We all know the saying “the early bird gets the worm,” but did you know that early risers tend to be happier, more productive, more active, and also experience health benefits? Here are four steps to help you become a morning person.
STEP 1: Get home early
The key to an early morning is an early night. We all need to wind down before going to sleep, so try to get home around 9:00 pm. This will leave you enough time to sit down, relax, and do your nighttime routine before you go to bed.
During this time, make sure to stay away from screens (or at least turn them on night mode) because your body perceives the blue light as sunlight, which is a natural cue to stay awake. By turning your screens off, you’ll tell your mind and body “it’s time to go to bed soon,” which will help you fall and stay asleep for the night.
STEP 2: Set yourself a bedtime
Waking up early does little good if you’re exhausted. According to the CDC, the average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep per night, while teens require 8-10 hours. Use these numbers as a reference, consider your desired wake-up time, and try to figure out when you should hit the hay. For a 8-hour sleep schedule, we recommend falling asleep around 10 pm and waking at 6 am. This may be difficult at first, so try adjusting your bedtime back by 15 minutes each night. Sweet dreams!
STEP 3: Wake up, Get up!
Good Morning! Often, the hardest part of the morning is just getting out of bed. Though it may seem tempting, hitting the snooze button or laying in bed can actually negatively affect your sleep schedule and damage your future sleep quality. One helpful thing to do is to make your bed as soon as you’re up, so you don’t get the urge to climb back in later.
Also, resist the urge to go on your phone and check your notifications - this sets you up for a day full of stress and distractions. Getting out of bed as soon as you wake up ensures that both your mind and body are ready for the day ahead.
STEP 4: Get into a routine
Now that you’re up and at ‘em it’s time to tackle your morning routine. This can be whatever productive activity you would like to do. You can kickstart your day with a workout, which can improve focus, mood, and energy throughout the day. You can start your day off strong by finishing some of your most difficult tasks. You can use these hours of peace and quiet to unleash your creative mind.
Whatever you choose, just make sure to do it consistently.
If you would like to turn the dread of early mornings into excitement, click here to download Dreamfora and add the plan ‘How to become a morning person.’