When it comes to gaining knowledge, learning new skills and personal success, being a morning person is an attractive feat. Early risers tend to claim they’re able to stay more consistent with their daily goals and reap the reward of a successful day. Unfortunately, not everyone is built to wake up early with a grin. If you have to set your alarm clock for the middle of the night just to make it out of bed, then you’re likely a night owl and not cut out for the typical early-rising culture.
However, it’s still possible for night owls to become morning people if they put in the effort. This article will provide night owls with effective strategies to help them break away from their midnight habits and become early rising superhumans.
What Is a Night Owl?
The term, night owl, can describe someone who has difficulty waking up in the morning. This type of person generally stays up later and sleeps in longer than the average individual. According to a 2007 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, the typical night owl stayed up nearly three hours later than the typical morning person, who went to bed on average at 11 p.m.
Being a night owl doesn’t mean you’re bad; it just means you are not a morning person. And that’s ok. Waking up early may just require opportunity to adjust your habits. As a bonus, you will also benefit from the rewards of early rising.
Benefits of Waking Up Early
Fitness Lovers Rejoice:
If you love hitting the gym before work or school, then early mornings are the ultimate time to do it. Waking up early allows you to start your day with an invigorating workout and can pave the way for a more productive day.
Be in the Middle of Nature’s Finest:
Waking up before the sun rises allows you to witness the beauty of nature at its finest. Many photographers, writers, and other creatives consider the morning to be their golden hour for capturing the perfect shot, or work in solitude when the world is still asleep.
Become More Productive:
By starting the day with simple tasks or tackling the big project while your pristine day awaits, you can get more done and make huge progress. With more time to devote to your projects, you can stay focused and be more productive throughout the day.
Reach Your Goals Faster:
Setting small goals each day is the key to reaching your main objectives earlier. Whatever goals you have set for yourself, whether it’s losing weight, learning a new language, or developing a business idea, you can get up earlier and work smarter towards achieving them quicker.
How to Become a Morning Person
Now that you know why it pays to be a morning person and the benefits it can bring, here’s one night owl’s strategies to become a successful early-riser. Implement these strategies and you too can wake up a different person each day.
- Start Small:
If you’re a severe night owl, trying to jump immediately into becoming a 6 a.m. riser is daunting. So don’t go overboard. Start slow and build up to your desired wake-up time. Set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier every day, and if that’s easy for you, add on another 15 minutes. This way, your body will slowly adapt to the change.
- Get Ready the Night Before:
Mornings aren’t memorable to night owls because they’re constantly dealing with the chaotic routine. To avoid this, it’s best to prep for the next day the night before. Choose and prepare your outfit the night before, pack your lunch the evening, and prepare breakfast too. This eliminates all the morning hustle and hassle, leaving you with more time to take on the day.
- Create A Comfortable Environment:
Invest in comfortable pillows and bedsheets that guarantee you sweet dreams and a restful sleep. Open some windows or blinds and allow natural light to wake you naturally. To snooze or not to snooze? That depends on how long you actually hit the snooze button. Set your alarm for the time you want to be awake.
- Say Goodbye to Gadgets:
Try to reduce your usage of all the gadgets and avoid watching the clock, as this will actually make you feel awake instead of making you feel more tired. If you can’t stay away from gadgets, activate airplane mode to prevent from getting notifications at night, which will wake you up from your deep sleep.
- Exercise Early in the Morning:
Reserve a portion of your mornings for exercise, and you will gain strength in body and mind. Regular exercise boosts productivity and creates a surge of energy. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), after exercise your body temperature decreases, and this triggers sleep.
- Eat Light in the Evening:
A heavy meal will make you feel bloated and lethargic. Keep a reasonable mealtime and eat lightly in the evening to provide your body with enough rest. If you are unable to sleep even after consuming a light meal, track your food intake and find what works best for you.
- Get Rid of Late-Night Cravings:
Night owls tend to get late night cravings. These cravings can arise at any time but mostly during the late-night hours. To overcome this, eat light meals at night and drink a glass of warm milk before bed. This will help you fall asleep faster and prevent the late-night munchies.
- Establish An Attainable Bedtime Routine:
Having a bedtime routine will help your body adapt to the new morning schedule. This routine doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be something simple like a warm bath or reading a book for 20 minutes before sleeping.
These are just a few habits you can try to become a more successful early riser.
Night owls have their own unique schedule and way of life. But here’s the thing: waking up early does have its advantages. Being an early riser allows you to enjoy a refreshing morning walk, eat breakfast with your loved ones, get a jumpstart on work projects, and much more.
You don’t have to be an extreme early riser, like the ones who wake up at 5 a.m. If being a morning person is your goal, though, then that’s quite achievable with a few changes in your lifestyle, like eating light meals before bed, planning your meals the night before, and getting rid of late night cravings.
No matter which type of person you are, it’s important to stay true to yourself, prioritize rest and relaxation, and find the secrets to becoming your best version. Start slow and you should become a morning person in no time.
