How To Become A Morning Person

Whether you skip the 9AM lecture and sleep in till noon, or avoid arranging work meetings till you’ve had your third cup of coffee, not being a morning person can seriously suck.

How you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of your working day. Want to be a productive early bird but don’t know how? Here are some tips.

You snooze you lose

If you’re guilty of hitting snooze a few times before you jump frantically out of bed, this is the first thing you need to change. It’s really not a great way to start the day and it is avoidable.

Rather than having your alarm go off right next to you, put it further away from your bed so you physically have to get out of bed to turn it off. Also, rather than a blaring beep beep beep, change your alarm sound to your favourite song.

Wake up to natural daylight

Leave your blinds/curtains open halfway so that, as soon as you open your eyes, you can see the daylight. Natural daylight will help wake you up, while waking to complete darkness will make you more inclined to stay in bed and snooze.

The exposure to light when you first wake up will also help reset your circadian rhythm and help you feel more alert.

Never skip breakfast

You need to start the day with the right fuel. A cup of coffee won’t cut it; you need to provide your body with the nutrients it needs. In turn, you’ll feel better in the mornings. Opt for things like porridge, wholegrain toast with peanut butter, or boiled eggs.

Have a quick workout

As soon as you get out of bed, have a stretch and do some exercise for 15 minutes. Whether you workout to a DVD, go for a run around the block or have your own exercise regime doesn’t matter; you’ll feel amazing afterwards!

This is going to test your willpower, especially in the beginning when it’s cold and you’d rather just shower and get in your clothes. But adding this one step to your morning routine will help you feel miles better. It’ll give you an extra shot of energy and set you up for the day.

Prep like a boss the night before

Your morning routine actually starts the night before. Things like ironing your clothes, packing your lunch and workbag can all be done in the evening.

Getting these simple tasks done before bed means that, when you wake up, you’re already one step ahead. You don’t have to rush around to get things done. Instead, you can focus on doing more productive things like your 15-minute exercise routine and having breakfast.

It can be quite a challenge to become a morning person and love it. The first week or so will probably be the hardest. However, once you shift your schedule and make these small changes, you’ll find that mornings aren’t that bad after all!

Haleema Khokhar. also known as Kimi (a college nickname that stayed). is a journalism graduate working in the world of marketing and freelance writing. She loves animals, dance and a strong cup of tea. Check out her website and Twitter at @MyImpression_ you can also check out her personal Twitter at @KimiKhokhar 

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