How to Become a Morning Person

Mornings are the absolute worst and honestly shouldn't even be a thing. Some people can be so productive in the morning and then others are actual zombies. I have always been caught somewhere in between these two. Being a student-athlete in college I am kind of forced to get out of bed for either class or practice, which means I have to be ready to function, not just roll out of bed and call it good. It used to be such a struggle, but now I know exactly what I need to do to wake myself up and have a good day. I have learned the ins and outs of waking up and below will share some of my favorite ways to start my day feeling awake and productive.

1. Drink water

I love to drink lemon water in the mornings. It is a lot yummier than regular water. It is so important to be hydrated, so if the first thing you do in the mornings is drink a glass of water you will be off to a great start. You can add things like lemons or cucumbers to your water to give you some more antioxidants and they also support healthy skin.

2. Exercise

This could be anything like going for a walk, doing yoga, or going for a jog. Some people like to hit the gym or ride their bike. Any type of exercise you like will work. Exercising will definitely wake you up. I have noticed on days where I exercise in the morning I get more things done and am in a better mood. It doesn't have to be anything too strenuous either. Sometimes I like to go on a simple fifteen-minute walk and then I call it good.

3. Don't hit snooze

This is the hardest thing in the world to not do. I love giving myself five more minutes, but in reality that five minutes is going to do nothing. Even if it is a struggle, GET OUT OF BED WHEN YOUR ALARM GOES OFF. The first five minutes of it is terrible, but once you are up and move around you are fine. It makes your morning less stressful too. When I would hit snooze, it would just give me less time to get ready for class or practice. Now, I can casually get ready for the day without rushing myself.

4. Eat a healthy breakfast

This might seem silly, but a lot of people do not even have breakfast, let alone a healthy one. Eating a healthy breakfast can give you so much more energy. The difference I have felt between eating a healthy breakfast and not eating one is crazy. It makes me a lot more productive and ready for the day. It also makes me not as hungry during the day, so I eat less. I always thought if I wanted to lose weight to just not eat breakfast, but I have actually lost more weight by eating a healthy breakfast. There are so many benefits to eating a healthy breakfast.

5. Follow a to-do list

To-do lists are my favorite. You can make one the night before or you can make one in the morning. Write out your goals for the day and week and figure out what needs to be done. To-do lists help you remember what you need to get done and when. For school, it helps me a lot because sometimes I have weird deadlines and without a to-do list I would forget to do most of them. It also helps you stay productive because you will always have something to do until all the things on the list are checked off.

6. Read something inspiring

This could be anything from an inspirational book, quote, or even a text from a loved one or friend. For me I love quotes. There are quotes for every occasion and every mood you are in. There are even apps that you can get on your phone that send you motivational quotes throughout the day. Reading something motivating makes less space for negativity. For me, I love having the app because if I start feeling overwhelmed or negative I know that in a couple of minutes I will be getting a motivational quote notification.

7. Gratitude Journal

This is super important. This sets the tone for the day. I have noticed when I start the day off thinking of things that I am grateful for, I don't dwell on the negatives in my life. Also, the negative things in my life don't seem as terrible. Focusing on the positive can change your outlook on life for the better and the negatives won't feel as heavy.