How to Become a Morning Person: A Calm and Powerful Way to Begin Life
Introduction to the Morning Person Mindset
Becoming a morning person doesn’t mean dragging yourself out of bed, like a zombie. It’s about changing your life so waking up early is normal for you and feels easy. Just like learning a foreign language, initially difficult but then fluent with practice.
Characteristics of Morning People
When we say morning people, they are those who wake up early but feel refreshed, awake and eager to do everything before breakfast. These are not simply individuals who wake up early; rather, individuals who keep active during the early hours.
Do Morning People Have to be Born
Genetics are part of the equation, but habits are more important. Morning People aren’t born; Morning People are made based on their choices made daily.
How to Start Waking up Early
Your Circadian Rhythm
The circadian rhythm is your body’s natural clock and governs your body’s feelings of tiredness/energy, production of hormones and almost everything else. The great news is that it can be trained to get used to waking up early.
Chronotypes
Comparing Early Birds with Night Owls
Chronotypes refer to natural sleep preferences. However, you aren’t stuck with a chronotype; in other words, you have the ability to change it.
This is an explanation of the advantages of becoming an early riser:
Mental health advantages include lessening stress and anxiety by providing an opportunity for quiet, focused time in a less chaotic environment.
With this type of environment, your decision-making ability will be enhanced since you will not have experienced the fatigue associated with decision-making by the evening hours.
The physical health advantages associated with being an early riser include being more active, eating healthier foods and sleeping well on a regular basis. All of these habits are small but have large effects on your overall physical health.
The most common myths about being an early riser include:
“I’m not naturally programmed that way.”
This is simply a self-imposed belief. Wiring can always be changed and rewired if you choose to do so.
“Waking up earlier means lack of sleep.”
This is incorrect. You will simply go to bed earlier, but you will not be losing hours of sleep.
Preparing your mind to embrace being an early riser:
Developing your identity as an early riser: Stop saying, “I am not an early riser,” and start saying, “I am developing into an early riser.” Your words have great value in your ability to achieve new levels of success.
Determine why you want to wake up earlier. Do you want improved health? Is it time for quiet reflective thinking? Having a clear vision of what you are trying to achieve will provide you with purpose and motivation to become an early riser.
To create a restful sleep environment:
Every bedroom should provide you with an atmosphere conducive to sleeping – that is, dark, quiet and cool.
Tempature, Light & Noise Control
Blackout curtains, chilly rooms, & white noise are your new best friend.
Building a Night-time Routine That Works
The Importance of Having a Bedtime Routine
Consistency will yield better results then trying to be perfect at it. The time you go to bed should be the same daily, even on weekends!
Cut the Screens Before Bed
Screens are a mentally stimulating activity, much like consuming caffeine. Turn them off at least 1 hour prior to going to bed.
Getting Up Earlier Without It Sucking
A Helpful Alarm
Put it far away from you. You’ll have to get out of bed to turn it off. Getting up gets your momentum going.
How Light Can Be Used to Trigger Your Brain to Get Up
Sunlight is a natural alarm clock. Draw your curtains or invest in a natural light alarm clock.
Creating a Morning Routine You Look Forward To
If you don’t like how your morning starts, you’ll likely dread getting out of bed. Create something you enjoy doing to look forward to.
Keystone Morning Habits
Hydration, Movement and Planning Your Day – they’re simple to do, but powerful.
What Foods to Load Up On Before Sleeping
Heavy meals close to bed-time disrupt a good night’s sleep. You should eat a light meal.
What to Eat for Breakfast for Maximum Energy Levels
Eating Protein + Healthy Fats = Consistent Energy. Skip the sugar loaded breakfast options.
How Morning Workouts Help You Get Out of Bed Easier
Morning Workouts Increase Your Nervous System Function Quicker than Any Caffeine Source.
Easy Beginning Exercises
Walking for 10 minutes counts… Just start small……..
Balancing Work Life and Social Life
Planning ahead will go a long way; do not let one late night ruin your success. You are the only one that can let this happen.
How to Tell Others About Your New Schedule
Inform others what you will be putting your time into; boundaries create a habit.
Being Consistent on Weekends
Sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday is similar to travelling across multiple time zones every weekend.
Schedules and their Flexibility/Firmness
Flexibility is great, although flexibility can be taken too far.
Tracking Your Progress and Staying Motivated
Monitoring Your Habits
Tracking your habits will assist with staying motivated. Keep a record of what time you wake up.
Celebrating Your Accomplishments
Every early morning is another step. Begin to celebrate consistency as opposed to perfection.
Mistakes to Avoid
Trying to Change Too Quickly
The best change is one that occurs over a long period, as opposed to making dramatic changes all at once.
Disregarding Sleep Quality
Having a total of eight sleepless hours is equivalent to having a total of six quality hours of sleep.
Long-Term Change of Your Lifestyle
Turning “Waking Up Early” into a Lifestyle
You will be altering your lifestyle in accordance with a new goal.
Adapting To Life Changes
Your life will always change: kids, jobs, seasons; therefore your morning routine will need to adapt and change to accommodate your new lifestyle.
Final Thoughts
It is not a matter of willpower; becoming a morning person is all about the systems you put in place. When your environment, habits and mindset come together, waking up early will begin to feel less like a chore and more like something you are grateful for. Start with a few small changes/steps, continue to be consistent with those changes, and allow the momentum to carry you through.
