This post about becoming a morning person has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and the Kraft Cooking Up Good website. All opinions are mine alone. #McCafeMyWay #CollectiveBias
Are you a morning person? I like to think of myself as an “afternoon person” – I’m tired in the morning and tired at night! Yep, that lovely photo is of me in the morning. My husband has always been a night person until more recently. Lately, he has been getting up earlier and is able to get more accomplished.
Why would you want to be a morning person?
Everyone knows the saying that the early bird gets the worm. But really, if you are happy as a night owl, why would you want to switch? According to Katherine Sharkey, MD, PhD, assistant professor of internal medicine and psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University and associate director of the Sleep for Science Research Lab, “night owls tend to be more depressed […] and use alcohol more. [Morning people] generally sleep better, have more regular sleep patterns, and have more flexible personalities.” Also, according to a recent study from the University of Toronto, morning people tend to be happier and feel healthier than night owls.
So how do you become a morning person?
Now that you know how awesome being a morning person can be, how do you become one? Here are 4 things we have learned through my husband’s process of changing from a night to a morning person:
Create a restful environment
Light, noise, temperature, and comfort can all impact your ability to sleep well; so make sure to address all four of these.
- Power down – no computers, TVs, phones (eek), or tablets in the bedroom. The light from these devices can keep you from falling asleep.
- Control the noise in the room by playing relaxing music, sounds of ocean waves or even white noise.
- People tend to sleep better in a cooler room. Set your thermostat to around 65 degrees and cuddle up with your spouse under the blankets.
- Make sure that your bed is as comfortable as possible. This includes the mattress, sheets, and pillows.
Create rituals
Establishing a ritualistic schedule can help your body know what is to come. This means that you should do the same things every day before you go to bed and the same things when you get up every day. Maybe you brush your teeth, get out clothes for next day, read in bed for a half hour and then go to sleep. Do this EVERY DAY… including weekends. Maybe when you get up you stretch for 10 minutes, eat breakfast and then take a shower. Do this EVERY DAY… including weekends. Your body will begin to get used to the routine.
Make it difficult to stay in bed
Now that you have made your bed so comfortable, you may not want to get out of it in the morning! This is where your morning ritual and a couple of tricks can help you bounce out of bed. First, leave your bedroom curtains open. It is pretty difficult to stay in bed when the sun is shining in your face! Second, if you use an alarm clock, place it across the room. The act of standing up will help your body wake up. While you are up, DO NOT hit that snooze button!
Start the morning with something you love
Getting out of bed can be easy when you know you are going to be doing something you love. Just think about those Christmas mornings when you would wake up at 4:30 and want to open presents. What is something you love to do? Maybe it is reading the paper? Going for a walk? Sex? Eating breakfast? I know my 6-year old niece has to have at least 15 minutes of cartoons in the morning. It is part of her ritual, she loves doing it, and it helps her get up in the morning.
For me, it has always been coffee. I love the smell of it, the taste of it, and the warm feeling it gives me. Recently, I was walking around Walmart when I suddenly smelled my favorite smell… coffee. I turned the corner and saw a demonstration of the new McCafé coffee. While I was enjoying my free sample, I learned McCafé coffee is made with 100% Arabica beans harvested in the mountainous regions of the foremost coffee-growing areas of the world. They have 8 flavors to choose from, and it is available in bags and coffee pods (my favorite). The coffee was so good that I picked up the coffee pods to bring home. Plus, I went past the demo for a second (and third) sample. Don’t judge me… you know you’ve done the same thing before!
Are you a morning person? Do you have a morning ritual?
I’ve shared my tips for becoming a morning person. I’d love to hear if you have any ideas to add. Comment with your morning person tips!
Rosemary says
My mother told me I was a night person even before I was born! I’m not depressed. (Unless I have to get up too early!) I really do feel more alert and energetic in the evening. That’s when I get some of my best work done.
Beth@FrugalFroggie says
My husband is a night owl. And I would agree that he is depressed. Makes so much sense.
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
I am a lifelong insomniac and so far nothing has worked. I don’t drink coffee, but if someone told me a pile of money amounting to a million dollars awaited me in the kitchen I might open my eyes to investigate the situation! LOL
Stacey Werner says
Hmmm I think I would too!
Marybeth Hamilton says
I’m a morning person when I don’t stay up too late 🙂 When I DO stay up late a morning ritual definitely helps me find my center and get my day going.
Aimee Smith says
These are great tips! I am such a night person and need to make some changes!
Dawn Mcalexander says
Being a morning person has never been something I was good at! Hopefully this tips will help! LOL! I’ll be sure to pass them on to my (grumpy in the morning) daughter!
Stacey Werner says
And I’m sure she will love you for it, Dawn!
Debbie L. says
I am a morning person – my hubby not so much. I can be up and going fast – my hubby nope he needs coffee and time.
Lori Gunn says
What great advice for becoming a morning person! I’ve always been a morning person and one hint is to not make a lot of noise to bother the people in the house that are not morning people. They need to convert on their own.
Melissa Pezza says
I was a born morning person, and I’m super grateful. I see so many people sleepwalking through the morning. I’d hate to have it like that!
Jennifer says
I so needed this. I am in no way, shape, or form a morning person.
Catherine S says
This is great advice. I am so not a morning person. Once my work schedule changes in April I will need to be a morning person.
Stacey Werner says
Good luck, Catherine! Hope this helps.
aimee fauci says
I guess I am a morning person because I have to be. With a dog and kids I have no choice so my body and mind is already used to it.
Pam says
Starting the morning with something you love always makes it easier to get up. That’s why I can wake up so early on vacation!
Stacey Werner says
Great point, Pam!
Stephanie says
Thanks for the great tips and I totally don’t judge you for heading back for a refill on that McCafé sample – I would have too! More often than not, I feel like I’m just trying to get through my morning rather than enjoy it. I need to make a change so that I’m a peppier and happier mom in the morning. #client
Dawn Nieves says
These are great tips! I’m going to try the alarm clock trick with my oldest. He is NOT a morning person at all! Thanks for sharing these!
Stacey Werner says
When I was in college, I used to do the alarm clock trick. The key is to not allow yourself to hit the snooze button!