What To Do To Become A Morning Person

Morning people seem to have a major advantage over night owls and professionals who don’t have a disciplined schedule. You can become a morning person even if you aren’t naturally accustomed to getting up early. Think about the benefits of being up early as motivation, use a song for your alarm, and remember that having a routine is a luxury.

By Timothy Mably

From the outside looking in, morning people can appear to have their professional and personal lives together compared to people who stay up late. Morning people are often disciplined with their routines, getting a start on the day before their peers.?

Although you might think of “morning people” as being naturally inclined to their daily rhythms, night owls can adjust their lifestyles too. Getting up early can have a positive impact on your day, career, and general well-being.

Benefits of Being a Morning Person

There are several specific benefits to the lifestyle of a morning person. CEO and founder of Cave, Jordan Scheltgen, says, "The biggest advantage in rising early is that there are limited distractions. If I get up before others in my house, I’m able to get some time for me to work on fitness and deep work. This gives me two wins before any interruptions happen that could derail my day.”

The mental boost that comes with starting the day early can help you be productive. Whether you’re preparing for work, exercising, doing chores, or running errands, morning people can accomplish a lot within a short timeframe. This frees up time later in the day to relax or be productive in another area.

Not only has research shown that morning people have a chance at better mental health, but night owls are also more likely to experience depression. If you begin your day in a healthy place internally, you can have a smoother road to success in your work and personal life.

Adjust and Embrace Your Alarm

The most difficult aspect of changing your schedule comes with resisting the snooze button. To have success with your new routine, embrace your alarm. Set multiple alarms back-to-back if you think you’re likely to press “snooze” at first while half awake.

Scheltgen says, “It sounds simple, but set the alarm earlier and embrace that the next 2-3 days are going to suck. Once you adjust and start going to bed earlier, waking at earlier times becomes a lot easier and natural.”

Approach becoming a morning person as a process. It won’t be immediate and it requires consistent effort. Your body will adjust over days and weeks. However, it begins with getting good sleep. Go to bed earlier to account for waking up at your preferred time.

Scheltgen acknowledges this problem: “There’s no advantage to getting up early when you’re running on fumes. It’s unsustainable. So, instead of getting ‘hustle’ tattooed on your forearm, embrace that your lifestyle is going to change and you’ll have to start going to bed a lot earlier.” This is one of the pitfalls many can face when rearranging their schedules to be up earlier. It isn’t helpful to just be awake if your productivity is negatively affected.

Sleep Foundation recommends changing your bedtime to 15 minutes earlier than normal in gradual increments, while also changing your alarm to 15 minutes earlier. This can allow you to adjust practically and not feel burdened physically or mentally by the change.

Instead of setting your alarm to a default “alarm” sound, consider choosing a song or a noise that doesn’t cause you to react in a panic. You will quickly associate the sound with your new discipline. If it’s a noise that provokes an involuntary response, you might be less inclined to continue your journey to becoming a morning person.

Remember Routine is a Luxury

If you feel pressure to have a routine for your career or long-term success, remember that routine is a luxury. Not everyone can operate with recurring rhythms due to their field, position, or personal lives among other reasons.

“Waking up early and having a routine is a luxury. When life happens (family gets sick, kids need to finish a project, etc.) it’s important to recognize that’s part of life and not beat yourself up because you sleep in the next day. We can get so married to a routine, thinking it unlocks success but in reality, it’s the ability to push through on days when things don’t go to plan that makes the difference,” Scheltgen says.

Ultimately, having the routine of a morning person is an advantage. Not all vocations and seasons of life allow for you to be up early without feeling drained. Be strategic as you prioritize your well-being and take gradual steps to become a morning person.

Top Takeaways

How can becoming a morning person benefit you?

• Getting up early can have a positive impact on your day, career, and general well-being.
• Whether you’re preparing for work, exercising, doing chores, or running errands, morning people can accomplish a lot within a short timeframe.
• Set multiple alarms back-to-back if you think you’re likely to press “snooze” at first while half awake.
• Sleep Foundation recommends changing your bedtime to 15 minutes earlier than normal in gradual increments, while also changing your alarm to 15 minutes earlier.
• Instead of setting your alarm to a default “alarm” sound, consider choosing a song or a noise that doesn’t cause you to react in a panic.