According to a recent study, only 48% of women and 39% of men would consider themselves to be a ‘morning person.’ This means that if you find yourself bleary-eyed and heating that snooze button each day, you aren’t alone!
However, believe it or not, you can actually train yourself to become an early bird. This way, you’ll be more alert and focused each morning, whether you’re going to work or staying at home.
Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash
With that in mind, here are some simple steps you can follow to start the day with a spring in your step!
Change your nighttime routine.
Sometimes, the reason why you struggle to get up in the morning is because of a poor night time routine and sleeping habits. As a result, you should focus on getting as much sleep as possible by improving your evening routine. For example, you should avoid looking at your phone for at least an hour before bed, as “the blue light emitted by your cell phone screen restrains the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle.”
Be consistent.
Another way in which you can ensure you become a morning person is by following a consistent routine. That is, you should aim to wake up at the same time each morning. Over time, your body will get used to this pattern, and you’ll find your alarm a little less annoying each time you hear it.
Have a delicious breakfast.
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day – and they aren’t wrong. In fact, the food you eat in the morning can easily set the tone for the rest of your day. This is because it can kick-start your metabolism while also giving you a much-needed boost of energy.
As such, starting your day off with a delicious breakfast is always beneficial. For example, if you have a sweet tooth but want to ensure you get your five-a-day, you could make this smoothie from thebutterhalf.com with peanut butter and bananas.
Start your day with stretching.
Starting off your day with some simple stretching exercises can also be a great way to heighten your senses and shake off any residual sleepiness. Furthermore, many studies have found that stretching can reduce daily aches and pains too.
If stretching isn’t your thing, yoga and mediation boast similar results, and can also help you achieve mental clarity and fight off feelings of stress and anxiety.
Practice self-care.
Practicing self-care is important, but we often claim to be too busy to indulge in self-care activities. Starting your morning with selfcare, however, means that no matter how busy you get later in the day, you’ve already ticked this off your list. Remember, self-care does not need to be time-consuming, it can be a simple activity too. For example, your daily skincare routine is an act of self-care, but so is listening to your favorite song or saying some positive affirmations while getting ready.
Either way, be sure to set aside 10 minutes each morning to do something for yourself!