Morning people are often seen as a level above the rest. After waking up early and, most importantly, happy, they go on with their day, completing their entire to-do list before the rest of us snooze for the tenth time. The age-old question is: how does one become a morning person? Were they just born this way, or is it a result of dedication and commitment to the lifestyle? While it's true that some are genetically wired to rise with ease, there are ways to tune and train your body into it. Warning! It will require some serious self-control!
According to the Sleep Foundation, it is entirely possible to change your sleep schedule. One of the essential prerequisites is establishing healthy sleep practices, A.K.A. sleep hygiene. These will all help to guarantee a better night's sleep and, therefore, a more effortless rise. Good sleep hygiene involves frequently exercising, avoiding stimulants before bed, forgoing afternoon naps, and relaxing before bed. Your bedroom should also cultivate good quality sleep by being dark, quiet, and cool.
As mentioned, what you do before lying down for the night can make all the difference to your morning attitude. A fixed nighttime routine will let your brain know it's time to sleep. In the hours before bed, partake in relaxing activities such as a bath, reading, journaling, or meditation. Avoid electronics, as the lights can trick your minds into thinking it's the day. Getting to sleep earlier will help you to ensure you're clocking in your recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Too much or too little sleep can affect the sleep schedule, even on the weekends!
Ease yourself into waking up earlier by bringing forward your bedtime and wake-up time in 15-minute increments every few days. Snooze is your enemy! Because your body naturally starts to wake up two or three hours before, this action can send confusing signals to your brain and your body clock. To try and avoid that groggy feeling in the morning, opt for a melodic alarm noise and leave open a source of natural light. Now you're up and ready to go, read our tips for how to fix the perfect morning routine.
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