A couple years ago I made it my New Year’s resolution to become a morning person. I’m a night owl by nature so it’s taken work, perseverance and all the hacks in the book to get there. I love reading and talking to people about what works for them and trying it out — even the trick from one friend who said she jumps out of bed every morning while saying “seize the day!” (yes it felt silly, but it did set a positive tone to the morning). Keep reading for the practices that work for me, and please share your morning wake up tips in the comments. I’d love to read them!
Start the night before – This single tip is the difference between a morning that goes off without a hitch, and one that feels frantic and hurried. I try to get as much of my morning routine done the night before – pack my lunch, pick an outfit, put away dishes.
Remove the guesswork – Those minutes you spend looking for your keys, searching for your glasses, or trying to remember where you took your rings off, they’re invaluable when you’re running late! Designate a place for everything to live. A hook by the door for your keys and a dish on your nightstand for jewelry will remove all the guesswork and make your mornings much more efficient.
Make the bed – There is a nice feeling of finality that comes with making the bed. Once you do, you are less likely to lay down or even sit on the bed until the evening. No need to load up on ornamental throw pillows when you have these pretty scalloped sheets.
Scent – Whether I have time for some YouTube yoga, a 10-minute session with Headspace or even just when I’m putting on makeup, I like to take the time to light a candle or some incense. It makes even your typical Tuesday morning feel a little bit indulgent. I’ve recently started using a diffuser so that my bathroom always smells lovely, without having to worry about lighting and then blowing out a candle. Antica Farmacista is donating 100% of our profits from this scent to Stand Up 2 Cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness month.
*Sources: inspiration photo Hotel Panache, light West Elm, malachite prints Wisteria, headboard The Family Love Tree, diffuser Antica Farmacista, sheets Serena & Lily, green dishes Etsy
I hate mornings, but thanks for the tips! Why can’t the day start at 11am? Great pics, as usual.
Angela / Blush & Pearls
Wouldn’t that be nice!
The only thing that has really helped me to wake up early is having something that I really look forward to doing that next morning. Solo run at 5:15am? No way. A fun group exercise class at 5:15am? Definitely. I’m not a morning person but waking up early has become possible by having the right motivation for me individually. When that reason becomes better than staying in bed, it helps to create a new routine. With that routine comes the additional rewards of seeing the sunrise, the day feeling more in my control, the peace of the morning which all help to make me want to repeat it the next day. It really can be a struggle though! When I really need a push, I think of the lovely Simone Biles and how she said- ‘I could choose to hit snooze…but I don’t. I choose to rise to the challenge.’
Love that Simone Biles quote! I’ll have to remember that 🙂
love the quote!
I’m on the way to becoming a morning person too. I’m getting better. Making sure the alarm is set every single day at the same time is really helping. I’ve not tried scents though, so I might need to give that a try
– Natalie
http://www.workovereasy.com
I used to be a morning person but this past year I have suddenly become a night own. I am trying SO hard to get back to being a morning person. It is not nearly as easy as it once was though!
http://www.justbeingbrooklyn.com
I wonder what switched in your body clock! Really interesting.
If you find over time you are no longer a morning person (as I did), it’s possible it’s a thyroid issue. A blood test will rule it out or get you on the path (with medication) to righting it.
I can so much relate to this post because I have been snoozing the button all along to a point it makes me late by an hour. Everyday I try to wake up early but late night mails and messages make me sleep late. I have to start avoiding this android at night. Thank you so much for this booster post.
That’s my biggest problem too, I tend to feel most inspired and creative late at night too which makes it harder for me to switch off!
The making of the bed is key! Whenever I make mine in the morning, it looks so inviting at night.
Agreed — I’ve gotten to the point where I can barely stand to leave the house if my bed isn’t made. It’s always worth the extra couple minutes in the morning!
Christina, I agree, have everything ready the nigh before, if not then you’ll waste precious time trying to head out the door.
I recently came across a study showing that whether you’re a morning person or a night owl has nothing to do with personal preference but instead is determined by your genetics. That would explain why I will never become a morning person no matter how hard I try! 🙂
That makes sense to me. MY mother was a nightowl. There were times she’d just stay up all night if there was something early in the morning.
I have been trying for years to become a morning person!!! And I haven’t succeeded yet! I’m always more awake at night, no matter how hard I try. Even if I do go to bed early, I lay awake and can’t sleep. The biggest thing that helps me is to get a nice hot shower, then I feel more invigorated and refreshed, AND more awake! Great tips, I’ll definitely have to try some of them.
I found that I too became a night owl in recent years. My doctor suggested I had become increasingly sensitive to caffeine and suggested I wean myself from it. I thought she was overreacting, but weaned myself by switching to half decaf, then all decaf, then only a cup first thing in the morning … which took about 3 weeks. In about 4 days after I completely weaned myself, I could tell the difference. Slowly, over a few years I snuck caffeine back into my diet and periodically have to wean myself off again when sleep becomes an issue.
I’m trying this! I do everything possible to give myself another 5-10 minutes laying in bed thinking about what needs to be done for the day, before I get out of bed. Making my bed normally only happens on Weekends. I’m changing this rule! I am also scheduling to try on/put together outfits and hang them together, so that I don’t have to search for the “go to” clothes and I feel fantastic, because I’m put together and professional. I hate not wearing the right top/pants/skirt and feeling like I need to hide for the day. Love the blog. Thanks!
I too am not a morning person. As has been the topic of tons of research, all people have variations in their circadian rhythm. So I believe it’s a terrible travesty that us night owls are forced to conform to the early bird schedules!!! Power to the night people! ?
Power to the night people!