How to have a better morning! {And you may even become a morning person}

Tuesday, 13 August 2013

I am a morning person {did I lose any of you yet?}. I don’t know if I’ve always been a morning person, but I have been as long as I can remember. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I’m just tired and I don’t want to get out of my cozy bed, but usually, I can get out of bed and start the day with energy and a little zest. {On the flip side, I’m utterly useless after 10PM…eh, you win some, you lose some}.

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{via}

Even though mornings are tough for most people, there are a few things that will hopefully help you have a better morning {and might give you that “morning person” spark}. 

1 :: Set your alarm with something other than beeping. There is nothing worse than having a mini heart attack every time you have to get up in the morning. Set your alarm to your favorite upbeat song, or better yet, find those new-fangled apps that wake you up gradually. Hallelujah! I like the sleep cycle app {it wakes you up gradually and it tracks how you’re sleeping, neat!} 

2 :: Get your coffee maker ready to go the night before. Program your coffee maker to start 5-10 minutes before you wake up so the first thing you smell is that amazing Columbia blend you love so much. If you have a Keurig {like I do}, make sure the water tank is full and put your cup on the stand with a new K-cup ready and loaded. If you’re a tea person, get all your brewing instruments out the night before. Have that loose leaf canister and your thermometer out, mmmm. Being able to enjoy a mug of the good stuff while you’re getting ready is more preferential than running out the door with scalding hot coffee and pouring it all over yourself during the commute. 

3 :: Make your bed and open the blinds. Get those “wake up” hormones flowing with these cues. The sunlight will really help you feel more awake, and while you’re at it, get the fresh morning breeze flowing into your home. Fluff the couch pillows and admire the morning light. 

4 :: Crank up the music! {or audiobook or news station} Dead silence in the morning will make anyone want to crawl back into bed. I love listening to audiobooks in the morning, it gets my brain charged up for the day ahead. 

5 :: Put your mind at ease the night before. Get your bag and lunch packed the night before. Jot down your to-dos in your planner or your phone. Tidy up the living room and kitchen. Leave your phone out of your bedroom {I’m bad at this most of the time} and go to bed at a reasonable time. All the coffee in the world does not fix a restless, worry-filled night. 

6 :: Enjoy the process. Give yourself enough time to enjoy this part of your day. Once you leave the house, it’s go go go until you come home exhausted. I like to get out of bed about an hour before I actually need to leave the house. The mornings are a great time to listen to your body and enjoy the little things. Have fun picking out your outfit. Splash warm water on your face and brush your teeth. Sip your coffee slowly. Play with your makeup and beauty routine. Do some morning stretches. Stay tuned-in and in time you will love the quiet morning hours as much as I do. 

What is your morning routine? Are you a morning person or a night owl? What are your tips for getting your butt going each day? 

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P.S. I did my first filling yesterday and it was exhilarating! Dental School is an amazing rush.