Wake Up with a Smile
Chances are, you hate getting up early. You'd much rather go back under the covers and sleep until it's midday. But since you've got responsibilities, you have no choice but to wake up at an ungodly hour. Contrary to what you might think, though, you can actually train yourself to be a morning person, and the way to do it is not as miserable as it sounds. Want to know the magic trick? Here are 20 tips that might just make you wake up with a smile.
1. Move Your Bedtime Earlier Gradually
Obviously, if you tend to sleep late, you're going to feel groggy in the morning. So, try gradually shifting your bedtime earlier by about 15 to 30 minutes every few nights. That way, you'll naturally fall asleep earlier without changing your schedule so drastically that your body barely has time to adjust.
2. Wake Up at the Same Time Every Day
Don't stop at setting a bedtime curfew—make sure to get up at the same time every day, too. Over time, your body will become accustomed to starting the day on a predictable schedule. And yes, that means sticking to your schedule on the weekends, too.
3. Get Light as Soon as You Wake Up
Light is one of the strongest signals that tell your body it's time to wake up. So once your alarm rings, open the curtains or, if you can, step outside for a few minutes. The more light exposure you get, the more awake you'll feel.
4. Stop Hitting the Snooze Button
We know hitting the snooze button is tempting! But if you get used to letting your brain drift back off for five blissful minutes, you'll eventually ignore waking up on time altogether. Plus, repeatedly waking and falling back asleep may only make you more groggy by the time you finally get out of bed.
Solving Healthcare on Unsplash
5. Put Your Alarm Across the Room
If you can't kick the habit of immediately shutting off your alarm or hitting the snooze button, here's a tip: put your clock across the room. That way, you'll be forced to stand up to turn it off, which might help remove some of that temptation to go back to dreamland.
6. Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To
Mornings are much easier to tolerate when getting out of bed comes with an immediate reward. So, whether it’s your favorite coffee or a breakfast you enjoy, try setting up a pleasant ritual that'll give you a reason to start your day earlier.
7. Prepare Your Coffee the Night Before
When you're already groggy and cranky, you might not want to deal with tedious morning tasks. To combat this, do all the prep the night before: set up the coffee maker, fill the kettle, then organize whatever you need first thing in the morning. Getting everything ready will make your morning routine a whole lot smoother.
8. Lay Out Your Clothes Before Bed
More than just setting up your coffee machine for the next morning, you can also plan out your outfit. No one wants to choose their clothes when half-awake, after all—you could end up looking like a mess! This is especially helpful if you know your mornings are usually rushed, or you have something planned right in the a.m.
9. Keep Your Phone Away from the Bed
We know it's hard, but do yourself a favor. Late-night scrolling will only push your bedtime later and later without you even realizing how much time has passed. Plus, by keeping it out of reach, you're less likely to begin every morning checking notifications before you’re even fully awake.
10. Create a Short Wind-Down Routine
Your body will also benefit from having recognizable cues that the day is coming to an end. So make a wind-down routine! Whether it's dimming the lights or swapping your phone for a book, doing relaxing activities helps signal to your brain that it's time for bed. Remember to do this routine at roughly the same time each evening.
11. Give Yourself More Morning Time
If your mornings are always rushed and chaotic, it's no surprise that you'll hate waking up. If this is the case, give yourself some more buffer in the morning so you're not always hurrying to get ready. A less frantic routine may eventually make those early hours feel far more manageable.
12. Drink Some Water After Waking
Don't underestimate what a tall glass of water can do! Think about it: if you were in bed for eight hours, that's eight hours you’ve gone without drinking anything. Quench your thirst, hydrate your body—you might be more ready to take on the day afterwards. Keeping a water bottle beside your bed or ready in the kitchen can help make the habit easier to remember.
13. Add Some Movement to Your Routine
While you probably don't want to jump right into an intense workout first thing in the morning, you'll still benefit from moving around. Don't have the energy for a run? Go on a brief walk or do a couple of stretches. You might be surprised at how much more awake you'll feel.
14. Eat a Breakfast You Actually Enjoy
Forcing yourself to eat something you don't like for breakfast won’t make mornings more appealing. Instead of making a protein shake or a bland salad, have something that'll actually sate your appetite and make you feel energized. Even a small bowl of fruit alongside some oatmeal can go a long way.
Christian Wiediger on Unsplash
15. Be Careful with Late-Afternoon Caffeine
Sure, coffee might keep you awake and alert, but having too many cups can actually backfire. Remember: caffeine can remain in your system for hours, and it may make it harder for you to fall asleep at bedtime. If you already experience sleep troubles, reserve caffeinated drinks for earlier in the day.
16. Stop Saving Everything for the Morning
As we've mentioned, it'll help to prep everything the night before. You don't want to be tasked with packing lunch, charging your devices, and finding a good outfit while you’re half-awake! Without pushing your bedtime later, tick off as many to-dos before going to sleep. Then you won't need to worry about it in the morning.
17. Keep the Bedroom Comfortable for Sleep
Is your room too stuffy or brightly lit? Well, that might explain why you can't sleep well at night or wake up groggy. To make sure you get the rest you need, adjust your sleeping environment so it feels comfortable and minimizes any potential interruptions throughout the night.
18. Avoid Huge Weekend Schedule Swings
While you don’t have to follow your weekday routine down to the minute, it will still help to stick to it roughly. After all, it won't help much if you're waking up at seven for work but sleeping until late afternoon on Saturdays and Sundays. Doing this will also make it harder to fall asleep at bedtime.
19. Make Your First Hour Predictable
Other than making sure everything is prepped and ready to go in the morning, it'll also help if those early hours are predictable. So, set up a ritual to follow, like opening the curtains, drinking water, getting dressed, and eating breakfast. Familiarity removes friction and can make starting the day feel much easier.
20. Give the Adjustment Time
Becoming comfortable with mornings probably isn’t going to happen after two early wake-ups, so don't put yourself down just because you're not adjusting as fast as you might like. Your body needs time to adapt to changes, especially if you’ve followed a different schedule for years. As long as you stick with your new habits, it'll get easier and easier.
KEEP ON READING
20 Ways to Become a Morning Person
20 Red Flag Signs You Retired Before You Were Ready
