10 Ways to Become a Morning Person

Parenthood has taught me a lot of things over the years. One of the most important lessons was learning how to become a morning person, especially since my toddler is ready to hit the ground running the moment he steps out of bed. He is totally 100% a morning person so I’ve learned how to become a morning person so that I can hit the ground running with him.

10 Ways to Become a Morning Person

Here are some of the techniques I use to make my mornings easier and happier.

1.) Get More Sleep

Sounds simple enough, right? But, if you’re like me, it’s hard to go to bed earlier. My internal clock fights me with every ounce of strength it has. If you want to wake up earlier and happier, trim down the hours that you stay up at night. Start assuming that you have one less hour before bed and don’t agree to items that infringe on that hour. And yes, parenthood can throw a wrench into the system. Trust me on that one.

I used to stay up late but then we added a second kid into the mix and I can barely keep my eyes open past 10:00 p.m. Unless I have a ton of work that I need to complete at night, I’m usually closing down the house at 10:00 p.m. If I’m asleep by 10:30 p.m., then I’ll be able to get 7.5 hours of sleep before my five-month-old starts waking up for the day.

2.) Put Down the Electronics

I used to look at my phone every night before falling asleep. I would crawl into bed, pick up my phone, browse through my social media accounts, and before I knew it an hour would pass by before I even realized it. Yikes. Now, I put my phone on my nightstand, crawl into bed, and pass out within minutes of my head hitting the pillow. I guess it also helps that I took Facebook off my phone. It’s been a bit depressing lately so I took the app off my phone to free up my time and mind. To be honest, I’m loving it.

3.) Avoid the Snooze Button

Try as hard as you can to avoid hitting the snooze button. For me, I don’t ever have to set an alarm because my kids wake me up. Although, I’ve given some thought to waking up earlier than my kids to squeeze in my workout and get ready for the day prior to them waking up for the day. My five-month-old is getting into a really great sleep routine so I’m thinking this might be feasible now. And, when I start implementing the new plan, I will try to avoid the snooze button … which brings me to my next point …

4.) Get Moving

Once you wake up, get out of bed. Yes, it’s always nice to lie in bed and remain comfy under the covers. When my baby was only a few months old, we would cuddle with her in bed while we allowed our son to watch cartoons on our phone. It was so tough getting out of bed. I’ve scratched this habit. Now, once my daughter starts waking up in the morning, I get her and immediately head downstairs instead of crawling back into bed with her while I wait for my son to wake up for the day. By getting moving, I’ve noticed a major change in the way I start my day. I feel less groggy and more ready to hit the ground running.

5.) Make the Bed

By making your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. One of your first feelings of the day will be a sense of accomplishment and pride. From there, your body will be encouraged and driven to make more accomplishments throughout the day. What’s not to love about starting your day off on the right foot? Plus, the National Sleep Foundation studied sleep habits of people and realized that people who make their beds every day or almost every day are more likely to get a good night’s sleep every day or almost every day. I couldn’t agree more with that. When I crawl into a bed that is made, I instantly feel more comfortable. Don’t you agree? Click here for more reasons on the importance of making your bed every morning.

6.) Create a Morning Routine

Creating a morning routine is key to keeping schedules organized, maintained, and set. Yes, there are some things that might happen to throw a wrench into the system. But, for the most part, our morning routines are the same day in and day out.

7.) Drink Water

I keep reading that drinking water in the morning will help your body and mind. I’m horrible at drinking water throughout the day. The first thing my husband does every morning is drink water. I need to follow suit. I usually go straight for the OJ and coffee. Oh, coffee. Hello, lover. But, I recently starting buying the mini bottled waters. Those are just the right size (hello, Goldilocks reference again). I drink a whole mini bottle of water before I drink or eat anything.

8.) Eat Breakfast

As they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. To me, breakfast doesn’t have to be elaborate. I prefer something that will keep me energized. Lately, I’ve been opting for half of a grapefruit, two apple-flavored rice cakes with a tiny bit of crunchy peanut butter, and coffee.

9.) Plan Ahead

For me, preparing the night before means cleaning the kitchen and putting all of the toys away. There’s nothing better than walking downstairs to a clean house. If I woke up to piles of dishes in the sink and toys strewn all throughout the house, my head might spin. For others, it might mean packing lunches, setting out clothes, getting backpacks ready, etc. Preparing the night before will mean easier, happier mornings.

10.) Give Yourself a Pep Talk

You can either choose to be unhappy or choose to be happy. Your mood in the morning will set the tone for the day. So, why not choose happy, positive thoughts as your first thoughts of the day? Don’t look at the glass as half empty. Look at the day ahead, smile (because I’ve always read that smiling can increase happiness), and be confident that you will conquer the day ahead.

Are you a morning person?