Like it or not, it’s a morning person’s world —and we all have to live in it.
But if early awakening is related to increased productivity and concentration, improved wellness, and greater performance, then why is it so difficult to avoid pressing snooze early in the morning
There are actually two major reasons why it’s hard to wake up in the morning.
Either you’re an early riser, but there’s something going on with your sleep, so you don’t feel refreshed in the morning. Or, you’re just not an early riser, and you’re going to have to change your chronotype from the evening type to the morning type.
If you fall into the second group, good news: you can become a morning person and here’s how to make a switch:
Table of Contents
1. PREPARATION IS KEY
Like anything else in life, preparation is the first and most important step throughout the whole process of becoming a morning person.
First of all, you will want to write down what you want your new day to look like. It’s a super important step that will help you see what exactly you need to change in your routine, so the process of becoming a morning person can be successful.
It can mean going to sleep 2 hours earlier than usual or creating a better evening routine that will help you get better sleep, which will result in you waking up earlier in the morning.
2. NEVER SNOOZE
You need to practice self-discipline and know that by snoozing the alarm you are hurting the whole process. It can mess with your body’s internal clock and make you feel foggy and more tired.
But if you can’t get past the easy snooze button, then I’d consider buying the actual alarm clock and putting it across the room.
3. GET ENOUGH SLEEP
How much sleep do you need to function productively throughout the day?
While 8 hours of sleep is suggested, it may not be necessary. Some people after getting 6 hours of sleep are in great shape, others need at least 8 hours to not feel like zombies.
Try different bedtimes every night for a week, and write down when you’re most rested (without grogginess), and just try to get the amount of sleep moving forward. Normally, 6-7 hours of sleep is sufficient for the average adult.
4. FIND YOUR DAILY INSPIRATION
Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash
What inspires you?
Is that food? Is it fitness? Is it strange, but amusing, memes that no one else seems to find funny?
Whatever it may be, allow yourself at least ten minutes in the morning to inspire yourself and indulge in this activity.
Maybe you’d like to quickly scroll through a high fashion Instagram account, or spend 10 minutes watching DIY life-hacks tutorials—dedicate time in the morning to spark your passion and set your soul on fire!
The best part of it? You can do that while you’re still in bed!
5. KEEP THE SAME WAKE TIME NO MATTER WHAT
Your body is working very well on a regular sleep schedule. Daily routine is equivalent to high-quality sleep and a good sleep cycle.
When you support the body by waking up every single day at the same time, you’ll put yourself in rhythm to your early bedtime.
That means you’ll have an easier time waking up early without feeling tired because your body is getting good consistent restful sleep. (Maybe even without the alarm clock or having to press the snooze button!).
Do it, and you will never feel exhausted or sluggish when you wake up!
6. MAKE INCREMENTAL CHANGE
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
When establishing a new habit, try to make changes in small steps.
So, instead of getting up an hour before, set your alarm 15-30 minutes earlier than usual.
Do it for a few days and when your body is comfortable with the new time, you can try to wake up even earlier.
7. USE AFFIRMATIONS
In the lines of reward, saying a positive daily affirmation to yourself the first thing in the morning will help you get out of bed!
Instead of saying, “I don’t want to get up! “Or, “I’m so comfortable here! “Tell your mind, “Stop,” and repeat your affirmation.
These feelings are patterns – whether it’s a feeling to stay in bed or get out of bed. Habits can be changed, and affirmations are great to begin with!
8. START YOUR DAY WITH SOMETHING YOU ENJOY
One of the tough things in the mornings is that you need to leave a warm and comfortable bed to do something you don’t want to do.
It is hard to persuade yourself to leave the snuggly goodness to face the the world.
One way to fix this is to realize that as soon as you wake up, you’re going to do something that you enjoy.
Whether it’s working out, journaling, listening to your favorite podcast, it’s got to be something you’re looking forward to. That will help uplift your morning.
9. PLAY A MIND GAME
If you can’t resist hitting the snooze button, try the “inverted snooze.”
Tap the button, but get out of bed, give yourself complete permission to be a zombie for the next 5-9 minutes of “snooze” period.
Walk it off, brew a cup of coffee, stretch, sing a song… whatever it takes to start feeling a teensy bit more alive and alert before the alarm sounds again.
You may not be able to convince your brain and body to accept that you actually are a “morning person,” but you should at least start optimizing your mornings before you get there!
10. BELIEVE YOU'RE CAPABLE OF BECOMING A MORNING PERSON
If you want to become a morning person, but you you always tell everyone how much you hate mornings, are you really surprised that you’re struggling to wake up early?
If you want to become a morning person, but you you always tell everyone how much you hate mornings, are you really surprised that you’re struggling to wake up early?
Each time you say you hate mornings and and just can’t get up early you’re setting yourself up for failure.
So, how can you start believing that you can become a morning person?
First of all, stop saying that you’re not one. If you repeatedly saying that you’re not a morning person, surely you’re going to believe it.
Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash
Then, start searching for evidence that you can be a morning person – think of the days that you were able to get up early, those times that you loved not having to hurry in the morning, how good you felt when you went to the gym before work.
Remember, it’s possible to be a morning person, you just have to believe it is.
PIN IT!
If you found this post useful, you might want to save THIS PIN to your Self Improvement board to check the post later when new updates are announced.
These are such good tips! Number 10 has definitely been a game changer for me. If you don’t believe in it yourself, it’s going to be very hard for you to actually succeed.
Great tips, Totally agree with you. Especially in these days when everyone is working from home, it is so easy to ‘oversleep’. Keeping the same wake time despite on and off days is the key! Great blog.
During Covid-19 I’ve been working from home and it has made me lazy! I really need to get back to being able to get up, go for a run, take a shower, have a coffee and still have time left before I have to get to work instead of taking morning meetings in my PJ’S.
Excellent tips for making the change to being a morning person. For me, having something to look forward to, like a healthy delicious breakfast, really helps.
I’ve been a morning person my whole life. Ans consistency is key. I have found when I sleep in a day on the weekend (even an hour) it following week a challenge. But going to bed on time, and consistent at the same time also is huge! Thanks for the great details!
Such handy tips especially the one about finding daily inspiration!!
I find that waking up at the same time every morning does help, and I’m learning that I appreciate the quiet of getting things done in the morning while everyone else is still in bed.
I’m so not a morning person but you have given some really helpful tips to become one. I do love finding out what the new day has in store xx
Ugh this is a constant struggle in my life. I really like the idea of playing a mind game and being lazy but still getting up!
I love mornings and agree with everything you said. I get the most done in the mornings!
I found the tips in this post really interesting because I am a night owl ALLLLLL the way. BUT it is very tempting to try to switch to a daylight routine because I get more work done when I get up earlier. I’m going to try some of these tips to see if it helps me turn my natural clock around! Luckily I am not a snooze girl. I think it makes things worse!
Definitely agree with the above said, but the most important is to go to sleep
earlier..
I’ve never been a morning person. Now that I am older I seem to find myself getting up earlier and earlier.
Great tips. It’s all about routines and getting up at the same time and going to bed at the same time is the most important.
A really good e comprehensive list! I really like point 10, believing in yourself is key to achieve your goals! Thanks for sharing
Amazing tips! I’ve recently started using affirmations and I’ve noticed a change.
Thanks for the tips!
I’m typically a morning person. The key for me is to get enough sleep, so I’m not hitting snooze the next morning.