Introduction
For most people, mornings are defining moments. A morning routine can set the tone for a productive day. If you are not an early bird, you might need to trick your brain into becoming a morning person. And this is exactly what this post on 15 tips to be a morning person aims for.
Sleeping late is also bad for our productivity and mood in general because of oversleeping. Feeling groggy is definitely not the best way to start your day. This is why I decided to become a morning person about one year ago.
Some people say, ” I can’t wake up early because I am not a morning person.” I must admit I used to say so. If you hate waking up early this post is for you!
Did you know that you can actually change that by adding a few new habits to your daily routine? Yep. All it takes to become a morning person is a few habits.
Want to become an early bird? Then start by implementing some of the habits below.
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Replace your alarm with music
No one likes to be woken up at 5:00 a.m. by a horrible alarm. Replace it with music you like and adjust the sound: there’s no need to put it super loud “just to make sure it will wake me up.” You need your alarm clock to wake you up gently. It doesn’t need to give you a heart attack or wake up the entire building.
Plan a delicious breakfast
You like to eat, right? So why don’t you decide the night before what you are going to eat for breakfast? Pancakes, honey, good coffee, and fresh fruit? Or a delicious blueberry muffin with a nice cup of tea?
I used to eat anything for breakfast. I would eat on autopilot, and that’s not healthy at all. Indeed, cookies and cereals are usually full of sugar and are therefore bad for your health.
In addition, you will quickly feel hungry and tired after a few hours. This is not good for your productivity, so start planning delicious and nutritious breakfasts that will motivate you to jump out of bed!
Be positive
Your mood can totally make or break your day. This is also the reason why you should avoid oversleeping, as it might make you groggy.
Decide to have a productive day and to get stuff done. You cannot control everything in your life and other people’s behaviors, but you can control your positivity levels.
Think about all the things you are grateful for, and make today an incredibly productive day.
Have enough sleep
As said, you don’t want to oversleep, but you still have to sleep, right? When I was a student, I thought I did not need to sleep more than 5-6 hours per night. Sleeping more than that would be a waste of time. I was so wrong.
We all have different sleep patterns. For example, some of us may only need 5 or 6 hours to be well-rested. However, give yourself that time if you feel you need 7 or 8 hours.
Not sleeping enough several nights in a row will hurt your productivity because of the lack of energy. Not sleeping enough because you have lots to do is counterproductive.
Have a Routine and Stick to it
If you have already read my other posts on productivity, you know how much I love routines. Having a morning routine was a game-changer for me.
Routines are great for productivity because they implement habits, and everyone knows that habits make us.
If you want to work on personal development, I definitely recommend creating your own morning and night routines and sticking to them because routines only work if you stay consistent.
Start the day with upbeat music
Waking up to joyful music is definitely a great way to start the day on the right foot.
To do so, Spotify is your friend. The community on the app has created a lot of playlists to make each morning count.
Make your bedroom a relaxing place
You need to sleep in an appropriate environment to have a restful night.
Clean your room and get rid of all the clutter. Going minimalist in my room has really helped me have more restful nights.
Buy quality sheets and blankets. Consider investing in a good mattress if you haven’t already. Have nice-smelling candles and soft light.
Lastly, do not forget to air the room and ensure that the temperature does not exceed 17 degrees Celsius. This is the perfect temperature to help you fall asleep.
Have a plan for the day
Having a plan and knowing exactly what you have to do as soon as you wake up is a game-changer for productivity. There is no need to plan your day minute by minute.
Setting 3-5 goals for the day is usually enough to motivate me to get out of bed.
Set time for inspiration
Even on busy days, I like to take 30 minutes in the morning to read or watch a motivational TedTalk. There’s nothing more effective to feel ready to change the world!
So take time for yourself every morning. It will help you focus and stay calm throughout the day.
Plan something uplifting
Having something uplifting to do when your workday is over is the best way to motivate yourself to stay productive despite a difficult time.
It can be going out for a drink with friends, watching a good movie, or just taking a nice bath and putting on comfortable clothes.
Whatever it is, find something comforting or motivating to do at the end of your workday. The day will go by faster just by thinking about it!
Have a slow morning
Slow mornings are a great way to transition from waking up late to being an early bird.
If you have a slow morning, you take time to do things and basically don’t leave the house in a rush.
Slow mornings are great for personal development because they allow you to start the day reflecting on your goals and aspirations.
If you’re not super energetic in the morning and need time to eat that frog, starting the day with a healthy breakfast and journaling is the way to go.
Slow mornings will bring clarity to your days, allowing you to focus on what really matters.
Avoid screens before bed
This simple action can really improve your sleep quality, which is an important factor in being productive in the morning.
Avoiding screens at least 1 hour before bed will help you fall asleep faster and recover during your sleep.
If this is too radical for you, you should at least change your devices’ settings to their night mode to reduce blue light and help you fall asleep faster.
Listen to a sleepcast
Now, this tip has been a real lifesaver for me.
I first discovered sleepcasts a couple of years ago with the Netflix series Headspace.
I actually started to watch this series at a time I was suffering from a generalized anxiety disorder. I discovered Headspace during my initiation to meditation and loved the series and app so much that I gave their 4 sleepcasts a try.
I can tell from my smartwatch analysis that listening to these sleepcasts considerably improves my sleep quality.
Plus, meditating with Headspace helped me heal my anxiety disorder almost overnight.
If you are looking for ways to decrease stress and improve mindfulness and sleep quality, I recommend watching the Netflix series and/or trying their app.
Journal before bed
Another simple but effective tip to help you improve sleep quality and be more productive in the morning is to add journaling to your night routine.
Journaling is a great way to get thoughts out of your head and cope with negative experiences. This is your call if you are an overthinker but have never tried journaling.
Writing your thoughts on paper will help you stop overthinking them once in bed, which will help you fall asleep faster and actually stay asleep until your alarm clock rings.
Be consistent
Lastly, as for any new habit, consistency is key. Your body will not understand what you are trying to do if you only wake up early 2 or 3 times per week.
This needs to become a new habit. Believe it or not, your body will get used to waking up early, and you will actually wake up early without any alarm after a few weeks.
It might not be easy the first days, but be patient with yourself and remember that your body might need time to adjust to this new rhythm.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a morning person is the easiest way to boost your productivity and get things done. Implementing these simple habits can help you transition from being a night owl to being an early bird.
The first week might be challenging, but you will quickly benefit from waking up earlier and the new habits you’ll implement.
Trust the process and give it time. You are about to discover the power of a miracle morning routine!