As a snooze-button addict, I have always envied women who jump out of bed at 6:00 a.m. and into a pair of running shoes in order to hit the gym, shower, and even get breakfast before starting the day. I’m lucky if I have enough time to brush my hair let alone put on makeup and make coffee before running to class. With chaotic, dreadful mornings, I’ve been wondering if there are ways I can trick myself into becoming an energetic riser? Here are 8 of those tricks that I’ve been trying to stick to as steps towards being an early bird!
1. Get Enough Sleep
Pretty obvious, but I’ve found that it’s been so much easier to hop out of bed when I hit the pillow at 10:00 p.m., rather than 2:00 a.m. I know there are some unfortunate late nights/busy schedules that cannot allow for early bedtimes, but I think we all know what a good night’s sleep can do for your morning!
2. Practice a Routine
After frantically searching the internet for ways I can magically transform myself into a riser, I’ve learned that an established schedule can help cue our bodies into what’s to come. Maintaining a regular evening routine will help chill you out and let your mind know that it’s bedtime. For me, that means drinking a cup of decaf tea and curling up with a book before drifting asleep.
3. Turn off the Phone
And put it away! Research has shown that the blue light emitted by electronics like laptops and cell phones disturbs sleep even more than natural light, as well as make it harder to fall asleep in the first place.
4. Prep for the Morning
Instead of using our laptops or phones, we could prepare for the next day, like get all your books ready for class, lay out your clothes for the next day, or pack your workout bag. I’ve found mornings to be a lot more relaxed when I am already prepared for the day!
5. Nap Cautiously
Although a lot of studies suggest both negative and positive outcomes from napping, I’ve found that if I have to catch up on sleep, it’s better to nap during the day than to mess up my nightly sleep schedule. That being said, I don’t nap too long or too frequently so I can still fall asleep at night.
6. Go Ahead and Hit Snooze
But do so while out of bed! The alarm goes off and who doesn’t want to hit snooze? I used to set mine early enough to hit snooze three-four times before getting out of bed. Instead, try hitting snooze once, but use the next nine minutes on your feet to slowly get up: stretch, move around, start brewing coffee—anything that keeps you away from your bed! And once your alarm goes off you’ll be awake and alert to start your morning!
7. Try an App
There are several apps that promise to get you out of bed. For example, Wake n Shake makes you shake your phone in order to turn off the app, while Sleep Cycle monitors your movement to determine the best time to wake you within a preset window.
8. Or Maybe an Early Workout
As hard as this has been for me, I know that my willingness to hit the gym is the highest in the morning. By the evening, I get too busy and find too many excuses not to exercise. Plus, morning workouts have given me an extra shot of energy to carry through the day. In no time, those 6:00 a.m spin instructors will have nothing on us!
Ever since I discovered my inner morning person, I wake up at 5:00 a.m every day ready to go! Just kidding. I wish. When my alarm goes off, my cozy bed is still my favorite thing in the world, begging me not to leave. But, waking up around 8:30 a.m. for the past couple of weeks has increased my energy and mood, made mornings more enjoyable, and led to a more relaxed day. Although it’s hard, I know that if I, the master of sleeping in until 12:00 p.m., can do it then we all can learn to love mornings!
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