When I was younger, I actually used to be a morning person without effort.
Fast forward to college and I absolutely dreaded mornings. There was nothing worse than waking up and doing something. Let alone waking up early. And, no I wasn’t a partier who was up late (I was actually quite a boring college student!). I just absolutely hated waking up.
Finally, in my 30s, I managed to love mornings one again – but it took time. A lot of time if I’m being honest. I had to go through several trials and errors and ultimately figure out how to become a morning person. Thankfully, I finally figured out what works best for me and I can now say I wake up (almost) religiously at 5:30am even without setting my alarm.
How to Become a Morning Person
1. Start slow
Making changes is difficult and you want to make sure the changes stick. If you alter things too drastically, too fast – you’ll never stick to it.
Changing your morning schedule is a drastic change since it alters our sleeping habits (my personal favorite part of the day!) and that’s difficult for anyone. So take your time!
Start your new morning wake up routine slowly by adjusting your alarm clock incrementally as the days and weeks go on.
My goal was to wake up at 5:30am everyday from an 8:30/9:00am usual wake up. I started slowly by waking up 30 minutes earlier for the first week, an hour earlier for the next, then 1.5 hours earlier and so forth until 5:30 was my new norm.
By gradually tweaking your alarm based on how you feel each day or week, your body gets used to the new routine more naturally. It makes sticking to the new wake-up time a whole lot easier!
2. Get an alarm clock
Do yourself a favor and get an actual alarm clock. Not your phone. Why? Because phones are distracting and you’ll waste your morning if all you do scrolling.
It also can be beneficial to place the alarm clock somewhere across the room. This way you have to physically get up to shut it off. Your partner may hate you, but you’ll get up!
And make sure your alarm is a pleasant sound if you can be a morning grump.
This might not be for everyone, but for me it was necessary.
I still remember my roommate in college who had this god awful blaring horn as her alarm on the max volume. I wanted to hurl her phone across the room on multiple occasions and I’m still not sure how she woke up so cheery. Some people are just built differently!
Personally, I found that changing my alarm to something that is softer and more gentle to hear in the morning gave me the best wake up experience. It allows me to gradually wake up and not want to throw the phone across the room.
3. Go to bed early
This should be obvious and yet American culture has integrated into a lot of us that going to bed early is lame or boring. First, I completely disagree. Second, my aging body and I simply do not care.
I LIKE SLEEP! Sleep is my friend and I am certainly not ashamed to admit that.
When it comes to waking up early it’s really just simple math. If you go to bed early, you’ll wake up early. NATURALLY. That is the key.
Because, of course, I can go to bed at 1:00am and still wake up at 5:00am that same morning and go to work. I will probably internally cry the whole day, but yes, physically I can do it. Will I feel like absolute garbage all day? Yes, yes I will.
Plan your bedtime around how many hours your body needs for optimal sleep. Keep in mind every body is different and you may have to go through some trial and errors to find out what your optimal sleep time is. The average is about 7-9 hours/night. Start with somewhere in there and see how you feel. Adjust as needed!
Once you figure out what your optimal sleep time is then count backwards from when you want to wake up for your new “ideal” bedtime. Note this is your sleep time too. This is not your “go upstairs and stare at the phone for 2 hours.” Bedtime = SLEEP TIME.
For me, I wake up at 5:30 every morning now. My optimal sleep time is about 8/8.5 hours, so I usually go to sleep between 9-9:30. I’m actually upstairs around 8 to unwind, relax and to get ready for sleep.
4. Create a nightly routine
I always have had an active mind and I used to try to go to sleep as soon as I either logged off from work, watched a movie, played on my phone, etc. However, I found that my mind would just stay awake for what felt like hours constantly replaying or thinking about the next day.
It. Was. Miserable.
So I created a bedtime ritual which is both great for some evening self-care and allows my mind to unwind from the day and just focus on myself. By doing this, I allow myself to relax and it helps me fall asleep much quicker!
Everyone’s nighttime ritual will also be different. Depending on what YOU like to do. Pick things that you enjoy and that are (preferable) without any screens.
Nighttime routine ideas:
- proper skin care
- light a candle
- take a warm shower
- listen to some ASMR
- yoga & meditation
- read a book
If you don’t currently have a nightly routine, I highly suggest you start one! Not only are they a little evening self-indulgence but they can also help put you into perfect sleep mode. Making it much easier to relax and fall asleep quickly!
5. Make a morning plan
I go on social media and I see the massively complicated and borderline absurd morning schedules people have. When I say make a morning plan, make a SIMPLE one.
What you do not want to do is cram so much stuff into your morning that you dread them even more. Start with a simple plan and if you choose to add on to it later…be my guest!
My morning routine is quite simple:
- 5:30AM: Wake up, brush teeth
- 6:00AM: Go for a run or do a workout
- 7:00AM shower & breakfast
- 8:00AM: start work or house chores
It’s not broken down in 15-minute intervals, it’s not always in correct order either. Sometimes I brush my teeth after my run. Other times, if I’m really hungry, I’ll eat before my workout.
The goal is just to have A plan every morning that you are used to and can actively look forward to when you wake up.
6. Be mindful of food & drink
I think getting to sleep if one of the biggest challenges to waking up early honestly. It’s easy to wake up once you get enough sleep, but when you lack sleep waking up in general is very difficult.
One of the biggest issues with falling asleep has to do with what you consume prior to sleeping. Alcohol, caffeine, sugary drink or even large, fatty meals all can have a negative impact.
I’m not saying don’t partake in them – simply be mindful of when you consume them. Perhaps, enjoy them a little earlier than usual or simply limit your usual consumption.
If you consume them too close to your bedtime they are going to negatively impact your overall sleep. Whether it’s difficulty getting to sleep or simply the quality is poor, this will all negatively impact your morning goal of waking up early.
7. Find Your Reason
Why? Why do you want to wake up early?
- Do you want to be more productive?
- Do you want to have more energy?
- Do you want to start exercising in the morning?
- Do you want to get the early bird special at the local diner?
It does not matter WHAT your reasoning for wanting to wake up early, but you have to have a reason. Why is it important for your to start waking up early?
Take that reason and write it down. Remember it constantly and focus that energy every morning until it becomes habit.
8. Stay Consistent
Let’s be honest. Me waking up at 5:30 am everyday did not happen overnight. Anyone who tells you otherwise is flat out lying. I’m sorry to say, it takes time and dedication – just like everything else.
Truthfully, it probably took me over 2 years to get it done right. I was not very consistent at first and even though I tried for a while – it just never stuck.
You have to stay consistent for this to work. Plan it out, go through your why list and dedicate yourself to making it happen. As we all know constancy pays off and it’s the only way you will see the results you are looking for.
9. Be kind to yourself
Look – this is not going to be an easy adjustment for most people. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you struggle or are tired. That’s going to happen!
What you cannot do is give up.
Stay consistent. Trust your process. And remember your reasons why. Why do you want to wake up early? And how will that benefit you this day?
Remember, everyone’s body is different, so find what works best for you and be patient. All changes take time, but if you stay consistent you can train your mind and body on how to become a morning person you’ll be able to tackle the day head on and accomplish much more.