I’ve never met an adult who couldn’t use an extra 5 minutes of sleep. But I’ve also met people who love to wake up early and seize the day. In fact, I never thought that I’d become a morning person, but I have.
You see, I used to believe that mornings and evenings belonged to different people. The early birds actually enjoyed rolling out of bed before sunrise, while night owls found themselves most productive once most others had gone to bed.
What I’ve discovered more recently, though, is the desire to take charge of my days– and weeks– and I’ve realized that it all starts with mornings. Mornings are when we set the tone for the remaining hours. We wake up for whatever is most important to us.
[Tweet “We will wake up for whatever is most important to us. via @daisysrosales”]
So, the challenge is to be train ourselves to wake up for that most important thing.
Why I’ve fallen in love with mornings
Note that this article is not just how to become a morning person; it’s about becoming a morning person, and loving it. I’ve come to love that quiet hour I get at home without feeling particularly rushed. I love arriving at work without the urge to inject more caffeine into my arteries. I love having the choice in the morning to decide what is going to matter that day.
In other words, mornings offer benefits that evenings simply don’t. Here are a few:
- The opportunity to do your best at something that matters. You won’t be tired from a whole day.
- The quietness in which to reflect, plan, pray, and hope for a day that exceeds expectations.
- The calmness that is free of unfinished work from a busy day.
- The option to examine any stress or emotion before the start of a long day.
Becoming a morning person is not an easy goal to achieve. Like I said, we could all use that extra 5 minutes (or hour) to snooze. But the productivity and intentionality that comes from an early morning can easily offset the late nights that result from lack of planning and procrastination.
How to fall in love with your mornings
Everyone’s schedules are different, but there’s one thing most of us have in common: we don’t get to lie around in our pjs, hassle-free and worry-free, till noon. Instead, whether we work at home, work at an office, attend school, or send others to the office or to school, our mornings are often fraught with demands even before we step out the door.
Then, once out the door, there are a hundred things to remember throughout the day. Projects are due. Meetings are scheduled. Deadlines approach. Errands require attention. Once the day really starts, it rarely ends before bedtime.
So what are the steps to loving your mornings? It generally starts with an evaluation.
Step 1: Evaluate your current mornings.
How would you like to feel in the morning? Calm? Energized? Motivated? Purposeful? Write down the emotions you wish you had in the morning, and some reasons why they’re not what they need to be (yet).
Then, determine which activities would help cultivate those emotions. Making the most of your mornings does not always mean getting up earlier to work. It might mean work, but it might mean simply starting a load of laundry, preparing a meal, listening to an audiobook, or writing in your journal while sipping a cup of tea.
Step 2: Adjust your sleep schedule by 15 minutes each day.
No need to get up at 5AM when you’re used to rolling out of bed closer to 8:30. Start slowly and work your way up. But don’t hit the snooze button!
With your extra time each day as you adjust, do something that gets your body to wake up. It could be making that first cup of coffee, or stepping outside for a few minutes of fresh air. Enjoy the thought of seconds ticking by as you simply prepare your mind for the day ahead.
Step 3: Start with one thing you love.
What is it that you want to do in the mornings? Eat a full breakfast? Hit the gym? Read? Write? Delineate a schedule that breaks it down to increments of 1 minute. Give yourself time to experiment with what works well. Make sure to include a few buffer minutes so that you still get out the door on time.
Step 4: Begin to cultivate a routine.
We are creatures of habit, capable of learning nearly any behavior as long as it’s repeated enough. Reward yourself with something small each time you actually get up early enough. Soon, the act of being awake and having that extra time will become the reward.
As your routine solidifies, decide whether you want to bring others into it. Perhaps other family members want to sip that coffee with you, or work on their pet projects as you work on yours. Accountability is always helpful; but if you need that time alone, then make sure you get it.
Step 5: Maintain your routine… even on the weekends.
I usually wake up at 6:30AM on weekends now. It’s just natural– my body has adjusted and I no longer desire to sleep much more.
My mornings are usually quiet as I sip cold water with lemon and look out the window. There’s so little silence throughout my day that I’ve just come to cherish these moments. Even on the weekends, when we no doubt have something going on, I’ve found myself loving the calm of the morning. Sometimes early weekend mornings are even sweeter, because I know that everyone on my street is likely asleep.
The bottom line: use your mornings well, and you will love it.
Again, I can’t think of anyone who would reject the extra 5 minutes of sleep; but I also can’t think of anyone who became intentional with their mornings, and didn’t love it.
The challenge to become a morning person is in the beginning, when we feel the loss of sleep so acutely. But once we begin to shift our schedules, we find that mornings offer so much more than evenings do.
So whether you need time to be alone, to equip yourself, to pursue a personal goal, or to carefully plan your day, I hope you’ll fall in love with mornings too.
[Tweet “How to become a morning person: a step-by-step guide! via @daisysrosales”]
I’m so glad I found your blog – just followed you on Bloglovin’! You have so many wonderful ideas to share.
Recently, I’ve been into reading about other people’s morning routines (on mymorningroutine.com). An awesome website if anyone’s interested in more!
-Raza from simplyraza.blogspot.com
I used to think I was a night person, but really I’m just a creature of habit. Having an early bedtime and sticking to it makes getting up at 5:30am a breeze. But like your post pointed out you definitely need a reason to get up early. I started doing yoga first thing in the morning. I roll out of bed and on to the mat. It’s a great way to wake up and stretch the body before the day begins. P.S. have you read Hal Elrod’s Miracle Morning book?
Mornings are not my strong suit (health thing actually!) but I’m learning to love them too. It’s all about baby steps for me. Thanks for the tip on keeping weekends the same way!
If it wasn’t for coffee, I don’t believe mornings would ever be feasible for me. Three cheers for caffeine.
Ashleigh | Mermaid on the Move
I totally get that. It’s no easy feat for sure. I think the secret for me was to *just* do something in those extra minutes that really gives me life and lifts my spirits.
I love mornings, but I hate having to wake up. Dealing with depression doesn’t help either. Thankfully school’s almost out for my nanny kids, so I’ll have them full time, which means waking up early for me! I should probably start to use the 15 minute idea! That’d probably be great for me.
Yes… I love the mornings for all those things!
I usually wake up at 5am because I go to work, but I love waking up early on weekend just to watch the sunrise. I love that I can use that morning quietness to pray, reflect, meditate or just be. Beautiful post!
Yup, so true Tamara!
A good yummy breakfast honestly makes me excited to wake up! Great tips!
XoXo,
Tamara – LoveofMode.com
It’s rough!!! But once you get over the hump, you definitely get used to it!
Yes definitely! I’m hoping to really start using it to write more.
Haha I hear ya! Someday it’ll come!
That’s awesome. Watching the sunrise is such an amazing way to wakeup!
I totally hear you, girl. I often stay up later on weekends thinking I don’t have to go to work in the morning, but it’s never good for Monday!
Oh man… we just moved our alarms back 15 minutes and it has been brutal! Who would have thought my brain/body would be so obsessed with that 15 minutes??? 🙂
I love the idea of being a morning person … but it’s definitely a struggle. I like your idea of finding my purpose and using my morning intentionally. I’ll definitely be keeping this in mind! x
I would love to be a morning person if my mornings could be relaxing and productive but if I were to get up earlier it would be to watch Caleb and that isn’t relaxing one bit. 😉 Someday I do long for quiet, reflective mornings!
I can totally relate! I became a morning person during college, tho. I felt the happiness whenever I watch the sunrise, eat breakfast and drink coffee <3
marielle was here
I definitely need to implement a routine that I stick with even on the weekends. That is where I struggle. I’ll be good all week long but then I’ll sleep in on Saturday and screw it all up. 🙁
Wow that’s super early, Kiersten! Let me know how it goes!
Totally. Love being able to do that as well!
Thanks Emmie! 🙂 Yes, I love those things in the morning oto.
Yes!!! I’m so grateful to be in a season where I have (almost) full control of my schedule. It’s such a good thing to have that time in the morning. I’m sure those days will come back for you, Brittany!
Wow that’s super early!! I do like having time before I start my day though– guess that would mean waking up in the middle of the night for you though!
I totally hear you. It’s hardest at first. Work at it slowly– if you really want to, you’ll get there!
I have to be at work at 4:30 AM some mornings so it would be hard to develop a routine but I am going to try these tips and see if it helps!
Kiersten @ Autumn Country Girl
I cherish my early mornings, that time is what gets me ready for the day and when I am my most creative. Something so calming about having a slow start to your day:)
spot on tips 🙂 I became a morning person in much this way and still continually adjust my routine. (currently it’s wash, dress, hang laundry, do yoga, have breakfast, relax with coffee)
I am totally, 100% a morning person! I love when I’m up before everyone else, and the house is quiet and everything feels magical. I haven’t gotten up to enjoy that in a long time. Right now I’m definitely in survival mode and clawing for every last minute of sleep I can get. I’m trusting that someday I’ll be more rested and ready to make the choice to get up earlier again! Your words make me excited to get there again. 🙂
I love mornings but sadly I rarely get to enjoy them. I usually start work between 4-6:30 so my mornings are rushed but I always make sure to have a good breakfast. I’ve learned the art of making a quick couple of eggs…even on the days I start at 4! I get my coffee at work. 😉
But on my days off I slow down and savor my breakfast and coffee even more.
I tried, gosh, I really tried, but my sleepy head always went back to sleep for those precious last moments.. but now I am thinking about trying again and… I stumbled on your post! Now I am definitely going to try!
Aria
https://pandaonavespa.wordpress.com/welcome/