Our first thoughts as we welcome a new day heavily impact how tolerant we will be for the duration of the next 24 hours. What I mean by that is – if you wake up full of positivity and energy you will have what you need to take on the day. If you wake up already empty, you’re not going to get very far before burnout.
Among many other changes I’ve brought to my life recently, this is one I’ve been the most excited about because it’s been such a battle for so long. This post is kind of my love letter to all my night owl/insomniac/depressed friends who feel stuck like I did last year, and many other years before then.
And isn’t my dog a cute model? He always wakes up happy.
I remember so many different relationships I’ve had with mornings… feeling stuck in bed, feeling exhausted, having huge bags under my eyes, flying out of bed in a panic after oversleeping, the list goes on. I have never been a morning person. But I’ve been motivated to be on time for school, for work, for appointments, so after many years I’ve finally figured out what has not only helped me get up on time, but actually feel happy and confident in the morning too.
So here are my steps for taking care of my mind in the morning. Feel free to ignore what doesn’t connect with you, I hope to at least let you see one or two ideas that spark inspiration for your own life. Everybody is different but we all have similar needs.
- Prep for the day the night before
I like to set out an outfit, put my purse next to it, and add an tote to the pile that I will be able to put my lunch and water bottle in the next morning. This makes it easier to get ready quickly and not search for things when I’m sleepy and groggy. That way if I’m missing my glasses or don’t have lunch prepared I have time to sort it out and not worry about it last minute. - Go to bed on time
I know everyone says this so you know it already, but have a bedtime! I don’t like feeling too structured, but this is a daily need. Personally, I like to be left alone between 9 and 9:30pm so that I have time to journal and unwind before bedtime at 10pm. Then I have time to get ready for bed and don’t feel stressed about getting enough sleep. I also chose 10pm because I need to be fully asleep no later than 11pm, and it takes me a while to actually drift off. Having 10pm as that midpoint helps me nail down the hours my body needs to function correctly and feel good in the morning.
You need to know how long it takes you to fall asleep and decide on your bedtime accordingly. - Figure out the right alarm system for you
Similar to my bedtime, I have multiple alarms and I choose the tones very carefully.
I might sound a little extra, but the following trick honestly changed my ability to wake up early and be able to use my brain in the morning. Here it is: I set alarms for an hour before, a half hour before I need to get up, and an alarm when I should get up. That’s three alarms. And when the third one goes off (the real alarm) I allow myself up to three snoozes. That’s my formula. Whether I have to get up at 6, 7, or 8, it has always worked for me.
Currently, I have a job that starts at 8:30am with less than a minute’s commute. Here are my alarms: 7am, 7:30am, and 8am. Then I snooze up to three times and wake up at 8:15am at the latest if my body really needs some more time.
You need to know how long it takes you to wake up to figure out when the alarms should be.
Occasionally I miss the first alarm or two if I’m sleeping deeply, but the third one always catches me. And when I do hear the first two, I already start feeling happier to know that I get to sleep a whole hour more! I also like to choose soft, relaxing alarms for the first two, and a slightly more urgent alarm for the last one.
However, that will not work for people who can’t fall back asleep again easily. For those folks, I would suggest having an alarm 5 minutes before you have to get up, so your brain has some time to process waking up before jumping out of bed. - First thoughts should center around gratitude and positivity
Gratitude: First, think about a couple of things that make you happy. God’s love, your dog, sunshine, etc. Anything that you’re so thankful to have or experience in life. I like to write them down on a sticky note and then either keep them in a jar all year or toss it at the end of the day.
Positivity: Next, encourage yourself! Remind yourself that today is a gift from God and that you are ready for it. Tell yourself that it’s going to be a great day and that you will be able to get through any setbacks that may pop up. I personally like to write a little list of three things I really want to do that day (laundry, meal prep, facemask). Having a tiny list of simple things gives you an easy checklist, provides some direction for the day, and can remind you that self-care involves chores and leisure time. - Play some music!
I love music!!! Find some songs that always make you feel good and throw them into a playlist on YouTube or Spotify if you have it. Music helps me start moving. I usually play “Weight of the World” and set a two minute timer (1 minute of jumping jacks, 1 minute of stretches) and then dance around to other songs in my playlist as I get ready. This is my favorite tip. - Have a morning reward
For me currently, it’s having a candle going and drinking cold water with a bagel and cream cheese. At other times it has been coffee and toast to enjoy in the car as I commute, or hot chocolate and an apple before walking my dog, or even just pouring milk into cereal and sitting in my pink rocking chair. Figure out something that is easy and makes you feel good, something you can look forward to when you’re still in bed, convincing yourself to get moving. Having a cozy or tasty reward first thing in the morning can really help you see that waking up in the morning is a form of self-care. It’s your first opportunity of the day to not abandon yourself and your needs.
You can do this.
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