Waking up early and becoming a morning person doesn’t come naturally to others. Many admit they’re night owls who sleep past 11 p.m. and wake up later than 8 a.m. The problem is, night owls are at higher risk for health problems, including depression, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Their performance at work also suffers.
Why Become a Morning Person?
The benefits of becoming a morning person have been backed by science. People who are waking up early are more likely to succeed because they’re more energetic and proactive; they procrastinate less and are less stressed. They also tend to weigh less. Morning people are also happier and more positive than night owls.
6 Steps to Waking up Early
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Wake up early.
To become a morning person, you need to start waking up early. Pick a new wake-up time. The best time to wake up is around 5 a.m. to 6 a.m., which would you enough time to meditate, exercise, eat a healthy protein-rich breakfast, and prepare yourself for the day. You also need to be consistent. You need to set your alarm clock at the same time every day, weekends included.
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Sleep early.
It will be difficult and unhealthy to wake up early if you sleep late. Adults need around 7 to 9 hours of sleep to wake up feeling refreshed. That means you need to hit the sack between 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. to get enough sleep. Around this hour, stop doing things that will prevent you from falling asleep, like checking your emails or watching your favorite tv series.
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Visualize a happy morning.
Get excited to wake up early by envisioning waking up to a happy morning before you sleep. Plan your day the night before. You can make a list of what you will do in the early hours while you’re in bed. This will motivate you to commit to waking up early.
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Create a morning routine that you will enjoy.
Do what gives you the most satisfaction in the first hours of the day. You can schedule early morning walks or bond with your partner over a healthy breakfast in the morning. Others choose to meditate or read in the morning. Waking up with a gratitude mindset is also a worthy addition to your routines because it will make you feel positive about your day.
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Don’t hit the snooze button.
Hitting the snooze button only interrupts your sleep. It also increases your stress levels in the morning. Make sure to place the alarm clock far from your bed or in an area where you can hear it but not reach it.
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Read the Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
The book outlines tips and insights for becoming an early riser so you can transform your life and make it better. Learn from others who decided to wake up earlier each day.
Summary:
You can become a morning person. It’s better for your health, and it keeps your motivation levels up.
- Wake up and sleep early.
- Envision a happy morning.
- Create an enjoyable morning routine.
- Never hit the snooze
- Read the miracle morning
