Want to Be a Morning Person? Take These Easy Tips

Lisa Franchi January 05, 2015

Waking up early in the morning is one great way to start the day right. But often, it is easier said than done. For some people, simply sleeping early doesn’t guarantee that they are going to rise and shine on time the next day.

Perks of Waking Up Early

Waking up early, at the same time every day, helps your body adjust. Not only will it make waking up early easy, you will also feel tired at night and fall asleep faster. Better sleep is just the beginning. By being an early riser, you will certainly have more time to perform your daily activities. It prevents being rushed and being late, which in turn leads to another benefit: less stress. Stress is your health’s major enemy. When your body is under stress, certain hormones go up, which in excessive levels, can interfere with your bodily functions and lead to varying health problems.

And – did you know being an early riser is good for your brain too? A 2008 study by Texas University found that college students who identified themselves as "morning people" earned a full point higher on their GPAs than those who were "night owls" Good grades help students secure better career opportunities. It makes you more productive as well. In 2008, Harvard biologist Christoph Randler discovered that early risers are more proactive. They were more likely to agree with statements like "I spend time identifying long-range goals for myself" and "I feel in charge of making things happen."

Furthermore, waking up early gives you more time for hobbies that promote your health, such as exercising. An extra 10 minutes in the morning can be spent on taking short walks, doing sit-ups and other forms of indoor exercise. Meanwhile, arriving at work early will encourage you to take the stairs rather than the elevator, or park your car a little farther away from your office to have some time for walking.

Maybe waking up early and getting your to-do list done on time is one of your New Year’s resolutions. But the real issue is how do you make it a habit that stick? Consider the following simple yet effective ways:

Visualise yourself waking up early the next day.

Visualise yourself starting the day right – waking earlier than usual and having plenty of time to do your tasks without having to hurry, and more time to rest, relax and have fun. Feel how it feels. Think about how freely you can move throughout the day. A lot of people swear by this method.

Reward yourself.

Have something to look forward to at the end of the day or week of waking up early. For instance, tell yourself that if you can wake up at the same time for the entire week, you will reward yourself with something you really want – perhaps a new pair of shoes? A visit to the spa? A day doing nothing but relaxation?

Put your alarm clock away from your bed.

This will ensure that you are going to get up once it rings. This might annoy you in the morning, but it really is effective.

Remind yourself of the benefits.

During days when you just want to keep the alarm going and sleep, remind yourself of the reasons why you want to wake up early. At the end of the day, you will feel proud of yourself for committing to something and sticking with it.

Get perspective.

The moment you hear the alarm clock ticks, smile and don’t frown. It only means one thing – another day has started – a brand new day. Another day to make things right. Do better. Do something amazing. And live your dreams.

Keep trying.

When all else fails, don’t be discouraged. Just start all over again. There are going to be many mornings that you don’t want to wake up. However, it is most important to find the determination to pull yourself out of bed and remember you have challenged yourself to begin a new day and start a better life.