7 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Become a Morning Person

Are you a morning person or a night owl? While it seems like we have a natural tendency towards one or the other, with a bit of effort anyone can adapt to a habit of rising early. After all, getting a head start on the day is a common lifestyle habit amongst highly successful people, and who doesn't want that?

Besides having more time to prepare yourself for the day ahead, people who wake up early have been shown to display more positive moods and increased energy throughout the day. So, say goodbye to sleep inertia (that drowsy feeling when you wake up) and say good morning to extended daylight hours.

1. Drink a glass of water
See, we told you it didn't have to be difficult. Seriously though, drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning will make you feel alert even if you're still processing being awake. Put two glasses of water beside your bed before you sleep, just in case you get thirsty throughout the night.

2. Turn off wi-fi in your phone
One of the biggest culprits when it comes to keeping us awake at night is our smartphones. The temptation to consume the endless amount of visual stimuli stored on our devices can be so severe that the best way to combat it is to eliminate your phone's wi-fi connection an hour before you plan to sleep. Looking at your phone before bed can cause cortisol (the stress hormone) to be released, keeping you awake for longer.

3. Rise with natural light
Melatonin is a hormone that your body produces to let you know when it's time to sleep. Usually, these levels rise in your body when it's dark outside and fall when it's bright. To get your internal body clock into a natural rhythm, try sleeping with the blinds open and let the sunrise wake you up naturally.

4. Eat an apple
As well as providing you with beneficial antioxidants, improving your breathing and lung function over time, eating an apple first thing in the morning is the perfect wake up call. The natural fructose will provide you with enough fuel for an hour-long morning workout and is an organic alternative to a morning latte.

5. Wake up lightly
Throughout the night, you will go through stages of light and deep sleep alternatively. To give yourself a good chance at waking up feeling rested rather than groggy, use an app like Sleep Cycle to track your sleep stages and wake you up at your lightest point.

6. Exercise in the morning
Mornings, more than anything other time during the day, are routine-based. That makes them the best time to establish a healthy exercise pattern that you have a better chance of sticking to. Sure, it's cold and your blanket is tempting you to stay in bed a little bit longer, but exercising in the morning gets your day off to a positive start, both physically and mentally.

7. 5 minutes earlier each day
If your morning routine is currently a bit out of sync, start by taking things slowly. Every morning, aim to wake up five minutes earlier than the previous day until you form a habit. By keeping small, achievable goals, you're more likely to stay motivated and on track.

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