In a perfect world we would all be morning people. We would wake up calm, refreshed and ready to begin the day. Unfortunately, this isn't a perfect world, and whether it's because of work, school or university, many of us have hectic morning routines that are considered a success only if we're able to make things on time. No doubt, waking up early allows more time for productivity and makes days less stressful. But with late-night TV channels, satellite stations and modern technology, becoming a morning person is a skill that is desired by many but accomplished by very few. Learning how to be a morning person won't happen overnight, but there are some things you can do to make it easier.
To actually enjoy waking up early, try to pay attention to these pointers: * Set a time for waking up and going to bed. Figure out what keeps you up late at night, and when you determine what prevents you from getting enough sleep at night you will know how to survive the next day. Standardise your sleep to seven to eight hours a night, even on days off. * Incorporate exercise into your early-morning routine. A 30- to 45-minute workout in the morning, at a gentle pace, can get your body moving and ready for the day. Research has shown that exercising before breakfast burns more calories and results in more weight loss than exercising after breakfast. * Keep the radio and television volume low in the evenings in order to create an atmosphere that will mentally prepare you for sleep. * Make use of natural light and place your bed in front of big, blind-less windows. This allows you to feel more awake, rather than simply waking up in darkness. Use light-coloured sheets, reduce the use of lamps and ensure that your bedroom is airy and not stuffy. This will help open up your brain and wake it up from snoozing. * Be in tune with your body. When you find that you are tired, always get some rest, even if it deviates from your schedule. If needed, opt for a mid-day nap or set a cut-off time for coffee. Try to eliminate energy drinks from your diet if you are nervous or have high energy from drinking coffee or energy drinks. Above all else, listening to your body is the key to becoming a morning person. * Dive into the morning by looking at the to-do list you created the night before. Setting guidelines on what to do during the day will get you excited about getting out of bed. Catch up on the day's news, tap out a couple of emails and leave home with the feeling that you have already started your day. * Restrict your bedtime to sleeping only, so when you hit the sheets your brain will gradually get into the bedtime mode and you will fall asleep faster. When you get work done in bed, or wake up to immediately check emails in bed, your body will forget what a bed is made for. Put your phone on silent and set your alarm. * Get your day on the right track by eating a healthy breakfast consisting of protein, yoghurt, a colourful fruit or veg and wholegrain bread. After sleeping all night, our metabolisms and blood sugar are at their lowest. A healthy breakfast can re-energise us and directly affect how we'll feel the rest of the day. * Just like a diet change, you can have cheat days with sleeping. If you want to go out in the evening with friends, shift your schedule a bit. Being a morning person doesn't need to make you a lonely person.
