Mornings can be hectic – especially during the week. Hitting the snooze button on your alarm may seem like a great idea at the time, but more than likely the move will leave you scrambling to get ready for work and out the door on time. It may feel like you're set in your ways but there is good news: you can become a morning person. All it takes are a few tweaks to your daily routine. With a few tweaks, you'll be able to take your morning from stressful and chaotic to seamless and productive, stat. Here's how to do it.
Start Winding Down Earlier
It’s simple – the earlier you get to bed, the earlier you’ll wake up in the morning. Find a time you're comfortable with going to bed at. Just make sure it allows enough hours – 7 to 8 hours is the sweet spot – to get a full night's sleep in with an earlier wake up time. You'll find your body will adjust naturally to this new sleep schedule. And before you know it, you’ll be the person who wants to be in bed by 9 p.m. so you can start conquering your to-do list early in the morning!
No Screens Allowed
Another way to ease into an earlier bedtime is by eliminating any screen time at least an hour before bed. This means no phones, TVs, laptops, tablets, etc. Instead, start relaxing by reading a book, journaling, or meditating. We are so stimulated throughout the day that when it comes time to unwind it's hard to shut off our minds. By incorporating this into your routine, you'll give your mind the break it needs from screens and you'll feel more relaxed. Win-win!
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Follow the 3, 2, 1 Rule
When your alarm goes off in the morning, do not hit snooze. We repeat, do not hit snooze. Instead, turn off your alarm, count backwards from 3 and sit up as soon as you’re done counting. This will decrease the chances of you closing those eyes again to get a few extra minutes of sleep in. And think of it this way: the faster you wake up, the faster you get to enjoy that Matcha Latte you've been dreaming about.
Practice Gratitude
When you have a morning routine that you look forward to, it makes getting up early so much easier. Start your morning routine off on a positive note by listing 3 to 5 things you are grateful for or looking forward to that day. Practicing gratitude is known to improve happiness, so why not start off the day on a happy and uplifting note? Do this before you start any tasks and feel the difference in your mindset.
Schedule Morning Workouts
If you are still struggling with getting out of bed in the morning, signing up for a 6 a.m. class a few times a week is a great way to ensure you won't snooze your alarm. You'll feel energized, refreshed, and ready to take on the day after your good morning workout. Keep that motivation up by scheduling 2 to 3 morning fitness classes and enjoying a post-workout collagen smoothie as your delicious reward for making it to an early-morning sweat sesh. You might even find you prefer it over rushing out of work to make it to an evening spin class.
