Waking up early is hard, really hard. There are a rare few people that can say they are a morning person by nature. I most certainly am not. I worked for years to get myself to wake up earlier, wanting to seize the day and get more things done. I can finally say, after many failed attempts, that I wake up at 6:30am or earlier most mornings. Part of that is because my job starts at 5am some days, but even on my days off from work, I prefer waking up earlier to feel more of a sense of accomplishment for getting more done.
You, too, can work towards waking up earlier and making the most of your day to stay productive. Keep reading to find out the seven ways you can change your morning routine to start earlier and slay sooner.
- Get up fifteen minutes earlier every day.
Fifteen minutes may not seem like a lot, but if you consistently get up fifteen minutes earlier every day, then after even just four days, that’s a whole hour. I would say give yourself about 5-7 days of adjustment time to get this process done. For example, if you would like to get acclimated to waking up at 6am every morning, start by setting your alarm for 7:30 on the first day, 7:15 on the second, and so on until you are at the time that you wish to become acclimated to, and then stick with it.
2. Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up.
Part of the issue with waking up earlier than you were previously used to is that your body doesn’t have the energy to get up and move right away. Drinking a full glass of water, at least 16 ounces, will start you off hydrated, and less likely to be groggy in the morning. It will wake you up faster. It may seem like a simple trick, but that’s because it really is, and it really helps!
3. Wash your face with cold water.
Nothing wakes you up quite like cold water. You should be washing your face daily anyway, so why not use it as a dual purpose activity, and do it first thing in the morning to give you a wake up boost as well? I personally use Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Acne Wash, and I love it. It has micro-beads to smooth and clear skin, has a pink grapefruit scent, and it feels like giving yourself a mini massage every day. Washing my face definitely gives me a clean feeling to start the day off right.
4. Shower.
I probably don’t need to say this one, but it is so so so important. You need to shower every day, preferably in the morning right after you wake up. Akin to washing your face, the stream of water will work to wake you up, and give you a sense of preparedness for the day.
5. Put on clothes that you feel good in.
Whether you are going to class, working in an office, or even working from home, it is so important to wear clothes that you feel successful in. What you wear can be a major confidence boost, and it’s no different with waking up early. It encourages you to get out and to be productive, because you are dressed for success. Now, what you wear may differ depending on what you do for a living. My rule of thumb is always to look presentable and professional, but to also be comfortable. This step won’t work unless the clothes on your back are ones you can move in as well as rest in. You can still slay with your style without foregoing comfort.
6. Eat a good breakfast.
I know it’s an overused phrase, but breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. You need nutrients to fuel you, and in the morning when you are first waking up is the quintessential time for that. What you put into your body matters, as does how you eat the food you consume. I recommend sitting down to eat without any outside distractions, such as a phone, computer, or tablet. If you are someone who reads the newspaper while you eat breakfast, by all means continue that. My point here is to be mindful of what you are consuming, and to recognize when you are satisfied. The act of eating is not something to quickly get through, it is something to enjoy.
7. Take ten minutes to be silent every morning before you leave your home.
This step, more than all of the others mentioned above, is by far the most crucial and yet also the most overlooked and forgotten about. When you are choosing to wake up earlier, that is partially to enjoy the quiet and stillness that the early morning can provide you while the rest of the world is still asleep. That benefit is lost if all you do in the morning is rush around getting ready for the day for once you leave your house. Take ten minutes, a small amount of time in the grand scheme of things, to sit and be quiet. You can use this time to journal, read, do a Bible study, draw, or simply just sit. Try your best not to fill the silence with technological noise, meaning don’t pick up your phone. If this poses an issue for you, go into a room where your phone is not, and physically distance yourself from all types of noise, both in the air and on a screen.
This practice can truly reorient your entire day. When I started doing this, the difference it made in my mood for the rest of the day astonished me. It’s really grounding to spend intentional time being silent, especially when the world demands so much of your attention otherwise. It helps you focus on your thoughts, as well as provides a mental break from the clutter of the world.
And there you have it! Seven ways to slowly but surely become more of a morning person. You can start with one of these steps, whichever seems the most doable for you, and gradually add in more and more until you are, hopefully, practicing all seven of them. The steps above can be done separately, but I believe that they are most effective and helpful when done in conjunction with one another.
I hope this helps you to work towards becoming a morning person. It truly is so amazing how quiet the world can be so early in the morning.
Until next time, stay golden!
Hannah