Okay, I used to think that people that woke up at 6am, mediate, hit the gym, and answer some emails, all before heading off to work, were mythical creatures. There’s no way they could exist? I mean, who would willingly do that, let alone enjoy it? Or, have time for it? But of course, low and behold, I am now one of those mythical creatures, and I have to admit, it feels great.
For me personally, I have spent the last 10 years working for myself, so I had the freedom to go to bed when I pleased, and wake up whenever I wanted. I was completely a night owl. Even through college, I would stay up late drinking coffee and cramming study sessions in until my eyes were blood shot. I also worked in nightlife for the majority of my 20’s, so I was very accustomed to this late night style of life, waking up at 8am was early to me, embarrassing to say. One day, I woke up and decided that I did not like how this felt, so I decided to do something about it.
The first step towards being a morning person is going to bed earlier, hands down. My body naturally wakes up after 7 hours of sleep, in fact, most of ours do, so if I was in bed by 10:30PM, I had no problem waking up at 6AM. This is the first battle, and it requires self discipline.
Second, set small goals. Nobody becomes a morning person over night. At the beginning of the week I would schedule 2-3 7AM workout classes. That way I had to be up by 6AM. The only thing worse than a 7AM workout is a 7AM workout on little sleep, so I made damn sure my ass was in bed by 10:30pm. It didn’t take long before I started LOVING how I felt, accomplished, energized, and ready to take on my day. Gradually It went from 2 days a week, up to 5, and then it just became my lifestyle, and I never looked back.
Third, ELECTRONICS. Guys, this one is imperative, and I know you don’t want to hear it. No TV or phone an hour before you go to bed. Not only is it horrible for your eyes, but it takes your mind a full hour to shut off and disconnect. After you watch a TV show your brain is still subconsciously processing everything you just watched. If your goal is to be in bed by 10pm, TV off and phone away by 9pm. Make it a non negotiable. Use the last hour of your day to unwind, shower, do a face mask, pick our your clothes for the next day, schedule out your next day, drink some tea, and head to bed, You will feel 1000 x’s better when you go to sleep, fall asleep easier, and get a better quality rest.
Lastly, ditch eating late. Plain and simple, food is what gives your body energy. I find when I eat late at night, and my digestive system is going into overtime to process that food, my body is physically awake and not shutting down. When we sleep, we are fasting, giving our digestive system a break. Start that process 2 hours before heading to bed,
I truly think becoming a morning person all has to do with how you end your day the night before. If you are heading to bed late, mind has 100 tabs open, body working overtime to process food, you aren’t going to get the quality of sleep you want, which is going to make it impossible to hop out of bed in the morning.
If you are interested in my morning routine, which is an entirely separate topic. Check out my blog “MINDFUL MORNING RITUALS”.
This is just what worked for me, and what helped me make the transition from late nights to early mornings. I honestly am addicted to the feeling of waking up from a good nights rest, setting the tone for my day early, and also getting some me time in while the world is still quiet.