I hear this time to time with clients or friends that they want to become a morning person but they keep hitting the snooze button.
I hear you on that one; I have hit the snooze button on some mornings. But then I lay there thinking I know what I will feel like when I get my morning workout in.
I know from experience and my clients that if you wake up earlier you tend to feel more proactive and optimistic. It can even mean feeling healthier and less stressed than those who said under the covers. So when you hate the alarm clock more than a big snow storm that you have to shovel the next day, here are some tips to wake up of the right of the bed EVERY morning.
The most obvious way to easily get out of bed every morning:
- Keep electronics out of the room, or at least 3 feet away from yourself.
- If you use your phone, change the settings on airplane mode—just make sure that you won’t need the phone, because you will not get any calls, text, and emails until your setting has been changed back.
- Watch out for danger foods before bed—spicy foods can cause heartburn, indigestion. If you like chocolate, it can sneak in caffeine that can potentially keep up later. Alcohol can also keep up, or wake you up in the middle of the night or even wake you up earlier than you would like.
- If you are hungry before bed, keep it light with a little protein, veggie or an ounce of nuts.
- If you feel that you are awake in the middle of the night pick up a book and start reading, or if your thought have been keeping you up at night—journal them and get them on paper so they are not in your head.
- Take a warm—Epsom salt bath with lavender oil or take a long hot shower, it can trigger that tranquil feeling and drowsy feeling.
- If you feel like your bed is giving you trouble, seek out a mattress that supports the spine and most importantly feel comfortable for an easier nights sleep.
How to wake up in the morning in the right side of the bed:
One of the best ways to get the best sleep every night is to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This will ensure your body to naturally feel good waking up—you are getting your body into a healthy habit.
- Start slowly—Pick a new wakeup time and gradually work towards it. Want to wake up at 6am but can’t get up till 7am? Start by setting your alarm at 6:45am, and move down in 15 minute increments every 3 days.
- Set some good tunes, instead of that beeping alarm sound. Everytime I hear that in the morning I dream about the oven going off. Instead, I wake up to Pink’s song—Try. It starts out slow so it doesn’t startle me.
- Don’t lounge around in bed (I know, bummer right?!). Make sure to get some movement in soon after waking up—this will naturally make the body more energetic and alive.
- Get accountable—tell your kids, partner or friend and family involved. Tell them you want to start getting up earlier and commit to tell them or text them that you are up and getting ready for your day. This will ensure you to get in the habit with support. I tell my hubby that I need to get up earlier to get my workout done and so I tell him if I hit that snooze button—literally push me right out of bed.
- Skip the snooze button—pushing that button can actually disrupt your sleep cycle and can lead to less restful sleep and make you feel more tired. So “Skip the Snooze, dude.”
- Create a schedule. Workout, shower, breakfast, work. Creating and maintaining a morning routine will make it easier to get up because it creating a habit.
Get up and Get moving
Sometimes a little movement can go a long way. The energy you get from your morning workout can set up your day for success—in more ways than you think.
- Doing what you love—picking an activity will help you feel excited to get up and workout first thing. You will look for forward to it! Do what you like and you will see the rewards.
- Pay for it—consider signing up for personal training or group training. It will help you not only be motivated to workout but you will also see more changes with different workouts.
- Pick a buddy—I have several clients that are on my online program that will work out together so they ensure they get their workout in. Or set up a time with your buddy on most mornings to meet at the gym so you can ensure you get those days in to workout.
- I tell my clients this and it absolutely works—schedule your workouts in your calendar for the week. Remind yourself it is an unbreakable commitment as you as you wake up just do it. Don’t think about it in the morning—just do.
- Get prepared. The night before I always get my workout clothes gear together so all I have to do is slip it on and go. If you are at the gym, than pack your bag the night before as well as your food for the day if you don’t go home. Organization and being prepared are key to a less stressful morning.
- After you work out—be sure to eat a good breakfast of a balance of protein and carbs within 30 minutes of your workout.
Fast Breakfast
Not only does breakfast provide energy for all morning activities, it can also help prevent the mid-morning slump and will help increase your weight-loss or just to maintain a healthy body weight.
I have several recipes on my site that help with quick mornings and eating properly while still managing a busy schedule.
Nutty Banana Overnight oats: http://daynadetersfitness.com/recipe/nutty-banana-overnight-oats/
Taco Egg Muffins: http://daynadetersfitness.com/recipe/taco-egg-muffins/
Banana-nut Protein Bars http://daynadetersfitness.com/recipe/banana-nut-protein-bar/
Not yet feeling the mornings?
For those whose mornings are feeling more like a race, you may need more motivation.
- Listen to your favorite radio station—or listen to your favorite music on your iPod. Listening to music right when you get up can set your mood in an instant–it can create memories, can make you happy, and get you in the mood to move.
- Take a little walk outside, even in the winter. A little fresh air will get your body alive and awake in no time, no need to run 6 miles just get out there for even 10 minutes and walk.
- If you are in need of more tranquil and peaceful morning–set up a relaxing area and take 10-15 minutes to do some stretching, yoga, or read a book in quite to get your day set for success.