazing in the sky. It slowly rises from the east. Try an alarm that slowly wakes you up with melodic sounds or one that even simulates the light of the rising sun. This way, you won’t be jolted awake.

The best part of waking up…

Is having something to look forward to! There’s a reason the classic Folgers commercial resonates with so many people. Think of the excitement of Christmas morning compared to a normal workday. You are way more willing to get out of bed and celebrate with presents, breakfast, and loving messages from family and friends. Plan something that you can get excited about every morning, like a great breakfast, a nice cup of coffee, a new workout, or a new outfit.

It’s all in your mind

It’s so easy to let your mind race about all the things you need to do the next day, but by letting your thoughts run rampant, you’re not letting your brain settle down to get the sleep it needs. Get ready for bed by meditating or writing a list of everything you need to do the next day. Then get into bed and let the worries float away.

Whether you’re a night owl or an early riser, sleep is essential. Start out the new year with the routines that work for you so that you can get a good night’s sleep and wake up ready to conquer the day.