How to become a Morning Person with Actionable Tips

Prior to reading this, I want to add a disclaimer that while I love being an early riser, I do definitely listen to my body when I know I need more rest, and that is okay.

The term “early Morning” will mean different things to everyone. Early for me is just before the sun rises, so 5:30 am. However, if you normally wake up at 11 am, early to you may be 8 am.

The first step to a productive morning routine is to perfect your sleep cycle and this starts before you go to bed.

Ensuring you not only get adequate sleep but deep quality sleep is key to have the energy and rest for an early morning.

Some ways I like to ensure I am getting at least 7-8 hours (everyone needs different hours of sleep) includes;

1. Using the bedtime feature in my iPhone, I set the hours I wish to be asleep for “Goal hours is 8”, then I set my “rise” time 5:30 am, the bedtime feature then calculates the time I need to go to sleep.

2. Set a bedtime reminder 45 minutes before bed. This is a great way to begin to wind down. When I get this reminder I like to ensure my alarm is set for the correct time, send any last messages then put my phone on charge and airplane mode. In these 45 minutes, I create a calm environment, dim the lights, have my hot shower, skincare and read a book

3. Boost melatonin. Some ways I like to do this are meditation, journaling, reading a book, hot showers, aromatherapy, warm non-caffeinated drinks, self-massage, and white noise. Melatonin is the chemical that makes you feel relaxed, calm and aids in sleep.

How to actually wake up early is now the real question, especially if you’re used to just sleeping in.

1. Put your phone/alarm on the other side of the room, forcing you to get out of bed.

2. Leave your curtains open enough to let the natural morning sun into your room, this will help awaken you.

3. Washing your face with cool water when you first open your eyes or drink some water, sounds random but this really helps wake me up.

4. Set out your clothes for the next day, so that when you wake up everything is ready to go.

5. Hold yourself accountable. You can do this with a friend! Whether that's sending them a selfie with the time stamp showing you’re up and productive, or it’s meeting them for a morning walk, coffee, or exercise class - having an accountability partner will help!

6. Listen to this podcast and utilize the 5-second method. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wN4dIsYWZNPOwYBkYhLPa?si=_gwaO4EcQGOKGvGeSlxljA

7. Follow these below suggestions to make your morning routine even better!

8. Be realistic about your wake-up time! And listen to your body.