Early Bird – Becoming a Morning Person

I’m not a morning person—and I don’t think anyone who has ever been woken up by the sound of an alarm clock, after snoozing it a couple of times, could consider themselves one. But after moving to a new city for a short stint, I decided to try waking up early in order to get out of bed and make the most out of my day. It was an adjustment at first (I’ll admit), but now that I’ve gotten used to my new schedule, it’s something I am enjoying! In this article, we’ll discuss why you should set your alarm earlier and how best to adapt.

There are a lot of great reasons to set your alarm early.

There are a number of great reasons to get up early:

• You can accomplish more. There’s nothing like starting your day with a clean slate, and there’s no better time to do it than when the rest of the world is still asleep.
  
• You’ll have time for a workout before the crowds hit the gym. I’m not saying that you should avoid gyms during peak hours (it’s nice to have other people around), but if you’re going at 6 am instead of 7 am, you’ll be able to spend more time on those machines without having to rush out of there when everyone gets up and decides to spend all hours of their morning at the gym, especially on the machines you want to use!
  
• Breakfast for one (or two) is quiet and peaceful—and delicious! If you live alone then this is especially important because it gives you some peace from family members who may be getting ready for work or school in another part of your house. Plus, if someone else does live with/nearby them they’ll appreciate having some extra quiet time before they head off into their busy day ahead!
  I especially love being able to sip on my tea while I look out the window at my view of the mountains.
  
• Read or write while everyone else sleeps peacefully around them — what could be better than reading something inspirational early in the morning? Or maybe this would be an ideal time for writing those things down too; I’ve always been told that as soon as we wake up, we remember our dreams most vividly and that’s the best time to capture them. This is also when we are the most uninterrupted by the demands of home, work and our phone’s pings – and are perhaps most in touch with our true inner selves.

Set the right bedtime.

You may have heard the advice that you should go to bed at the same time every night. This is a good suggestion, as it will help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night.

Getting enough sleep each night is also important for your health. Most adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep per night, but everyone has different needs based on their age and other factors like stress level and diet. If you feel tired during the day or find yourself falling asleep during meetings or movies, try going to bed earlier than usual for a few days until you feel more refreshed when awake.

Unplug before bed.

You can’t go wrong with this one. As a rule of thumb, unplug your electronics at least an hour before bed. This will allow any devices to cool down, which will help you sleep better and reduce eye strain.

All right, now it’s time to put yourself into your cozy little bedroom and prepare for the night ahead!

Try meditation and yoga.

We all have some downtime in the day that can be put to good use. If you get up early, spend a few minutes focusing on your breath and body before you start your day. If you already do yoga or meditation regularly, try adding one more day of practice to your week—and make sure it’s one that’s convenient for when your brain isn’t at its most fresh. You could also just commit to doing 5 minutes of meditation before bed each night (it’s still enough to reduce stress and help calm the mind).
I have found that this Old Zen saying is really apt, and in my case,very relevant – Meditating everyday does really impacts your mindset.

Self Care

You can also try integrating other forms of self-care into your day, such as taking a walk outside or making time for a chat with a friend (in person or over the phone). This will help you recharge your batteries and keep you feeling good throughout the day—which means when it comes to writing, meditating, and going through the motions of everyday, your mind will be more open and ready to take on new ideas.

Ease into waking up early.

Waking up early isn’t easy, but you can make it easier by easing into the process. When we’re not used to waking up at an earlier time of day, we can feel groggy and unfocused until we find our rhythm. Here are some tips on how to gradually get yourself used to rising earlier:

• Try waking up 1 hour earlier than usual for a few days in a row.
• Do some light exercise immediately after waking up (e.g., walking or yoga).
• Drink 8 ounces of water upon waking and before eating anything else for breakfast (it’ll help clear out your system from sleeping all night).
• Read a book while drinking your water—not only will this help pass the time while waiting for breakfast, but it’ll also keep your mind sharp as it starts processing information again after being asleep all night long!

Turn on some tunes.

It’s important to have the right music playing when you wake up. Music can help wake you up and get your blood pumping, or help you fall asleep at night. Here are some tips on how to pick the perfect song for your needs:

• For waking up: Pick upbeat songs with a fast tempo that will help energize you for the day ahead. Try listening to something like “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor or “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers. These songs have an energetic feel that will get you ready for whatever adventures await!
• For falling asleep: Choose slower, mellower tunes that are soothing and relaxing—try listening to something like “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz soundtrack or “The Happiest Place On Earth” from Disneyland Resort Paris’ 25th Anniversary Celebration CD/DVD set!

Utilize natural sunlight.

• Get outside when you wake up. As the sun rises, so does your energy level, which is why it’s a good idea to go outside as soon as possible after waking up. If you can’t do this right away due to work or other obligations, try getting into bed earlier so that you can get up with plenty of time to spare before sunrise.
  
• Expose yourself to natural sunlight as much as possible during the day. This can be done by spending time outdoors at lunch or breaks from work and by taking walks in safe areas near where you live (for example, parks).
  
• Sunlight helps reduce depression and anxiety by helping stabilize your body’s circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep patterns and many other aspects of health. It also has many other physical benefits for mental health: increased serotonin production boosts mood; vitamin D production leads to improved moods; and exposure helps curb seasonal affective disorder symptoms such as depression or fatigue between fall/winter months (when there isn’t as much sunlight).

Use the benefits of your morning routine to help you get more done in the day.

You may find that your morning routine helps you get more done in the day.

• Planning your day in the morning allows you to take advantage of a fresh mind and don’t have to worry about forgetting important things later in the day.
  
• Getting exercise done before work means that your body will be ready for a full day’s work without being worn down from not having exercised earlier on. (I also find that its a boost knowing that a big and important part of my day is already done and taken care of! Plus, knowing that as I go through my day, I am reaping the benefits of that morning exercise session).
  
• Making large meals or snacks ahead of time prevents hunger from distracting you during work periods when it would be better spent doing other things than eating lunch or breakfast at your desk.

Not a morning person? Try these tips to adapt to your new schedule!

If you’re not a morning person who has to adapt to an early schedule, there are a few things you can do to make it easier.

• Prepare for the day ahead: Get your body moving and ready for action by doing something simple like walking around your house or yard or just on the pavements around your house, before starting your day. This will get blood flowing, help wake up and energize your body, and get you ready for whatever comes next. Try not to overdo it—keep it short and sweet!
  
• Keep things brief: When possible, try working in smaller chunks of time and tasks, so that you can complete your work day and spend time in unwinding and relaxing in the evening.
  
• Don’t worry about getting too much sleep: While some people might think that getting more hours per night would mean better performance during daytime hours, this isn’t always true! Some experts believe that extra sleep may actually cause problems when trying out new routines like waking up earlier than usual because it can disrupt circadian rhythms; instead of worrying about hitting REM cycles at night (which aren’t always necessary anyway), just focus on getting enough shut-eye so that when morning comes around again tomorrow morning all will be well in paradise land once again!”

Conclusion

You’ve got a lot of things to do in your day, so it’s important to start your morning off right. You should also consider how you can make the rest of your day more efficient and productive. By setting yourself up for success with a simple routine before bed, you can wake up early and stay on top of things throughout the rest of the day!

Try this out for a month and experience the benefits for yourself.