Mornings. Are you a morning person or do mornings cause coma-like activity? For as far back as I can remember, I have been a morning person.
I was the first kid of us three up every morning without complaint. Many mornings I recall my dad trickling water on my sister's forehead or tickling my brother's feet to get them to twitch just a little. Certainly my siblings felt like pummeling me before breakfast many a time.
My ability to get up early, without issue, carried into my adult life. For a couple of years I had a 5 a.m. start time to my workday. Even if I hadn't been a morning person, the thought of my shift ending at 1:30 p.m. would have been motivating enough.
The 4 a.m. alarm clock rarely fazed me, and the snooze button just didn't appeal. Hitting your snooze button over and over is a true sign of a procrastinator. I always have wondered what those seven extra minutes do that is advantageous? Allows you to drift off, get warm and snuggly again, only to be interrupted and start over? Nothing says, "I don't want to get up," like snooze-button hitters.
The moral of the snooze button story? Be realistic and set your alarm clock for when you have to get up and then get up. And, if you think you are going to do something productive like exercise before work, then take your commitment seriously and get up.
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For those of you who would like assistance in becoming a morning person, please keep reading.
When you finally fall in to bed at midnight or 1 a.m. or so, the last thought most likely running through your head is, "crap, why did I stay up so late? Now I only get five hours of sleep," then you will wake up negatively. Set a positive expectation for the morning, no matter how much sleep you will get, and bounce out of bed when your alarm goes off. It is a wonderful, refreshing way to get your day going. Positivity gets you everywhere.
Having one or two things to do right away when you get up will begin a routine that forces you to arise. For instance, put your alarm clock across the room, so you have to get up and shut it off. There, you're up. Brush your teeth and carry on.
I learned this next tip while attempting to diet and lose weight. Drink a full glass of water as soon as you get up. After six to 10 (who gets that much?) hours of sleep, your body is slightly dehydrated. Water will awaken your organs and start the feeling of being refreshed and ready to face the day.
Next, hit the shower. If you are feeling extra motivated as you become a morning person, exercise when you wake up so you actually have to take a shower.
It is time to stop being the person whom no one will even toss a glance at before 10 a.m. in fear of having his or her head bitten off.
I can just feel the excitement in some of you as you read this. Oh, the thought of not hitting the snooze button, slugging back a big glass of water and joining the early morning Zumba or yoga class actually sounds exciting to some! I know it!
As exciting as this may sound, it will take a little work and commitment. This won't happen overnight, but give it a few nights and changes as to how you wake up, it will become a routine. You soon will become the next morning person who gets to work early, has a smile and is ready to go!
