- Prepare the night before
Becoming a morning person begins the night before. Like most things in life, preparation is key. Pack your lunch, set out your work clothes, have your bag packed before you go to bed and consciously select your thoughts about the next day.
Think back to the night before a long awaited holiday or Christmas Eve - chances are you could hardly fall asleep because you were so excited about the next day. As soon as your alarm clock went off, you were out of bed in a second and ready to enjoy the day. Alternatively, think about the times where you have set your alarm and gone to sleep thinking "I'm so tired, tomorrow is going to be awful". I'm willing to bet that your first thought of the day was along the lines of "I don't want to get out of bed". Choose your mood!
- Don't hit the snooze button
In the words of Demetri Martin: Hitting the snooze button in the morning doesn't even make sense. It's like saying "I hate getting up in the morning, so I do it over and over again!"
When you hear the alarm beep for the first time, don't think - just sit up. Drink the glass of lemon water that you prepared the night before and give yourself 5 minutes to mentally prepare for the day ahead. Go through everything you need to do before you leave home, in your head. When you get up you will already be focused on your tasks and less likely to forget something.
- Lighten Up
It's hard to feel sleepy when you've got bright lights shining and natural light pouring in. Re-wire that body clock by turning on the lights and opening the curtains! As and added bonus, you'll have more lucky gauging the weather and dressing accordingly.
- Eat Breakfast
You wouldn't expect your car to get you to work without petrol, so why do you treat your body differently? Start the day with a healthy breakfast (click here for ideas), your brain runs at it's best when you eat well and exercise. Which brings me to my next point..
- Get Moving
I know you're sick of hearing it, but a lack of exercise can make everything a challenge. Too tired? Too stressed? Not sleeping well? Exercising is the answer. This is especially important coming into winter. It's all too easy to cosy up in front of the fireplace and hibernate for 6 months, however this won't help to keep your body and brain working well. Make an exercise routine and stick with it. Habit will keep you going when motivation stops.
Comment below to share your tips for beating morning-itis!
- Catherine