I am awoken by the sound of my alarm blaring across the room. My eyes rapidly open, and I throw the covers off me. I run to my dresser and turn off my alarm. This is my first secret to waking up early: putting my phone across the room from me before I go to sleep. This prevents late-night mindless scrolling; further, it forces me out of bed to turn off my alarm.
In high school, I was forced to wake up before the sun rose. My friends and I would walk to the bus stop under a pitch-black sky. In college, waking up early was a choice, not a command. Many of my friends opted to take afternoon and night classes, but I could not fathom the thought of attending classes at night when I could be in my pajamas. I opted for mainly morning classes, figuring that way I would get my classes out of the way and then use the evenings for homework and hobbies.
In waking up early, I notice that I have more energy for the day ahead. When I complete major tasks early in the day, I am satisfied knowing that the rest of the day can be used however I please. Here are my favorite tips if you want to experiment with becoming a morning person.
Get some sleep (obviously!)
I find this step to be the hardest for people to accept once they decide to change their lifestyles, and yet, it is the most obvious. If you want to wake up earlier, you should go to bed earlier. Our modern-day schedules are so jam-packed from morning to night that it can be hard to establish clear boundaries of when to put away the laptop and log out of your email. Set a commitment to yourself to aim to be in bed at a similar time each night.
Turn off the screens
It’s hard to refute research suggesting that blue light devices are inhibiting our natural circadian rhythms. I try to put all of my screens away an hour before I want to go to bed. As stated earlier, I also find it imperative to place screens out of reach from one’s bed. Instead of late-night binging or scrolling, try reading our journaling. I find this to be a relaxing way to reflect on my day and keep my mind at peace.
look forward to something
This is my favorite piece of advice for becoming a morning person. Each morning, establish something that brings you joy; find something you look forward to doing. This may be a cup of coffee, a delicious breakfast, or a morning playlist to listen to as you get ready. As simple as this sounds, it is truly a game changer for kickstarting your day and getting your body out of bed.
be careful of caffeine
If you are training your body to wake up earlier, it is crucial to be mindful of when you are consuming caffeine, as well as how much. Many doctors and researchers agree that it is best to stop drinking caffeine four to six hours before bed. In addition, avoid drinking caffeine on an empty stomach. Try drinking your coffee with a high-protein balanced breakfast. You will notice how much more stable your energy levels are throughout the day.
Shift your mindset
Like anything in life, your success with waking up earlier will depend on your outlook. You could be upset each morning and hit snooze several times. Or, you could think about how lucky you are to wake up each day, and what you will accomplish with this extra time. Look at each day as an opportunity to accomplish your goals and find happiness in the process.