Becoming a morning person is no easy task. Unless you’re one of those small percentage of people who perk up right before your alarm goes off and are able to get going without hitting the snooze button! If that is you, we envy you! 😛 Though for many people, getting the morning routine down to a science can take time. That’s ok, all good things take time, right?
In today’s blog we’re going to walk you through some ideas that have helped us build our morning routines. Routines can change with the seasons, winter routines look very different from summer routines, especially if your locations change. But if you’re looking to find a more positive and relaxing way to start the day no matter where you’re at in life, we believe it’s possible. Here are some tips we’ve learned along the way on how to become a morning person!
“In today’s blog we’re going to walk you through some ideas that have helped us build our morning routines.”
1. Stick to a consistent sleep schedule
Easer said than done, but this one really makes a difference in how your body feels when you wake up. Going to bed and waking up around the same time even on weekends, is key for your sleep rhythm. We’re not saying it has to be right on the dot 10pm – 6am every day, but if you can keep it within the hour, you’ll notice that even when you don’t have an alarm, your body will naturally wake up earlier. Try to build your evening routine around a consistent time. Say you need 8 hours of sleep, start winding down between 9/9:30pm so by 10pm you can be in bed and just about ready to fall asleep. Getting up at 6am will start to feel easier as your body will get used to this schedule with time. Remember to ease into this new routine gradually, it may take some time to adjust!
2. Avoid screens leading up to bed time
I’m sure you’ve heard this one time and time again. Blue light can suppress melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep. If you have your face in your phone or on your computer leading up to bed time, this will effect not only how well you rest, but how long it’ll take you to fall asleep. Instead, opt for a book or take a nice hot bath to wind down! There are reminders now on many devices to get you to turn your screens off or even change their light levels. Even investing in a pair of blue light glasses can make a difference!
“Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it.” — Richard Whately
3.Create a relaxing bedtime routine
Winding down before bed will help signal to your body that it’s time to start preparing for sleep. If you train yourself to prepare for bed around the same everyday, this should help you fall asleep faster and have you waking up feeling more refreshed.
What are some ways to creative a relaxing pre sleep routine? Turn off screens at least an hour before you want to fall asleep, create a skin care routine you enjoy doing (or at least enjoy the products you use), create an oral hygiene routine, try brain dumping – make a list for the next day before bed to reduce stress and having to go to bed with things on your mind – this also can lead into a productive morning with your task already laid out.
4. Create a morning routine you enjoy
Morning routines can bring such a sense of joy to your day! It’s a time of day when you have the opportunity to sit in complete solitude if you so choose. Maybe you live with a big family and getting up a bit earlier means you get some time for yourself. Your routine could include stretching, meditation, gratitude work, or journalling. If you don’t have time to take moments to yourself and say have to get the kids out the door or run to work, even taking the time to enjoy the ritual of a morning cup of coffee or tea is a great way to start the day. If your lifestyle allows, establishing a routine helps you know what to expect each morning and its easier to wake up and start your day.
5. Let the light in
Depending on where you live, this can be a tricky one right at the start of your day. We both live in Canada and realistically, some mornings the sun isn’t up for another three hours once I’ve woken up. Research shows that even just turning on more lights to get light exposure helps in your body gaining energy. Ideally though, you are able to get outside while you have your morning coffee or to go on a 15-20 minute walk, first thing in the morning!
What have we done to really improve our morning routines?
Meg: My sunrise alarm clock is my secret weapon for waking up peacefully. Unlike phone alarms or traditional alarm clocks that typically jolt you out of bed with a burst of loud disorienting noises, the sunrise clock does the opposite! The light will slowly increase in strength as you near your set wake up time. This light can also be used to unwind. I set the unwind function and read while laying in bed, the light slowly dims as time goes on. This has helped me create better boundaries with screens (aka not reaching for my phone first thing), along with establishing a good evening routine. Which leaves me waking up with more ease! Key tip, my alarm clock is strategically placed across my room, meaning I have to get out of bed to turn it off and avoid hitting that snooze button!
Cornelia: To be honest, my morning routine has been in the making for a long time! I struggle getting out of bed when my alarm first goes off. What has helped me, has been my boyfriend holding me accountable to getting up at 5:30am, he leaves for work and I have to get up. (Thanks Jesse lol). I’ve also found that having a routine for that first half hour of the morning is a game changer. I do my breath work, write down my gratitude for the day and enjoy my first sips of coffee. These small moments are actions I really enjoy doing! This allows for my morning to start off on the right foot. I am a lot more productive with this developed routine!
There are many ways you can improve your morning routine, and it’s not always the same for everyone. Remember, consistency is KEY in building positive routines and habits.
If you enjoy content like this and are looking for more ways to level up your life, check out our blog post on simple ways to upgrade your life. We’re all about sharing our routines and ways that we’ve seen improvements in our own lives. We hope some of our tips can be beneficial to you as well.
xo
Cornelia & Meg
2 Responses
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Hey thanks for your kind words! We really enjoy topics like these, so we’ll continue to share our tips and tricks! 🙂