How to become a morning person 

The infamous morning person. We all know one. Sitting at the front of the room in your 8 a.m. class, answering every question with energy and unnecessary enthusiasm. Meanwhile, you sulk in the back of the room, still half asleep with eye crusties impairing your vision. You loathe the chipper “morning person” but are secretly jealous.

And you may have a reason to be. Research shows that early birds really do get the worm. Morning people are said to be more productive, have higher GPAs, and many of the world’s top CEOs start their day by 6 a.m.  But how do you become a morning person yourself? Here are some tips to help get you up and at ’em!

1. Go to bed earlier

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” We all know the importance of a good nights sleep but sometimes it can be difficult to sneak in those recommended hours but, according to Harvard Business Review, the actual number of hours of sleep does not increase productivity and morning alertness. However, the timing of your sleep does. Going to bed earlier could help shift that cycle and readjust your circadian rhythms. So if you’re not done with homework and it’s getting late, get to sleep and wake up early to finish.

2. Plan your morning routine and daily schedule

Set a time to wake up in the morning and set your alarm right then and there. Then, plan out everything you are going to do once you wake up and stick to that plan. That way you’ll feel more motivated to actually wake up if you’ve already planned out what you want to get done. While you’re at it, go ahead and plan out your entire day! Having clear goals set is sure to increase overall productivity.

3. Get up (WAY) earlier

Allowing yourself enough time in the morning to get ready for the day ahead is crucial to increasing your morning alertness, focus and your ability to get things done and do them well. Allow yourself some “me time” in the morning, whether it’s reading a book, working out or cooking a healthy breakfast.

4. Wake up to natural sunlight

Opening your blinds and waking up with the sun will help to regulate your biological clock and keep it on track. Direct, outdoor sunlight for at least a half hour is the most beneficial. If you like to workout in the morning try going for a run outside or doing an outdoor workout to get your daily dose of Vitamin D.

5. Splash cold water on your face

Whether or not there is scientific merit behind this old trick, the shock to your system will be sure to wake up your skin and senses.

6. Wake up your body with gentle stretching

Here’s a sequence of 8 stretches you should do every morning. 

7. Meditate

Meditation is proven to reduce stress and anxiety and improve focus, brain power and creativity. if you’ve never meditated before, start by sitting by yourself for a few minutes and focusing on your breath. There are countless guided meditation online. Try searching for some on SoundCloud or YouTube to get you started.

8. Drink warm water with lemon

This ancient Ayurvedic practice will jump start your metabolism for the day and reset your digestive tract. There are several benefits to starting the day with warm lemon water including hydration, weight management, immunity boost, and brain power.

9. Look your best

Look good, feel good! Make sure you set away enough time to really invest in yourself. Take a shower, put on a cute outfit and get yourself looking and feeling your best!

10. Eat breakfast

Possibly one of the most important parts of having a stellar morning is to eat a healthy breakfast. It truly is the most important meal of the day. Not only will it kick start your metabolism, but how can you possibly be productive and focused if you’re hungry! If you’re the kind of person who just doesn’t get hungry in the morning, at least have a little something like a piece of fruit or a scoop of almond butter. Here’s a few stellar healthy breakfast recipes to try.

About the author: Sky Cowans

Sky Cowans is a senior broadcast journalism major. She is currently an evening news anchor for ELN. Originally from Beverly, Massachusetts, Sky is passionate about health and fitness. She is also a group exercise instructor for Elon Campus Recreation and enjoys teaching power yoga. Last fall, Sky lived in Copenhagen Denmark for four months where she studied cross-cultural communications. She also serves as a Global Ambassador for Elon. Sky hopes to pursue a career in either broadcast news or health and wellness journalism.