Have you ever wondered how to become a morning person? Like many people, you might think of yourself as a night owl – you might dread the mornings and press the snooze button, feel tired throughout the day but then are unable to fall asleep at night. You might have learned to accept that you’ll never be a morning person, even though studies have reported that morning people are healthier, happier, more productive, and more successful. With a few small changes, you can naturally begin to wake up easily and have more energy throughout the day. Here are some simple but very effective ways to turn yourself into a morning person in no time.
Let the morning light inside
As you rush to the kitchen for your morning coffee, open all the curtains and blinds. Let as much light flood your home as you can, as early as possible. This simple action of getting sunlight to your eyes first thing in the morning will help to increase your body’s serotonin levels, helping you fall asleep at night and to boost your mood throughout the day.
Spend more time outside
Sunrise, sunset, and the sun’s location in the sky throughout the day are all signals to your brain that the day is beginning, passing, and ending. Just getting your body outside during these different times of day and allowing yourself exposure to the sun’s location will give your body the information it needs to naturally wind down at night and feel more refreshed in the morning.
Get moving as early as possible
Wake your brain and your body with movement – the earlier the better! Get out and walk the dog early in the morning, stretch when you get out of bed, or walk to the coffee shop. The earlier you’re able to move your body, the easier it will be to fall asleep that night. And if you can do your wake-up movement early AND outside, you’ll also expose your eyes to sunlight, doubling the benefits.
Eat breakfast
Eating as soon as you can in the morning is another way to wake your body up and signal to your brain that the day has begun. If you’re a night snacker, try not to eat after 8pm so that you are hungry in the mornings. And if you’re not a morning eater, just a little food with your coffee can awaken your morning hunger drive. So cook some eggs or oatmeal while your coffee is brewing for an easy morning jumpstart.
Keep calm and wind down
“Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” – Benjamin Franklin knew what he was talking about. Wind down for the night with relaxing activities 1-2 hours before sleep, cutting off screen time at least 30 minutes before going to bed. Try developing a nighttime routine that you do each evening, such as having a glass of wine or cup of tea after dinner, reading a book, and showering or taking a bath. This will teach your body that bedtime is coming and you’ll be able to fall asleep faster and easier
We hope these tips have helped you! DW Simpson Actuarial and Analytics Recruitment is here to help you in your job search and your hiring needs. Find us at dwsimpson.com