During the month of June I've challenged myself to be a "morning person." It may sound silly, but I've always wanted to be one. I want to be able to get up when the sun is rising and go for a run in the woods, grab a cup of coffee, and read the newspaper on my balcony all before I have to start work at 8 am. I've always been the type of person to get stuff done early so I can enjoy myself later. That's kind of how I've been thinking of life too in terms of getting myself in the habit of getting up earlier. If I do some of life now, I can relax after work...or something like that. Here are a few tips I've been going by to slowly start to be that morning person I envision myself being:
1. Have a routine
If you have a routine, your body will eventually get use to it and it won't be so hard. The routine I've personally started doing involves a couple of my favorite things so that I have some motivation to get up early in the morning. I've been waking up at 6:30 am on days that I work from home, shower and get ready till around 7, walk Wrigley for about 30 minutes, and then read and have coffee for about 30 minutes before I start work at 8. Walking Wrigley and reading are two of my very favorite things so to start off my day with them always starts it off right!
2. Pick a bed time
If you get a good amount of sleep and it's the same amount practically every night, your biological clock will start to kick in for the time you need to wake up in the mornings. I've been shooting for 10 pm lately. I start to wind down around 9, so I can crawl in to bed to read some more, watch TV, or fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. I've been feeling more and more refreshed as the month goes on by doing this.
3. Put a smile on
Like I said in tip number 1, pick something to do in the mornings that's going to start your day off right. Not everyone may have a pup they can go out and walk or enjoy reading as much as I do, but maybe you like to run, catch up on the news, go for a walk by yourself. Whatever it may be that is simple and you really enjoy, make a little time to do that almost every morning. That way you definitely get to do it during the day and don't have to sacrifice it for other things that may arise later in the day.
4. Know your schedule the night before
Look over what's going on tomorrow morning before you go to sleep. If you like to do lists, make a to do list. If you use a calendar or agenda, look over that. This way if you have something out of the ordinary, you don't wake up and realize you need to rush rush rush to make that random appointment.
5. Live the mantra
Do it every day that you possibly can and over time it'll happen naturally. My mantra for being a morning person these days is "Life is waking up an hour early to live an hour more." It's so true, too. Why waste this beautiful life sleeping every possible minute I can when I could be doing a couple of my very favorite things during the beautiful time of early morning. Sun rises are beautiful, birds chirping make you chipper, and the peace that comes with the morning air is so refreshing.
It may not be for everyone, but if it's something you've had stashed in the back of your mind that you want to start practicing too I encourage you to start tomorrow! 6/18/14 is the day. Don't wait till next Monday, or July, or the new year, or your birthday, no do it tomorrow. It's an amazing feeling to feel so productive before 8 am, and I'm loving it more and more every day.
Cheers to great mornings ahead!
1. Have a routine
If you have a routine, your body will eventually get use to it and it won't be so hard. The routine I've personally started doing involves a couple of my favorite things so that I have some motivation to get up early in the morning. I've been waking up at 6:30 am on days that I work from home, shower and get ready till around 7, walk Wrigley for about 30 minutes, and then read and have coffee for about 30 minutes before I start work at 8. Walking Wrigley and reading are two of my very favorite things so to start off my day with them always starts it off right!
2. Pick a bed time
If you get a good amount of sleep and it's the same amount practically every night, your biological clock will start to kick in for the time you need to wake up in the mornings. I've been shooting for 10 pm lately. I start to wind down around 9, so I can crawl in to bed to read some more, watch TV, or fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. I've been feeling more and more refreshed as the month goes on by doing this.
3. Put a smile on
Like I said in tip number 1, pick something to do in the mornings that's going to start your day off right. Not everyone may have a pup they can go out and walk or enjoy reading as much as I do, but maybe you like to run, catch up on the news, go for a walk by yourself. Whatever it may be that is simple and you really enjoy, make a little time to do that almost every morning. That way you definitely get to do it during the day and don't have to sacrifice it for other things that may arise later in the day.
4. Know your schedule the night before
Look over what's going on tomorrow morning before you go to sleep. If you like to do lists, make a to do list. If you use a calendar or agenda, look over that. This way if you have something out of the ordinary, you don't wake up and realize you need to rush rush rush to make that random appointment.
5. Live the mantra
Do it every day that you possibly can and over time it'll happen naturally. My mantra for being a morning person these days is "Life is waking up an hour early to live an hour more." It's so true, too. Why waste this beautiful life sleeping every possible minute I can when I could be doing a couple of my very favorite things during the beautiful time of early morning. Sun rises are beautiful, birds chirping make you chipper, and the peace that comes with the morning air is so refreshing.
It may not be for everyone, but if it's something you've had stashed in the back of your mind that you want to start practicing too I encourage you to start tomorrow! 6/18/14 is the day. Don't wait till next Monday, or July, or the new year, or your birthday, no do it tomorrow. It's an amazing feeling to feel so productive before 8 am, and I'm loving it more and more every day.
Cheers to great mornings ahead!