16 Little Known Ways To Make The Most Out Of Morning

These tips will help you get up and going in the morning so you can be productive all day.

Create a morning routine

Having a morning routine will help you move through the essential tasks (what to eat, what to wear) on auto-pilot until you’re feeling fully awake.

Prepare the night before

Taking a few minutes before going to bed to prepare for the coming day will make your morning easy and keep your stress levels at a minimum. Take care of things like making a to-do list of essential tasks, selecting what you will wear, making lunch(es), and gathering things you will need for the day ahead.

Incentivize yourself

Getting up for something we’re looking forward to makes it a lot easier. Love the smell of freshly brewed coffee? Set the timer on the coffee maker for a minute before your alarm is set to go off to wake to the smell of your coffee waiting for you.  Or perhaps you enjoy an early morning workout? Set a date with friends to meet up for a quick bike ride, walk, or exercise class. Whatever you enjoy, make a plan to start your day with it!

Put an end to the snooze

If you find yourself routinely hitting the snooze button in the morning, it’s time to rethink your wake-up time. You want to get up the first time it goes off. If you’re purposely setting it earlier than you need to get up, stop it! Be sure to only set your alarm for the time you actually need to get up, then get up when it goes off.

Get enough sleep

If you’re constantly waking up tired, you’re not getting enough sleep. While it may seem obvious, but people don’t get enough sleep each night. Research generally recommends 7 to 9 hours for adults. The best way to figure out how much sleep you need is to experiment with different lengths of sleep, and stick with the one that leaves you feeling refreshed in the morning. Everyone is different!

Rise at the same time each morning

It’s essential that you get up at the same time every day to keep your body’s natural sleep/wake cycle on track. Minimize variances in sleep and wake times to 30 minutes to prevent sleep disturbances.

Maintain your sleep schedule on weekends

While it’s tempting to sleep in on weekends, doing so can wreak havoc on your natural body clock/wake cycle and disrupt your sleep for days. Get up at the same times on weekends as you do on weekdays and opt for a daytime nap to catch up on any sleep you lost during the week.

Select a happy song or chime for your alarm

Most alarm clocks come set with a jarring sound that jolts you awake. Switch it to a favorite song or pleasant chime to make waking up a pleasure. Be sure to change it every few weeks to keep it working and make your alarm something to look forward to.

Let the light in

Waking up to sunlight quickly reduces your melatonin levels which will make you feel more alert and awake naturally. Open the curtains or blinds and let the light come shining in! Get up before the sun? Use full spectrum lights in the bathroom to simulate sunlight.

Exercise in the morning

Kick your day off with a morning workout. Whether you prefer yoga, jogging, or a class at the gym, starting off your day with exercise will give you the energy boost you need to break free from sleepiness. Plus, not only will you feel great having completed your workout bright and early, exercising in the morning improves blood pressure and nighttime sleep quality.

Enjoy a morning shower

A warm shower raises your body temperature, letting your body know sleep time is over. Feeling a little extra tired? Increase your mental alertness and put an end to any grogginess by alternating between hot and cold water quickly.

Leave the TV off

Minimize distractions by leaving the television off as you move through your morning routine. (This applies to podcasts and talk radio too!)

Play a custom morning playlist

Listening to a playlist of your favorite high energy music can get you moving through your morning routine quickly. Create a custom list of your current personal favorites on Spotify, Pandora, or iTunes and hit play after you turn off your alarm!

Have a glass of water

You’re mildly dehydrated when you wake up in the morning, so you need to get rehydrated. Starting your day with a glass of cold water will rehydrate and energize you.

Eat a healthy breakfast

Starting your day with a healthy breakfast is key to having the energy you need to make the most of your morning. Don’t give in to the temptation to skip breakfast if you’re running late, it will only make things worse. Keep energy boosting foods that can be eaten on the go or at home hand to make breakfast easy.

Enjoy a little caffeine

Start your morning with a cup of coffee or caffeinated tea. A small dose of caffeine will make you feel more awake quickly. However, limit consumption to morning to prevent having the caffeine from keeping you up at night!

Make time for family

Spend a few minutes in the morning catching up with your family. Sitting down together for a quick breakfast can provide you with an opportunity to get in some quality time if you find it challenging to get in after work.

Get focused

As you head out the door, take a moment to get focused on your day ahead. You may find it helpful to ask yourself three simple questions: 1) What am I grateful for today?, 2) How can I add value?, and 3) What can I make better?

Put these 16 tips into action today, so you too can make the most out of your morning.