For several years now I’ve been trying to become a morning person. It’s not that I’m always a night person, it’s just that waking up bright and early is not really my thing. I’m an excellent sleeper! With no alarms my natural sleep cycle lasts exactly 9 hours. I found this out during my last semester in college when I was taking 1 seminar and spending the rest of my time writing a thesis. I tried not using an alarm clock for 4 months and learned that I would always wake up 9 hours after I fell asleep. For a while I thought that I should just go to bed really early, and always get those 9 hours of sleep. However, I like my evening routine, and getting to bed early is not always possible.  

So, I’ve been trying alternatives to getting myself up early. One approach that has proven most useful is doing something that I love first thing in the morning. On weekdays, the thought of getting up and going to work is not always the most exciting for many of us. However, getting up to work on your creative project, to read your novel, to go for a run, or even to do your mindfulness breathing, sounds like way more fun. 

About a month ago I started waking up an hour early in order to spend time doing something that I love: writing this blog. After my morning mindfulness breathing, I make my coffee and sip it as I write. After an hour, I get ready for work. This new habit has made it much easier for me to get out of bed, and much more excited for the day. Since I’ve been doing this, I have discovered that I actually feel way more productive at the end of each day, knowing that I’ve dedicated an hour to my project. I also really prefer sipping coffee out of a mug at home to drinking it on the go in a thermos. So, it’s a win-win. 

Have you tried changing your morning routine? How does it impact your ability to pop out of bed refreshed and ready to go?