By Allie SontagIf you’re like me, you hit snooze at least 5 times before getting up in the morning. Or you set 10 different alarms on your phone just so you can catch some extra Z’s. You look at those people getting up for 5am runs and think, “Wow, how do they do it?” The crazy truth is, morning people are often happier, smarter, more proactive, and getting better sleep than us night owls out there. If you aspire to become a morning person, as I do, then keep reading for some tips and tricks I’ve discovered that I am starting to incorporate into my life. If not, just keep hitting that snooze button. I won’t judge you. Keep Your Alarm Away From Your Bed You’ve probably heard this one a million times, but it works. Unless you just crawl right back into bed after getting up to hit snooze….don’t do that. Put your phone or alarm far enough away that you have to physically get out of bed to reach it. It is a simple trick, but can help a lot with getting yourself out of bed, which is honestly the worst part about mornings. Don’t Hit Snooze Easier said than done, am I right? But seriously, this is the most effective tip and the one I struggle the most with. You think that by hitting snooze you’re getting a little extra sleep, but it just makes you more tired and less refreshed when you wake up. Instead of the snooze button, set your alarm for when you know you need to wake up and force yourself out of bed. The hardest part about getting up in the morning is getting out of bed. But once you’re out, you’re out. Okay, Hit Snooze…But Play a Game With it A cool trick called the “inverted snooze” is one I’ve started doing in the morning, and it definitely gets me moving. If you hit snooze in the morning, force yourself to get up for the 9 minutes or so that your snooze is set for. You can momentarily trick your mind by telling yourself that you can go back to sleep once the alarm rings again. In that time, try to wash your face, brew some coffee, and do whatever you can to wake up in those 9 minutes. You’ll find that kick-starting your morning this way gets you moving faster and out of bed quicker. It’s worth a try for all of us snoozers out there. Get Some Fresh Air or Daylight Push back those curtains as soon as you wake up. If it’s decent outside, get out for a minute and breathe in the fresh air. If it is a little chilly outside, it wakes me right up! It is the last thing most of us want to do in the morning, especially if it is winter in Minnesota, but even opening the blinds to let some light in is enough to program your brain to get moving. Brew Some Coffee or Tea Right Away Are you a coffee drinker? Tea drinker? Maybe you love making smoothies or drinking a big glass of orange juice in the morning. Whatever you prefer, get started with it right as you jump (or crawl) out of bed in the morning. Once you have a little something in you, it makes it so much easier to get breakfast started and get your day going. If you have a coffee maker with an automatic timer to start brewing your coffee for you in the morning, even better! Go to Sleep Earlier This is a tough one for us night owls. However, if you want to keep sleeping 9-10 hours a night AND wake up earlier, you’ll have to sacrifice some of your nighttime. If you normally get to bed around 1am, try to move it back just 15 minutes. Small, gradual changes are going to be the most effective, especially if you hate mornings. Obviously there will be some nights where you’re out really late and can’t get to bed at your set time. Don’t worry about these nights. Just try to stick to your sleep schedule as often as you can. Implement a Nighttime Routine Carve an hour or so out of your night to get your body in the mood to sleep. Take a nice long shower or bath before you head off to bed. Cozy up with that book you’ve been meaning to finish. Watch a movie or episode of your favorite show. Just remember to turn your electronics off before you decide to go to sleep, and give yourself ample time to ease into relaxation mode. Computers and phones can be uber distracting and affect the quality of your sleep whether you realize it or not. Have a Morning Routine to Look Forward to Do you love reading the paper in the morning? Running? Yoga? Meditation? Reading? Whatever it is, use that as your motivation to wake up early. Excited to try a new breakfast recipe? I know the first thing I think about in the morning is food. That alone is a great source of motivation to get out of bed. Set aside some time in the morning to gradually wake up and get excited for the day ahead. Take it Slow As I mentioned before, slow and steady wins the race when trying to become a morning person. Most likely, you won’t start waking up at 7am everyday within a few days of using these tips. It takes dedication and a positive mental attitude, and it is best to move gradually when changing your sleeping habits. As much as I love sleep and being cozy in my bed, I know I would feel well-rested and get so much more done if I were a morning person. So don’t expect progress to happen overnight. With dedication and persistence, you will get there.
I hope these tips inspired you to take on your mornings and start sleeping better! As always, I will be back next week with more. Have a wonderful day! ~Allie
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