10 Tips to Becoming an Early Riser

If you're like me, then mornings come too soon and the weekends pass too quick. I found myself in a slump where I was constantly getting up at the last minute and running out the door for work in a scampered hurry looking like I slept all night in my car. Recently I decided to make a change. I started changing my routine and I found 10 things that help me get up and ready in the morning in a calm and put together manner.

1. Set Up Your Coffee Pot and Use That Programmer!
(Fun fact if you are a coffee drinker - Add cinnamon to your grounds! It brings in an extra flavor and some added health benefits!) By setting up your machines the night before, you're giving yourself an extra 5-10 minutes of rest time. Who can say no to that! Plus, I smell my Vanilla Hazelnut when my alarm goes off in the morning since it brews 10 minutes before my wake up call. It's just the motivation I need to get going without the snooze button!

2. Preplan The Wardrobe.
I'm able to do this perfectly with the help of my handy dandy command hooks behind my bedroom door! Seriously, this alone has tremendously helped in getting me up and running in the morning and I never realized how much time I was taking to get an outfit together before.



3. Stick To a Minute-To-Minute Routine.
This has really helped me and has probably been the number one way I've helped to get myself moving in the morning. I am very specific with how I use my time; down to the minute even. 4:15, my alarm goes off and I change clothes. 4:20 and I'm pouring my delicious coffee and taking a seat on the couch to catch up with The Walking Dead the morning news. 4:40, I head upstairs to paint my face. 4:50, I touch up the hair and any final features. Then I mosey around with any last minute things I might need to do in the morning, and 5:15 off to work I go! (Goodness that's depressing.)

4. Do Your Hair The Night Before.
I told my sister-from-another-mister this and she blatantly laughed at me. "Why would you do that?!" Ladies... think about it. If you take 20 minutes to do your hair in the morning, that's precious sleep your losing out on. Now, if you take 5 minutes in the morning to touch up those fly-aways... much better! Plus, the "loose' curls and hairstyles are totally in right now. Take advantage while you can.



5. Drink Plenty of Water - Stay Hydrated!
If you caught my post about the gallon water challenge I'm currently in, then you'll know I'm already on this trend. This has been TOUGH, but so rewarding! As a quick note, I feel so much better already! It's been a month and I am much more refreshed and moving throughout the day. Do it friends. Your body will love you.

6. Get to Bed at a Decent Time.
C'mon now... this should be a no brainer. Want to feel rested? Actually get some rest! No night owls welcome.



7. Bye Bye, Electronics!
But first... let me take a selfie! No... just, no. Turn off your phone notifications. Turn off the television. Turn off the Ipod, Ipad, Iphone, and the Icantgetanysleepmachines. Research has proven you'll sleep better doing this at least 30 minutes before lights out. Your brain cannot shut down for quality rest if you're jamming it packed with over-stimulation people! Say goodnight... your tweet can wait 'til morning.



8. Meal Plan and Prep.
There's something to be said about grabbing your shoes to run out the door and remembering that you're going to starve the rest of the day because you forgot to make a lunch! Simple solution - Meal prep. Invest in a container set and take the time on Sunday to make your lunches for the week. You're bright and early self will thank you for it - and so will your butt after not eating McDonalds 5 days a week. Since I've done my 30 nights of meals, I'm having a blast with my leftovers for lunch the next day!

9. Put Your Fur-Babies To Bed.
Okay - serious topic here, people. My little fur children want nothing to do with snuggles... that is until it's 1:30 in the morning and they all of the sudden want my pillow, my blanket, to lay between my legs, and to kneed on my sides and back to get themselves comfy and use me as their bed. I was waking up to them invading my space - every single night! Do yourself a solid. Put those furry creatures to bed. I accomplished this by making Jackson his own little comfy spot next to the bed on the floor, which he instantly worked with once I figured out what ratio of pillows and comfort he wanted. I accomplished this with Emma by... well... I never accomplished this with her to be honest. Her unwillingness to let me sleep has earned her a one way ticket to getting locked out of the room. Do I feel bad about it?? My rested-self says no. Do what you have to do people.

10. Pep Talk Yourself.
Don't laugh. This is real talk.
I saw somewhere way back when that if you talk to yourself right before you fall asleep and tell yourself what you want to dream about, you can make it happen. This was my first step into lucid dreaming. I used to do this for years as a teenager. I'm not pulling your leg; I could start a dream and continue where I left off night after night and change the dream as I went. Unfortunately, it's become a forgotten and lost gift that I don't participate much in anymore. But, I realized the same can be accomplished for when you're awake! Talk to yourself before you go to sleep - tell yourself you're going to have a deep, sweet slumber and wake up well rested. Remind yourself your coffee will already be brewed and with all of your preparation you'll have time to watch that Voice episode that you missed political debate that you recorded. Try it. It really does work and instills positive thinking, and if nothing else... well, at least you tried. Tell yourself "you're awesome"... you can never use enough of those.


When everything is said and done, you'll find yourself ready and put together in the morning with a smile on your face and a much more positive look on the day. I can no longer say "I am not a morning person.."

Quick backtrack to what we have going on here and look at normal times vs. prepared time.
Setting up your coffee pot: 5 minutes vs. 0 minutes.
Picking out your outfit: 5 minutes vs. 0 minutes.
Doing your hair: 20 minutes vs. 5 minutes.
Meal Prepping: 10 minutes vs. 0 minutes.
Congratulations - Just those 4 tasks saved you 35 minutes of precious sleep in the morning. Who says no to that!? Happy sleeping!