There is the notion floating about which allows people to simply let you know whether or not they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ in the morning, however there are lifestyle factors which can ultimately change this almost immediately. With everyone constantly and increasingly on-the-go all the time, there is almost an unspoken expectation to not give yourself time off, not have any time down, and constantly people measuring commitment and/or success by the amount of shut-eye they had the previous night.

The thing is, this is all well and good until we (generally) burn out when our energy levels and all round-wellbeing has come to a halt, and we eventually allow ourselves to take time off. This is a lesson we seem not to learn from but simply repeat again and again, and sometimes appear somewhat proud of as well. Below are a few ways that this can be changed, so even the sleepiest of us can enjoy the mornings with a few simple lifestyle changes.

Change your pattern

It may sound so simple, and it probably is, but by having a few days of being slightly sleepier due to a change in sleeping pattern will do your morning person ambitions absolute wonders. Start by going to bed even half an hour, an hour, or more, earlier and increase the shift in hours as your body clock becomes more used to it…Although getting your “beauty sleep” isn’t strictly true for beauty purposes, there is definitely something to be said about getting the zzz’s in before the clock strikes 12. Aside from the fact that many of us have to be up by 7ish in the morning, getting into bed a couple of hours before midnight will change your mood phenomenally.

Cut the caff

It’s easy to get into a habit of relying on caffeine filled drinks to get you through the day. However drinking a coffee (for example) close to your bed time will most definitely interrupt your sleep. For some people this doesn’t affect their sleep too much, however due to it being a stimulant it will undoubtedly disrupt most people’s. It can be found in more than just your daily coffee though, so avoiding chocolate with high levels of cacao is also going to help your sleep quality. With work schedules so demanding, it’s important to ensure, if you want to be the morning person you envisage yourself becoming, that you cut the caffeine mid afternoon each day.

Exercise before brekkie

Going to bed at night knowing that you will be waking up with a plan to exercise will motivate you to go to be earlier and in turn, wake up earlier to complete your work out. By setting tasks like this perhaps once or twice a week, you will not only set up a great foundation for sleeping well each night, but will also be setting up your day with lots of energy.. oh and to add to that, your exercise for the day will be done, so no carrying trainers and work out clothes with you all day anymore!

Eat like royalty

As the saying states, “Eat breakfast like a King, Lunch like a queen..”, and it’s totally true. After your said morning work out session, the best way to refuel for the day ahead is to have a truly hearty and healthy breakfast. Having something like overnight oats, a bowl of porridge, avocado on toast sprinkled with seeds, or even a large breakfast smoothie will really set you up for the day, give you the nutrients you need to power through and, if you know what you’re having the night before, you will undoubtedly look forward to eating it in the morning – what better way to become a morning person?

Prepare

Simple but effective, planning in advance is always going to put you in good stead whether you like it or not, and annoyingly enough, always proves right! By moving your alarm to the other side of the room (make sure you still wake up to it, mind), you will be forced to get up to turn it off, and let’s face it, once you’re up, well you’re up, right? If you are planning to get up slightly earlier than would be standard for your early morning wake ups, get your clothes ready and laid out the night before so that it doesn’t take long to change in the morning and no thought has to be put into the outfit either. Also, ensure you prepare your breakfast if it’s something that requires a good 10-15 minutes of prep, as it won’t only save you time (ahem, extra sleeping!), but it will allow you to be happy in the knowledge that you will be eating something good in the morning.

So, to become a morning person could be easier than you think when a few minor factors in your lifestyle are shifted slightly. Getting those few extra hours in each night, preparing for all the things which might slip in the morning, the night before, and reducing your caffeine intake really are elements of our daily routines that can be changed so easily. So, give them a try, and I can assure you that in no time you’ll be enjoying those wonderful morning hours as if you’ve loved them all along!