OUR TOP 5 TIPS ON HOW TO BECOME A MORNING PERSON + WHY WE THINK YOU SHOULD GIVE IT A GO

“ The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day.” Henry Ward Beecher

Not everyone enjoys early starts, but there are some steps you can follow to help you become a morning person. Daily routines help us to stay focused, maintain productivity and feel fulfilled by activating the reward system in our brains when we complete tasks. It's natural to feel a lack of motivation with a change in daily structure, however during these moments of uncertainty, maintaining a routine is key, and waking up early allows us the time to prepare ourselves for the day ahead.

Our circadian rhythm is regulated by daylight, which is why going to bed early and rising early has been shown to contribute to better sleep. What we eat and drink (or don’t!) in the morning tells our body and metabolism how to behave for the rest of the day and morning exercise can increase concentration and motivation throughout the day.

If the thought of an early start sends fear through your veins or a routine seems impossible, we think we can help! Below we share our top 5 tips to find motivation first thing. Join us this April on The Online Studio as we encourage and support you to ‘Revive Your Mornings'.

Fuel your brain to focus

What you eat can help you to stick to a routine. Bearing this in mind, it’s important that you fuel the body in the right way to start the day (and end it!).

Coffee is not an adequate breakfast to sustain you throughout the day. Remember that after waking from an eight-hour slumber, your metabolism and blood sugar levels are going to be at their lowest, so without a hefty helping of beneficial nutrients, such as protein, immediately after waking, your body will run out of fuel very quickly.

Protect your sleep

A good night’s sleep can make you feel like a new person. And that’s not surprising when you consider just how many health benefits sleeping well can have.

Sleep supports the proteins and cells of your immune system to detect and destroy germs and also helps to reduce stress, support mental wellbeing and improve heart health

Some of our favourite natural remedies to support sleep include ashwagandha and oats – which naturally contain tryptophan, helping to regulate our bodies circadian rhythms.

Try meditation

Head of Yoga Jenny recommends meditating for five to 10 minutes upon waking.

'Sit quietly as soon as you get up and focus on your breath; deep breath in and deep breath out, allowing yourself to become calm and present. As thoughts come into your mind don’t get caught up in them or dwell on them, simply acknowledge them and let them go, returning your mind back to your breath.

'Feel the calm, the peace, the presence. This one pause will make the biggest shift to your day and all that follows.'

Ease into It

If you’re a night owl, chances are you’re not going to switch to a morning lark overnight. So approach the mornings with ease.

For example if you normally wake up at 9:00 a.m., set the alarm to 8:30 a.m. for a week, then 8:00 a.m., then 7:30 a.m.

Waking up three hours earlier can feel like a complete lifestyle change, but taking it 30 minutes at a time will make it a lot easier to actually stick to the plan. Gradually, you’ll become a true morning person, just don’t try to force it to happen overnight.

Get Your Bedtime Routine Sorted

Set an alarm to remind you to fall asleep! Having a set bedtime helps you stay responsible to yourself, instead of letting yourself get caught up in a book or Netflix!

Practicing yoga or meditation before bed can help relax your mind and body, too. This way, your mind isn’t bouncing from thought to thought in a flurry before you go to bed. Try a Yoga Nidra or deep relaxation for sleep.

Focus on relaxing at night and stay away from not just exercise, but mentally stimulating activities, too.