Alyson Pittman

Early bird gets the worm, right? Well, sometimes mornings are just too hard! We all know it. And as an entrepreneur or business owner, we don’t have a lot of time to waste, so becoming a productive morning person is important.

Don't get us wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being a night owl, but starting your day off with a bang can help you have energy throughout the whole day. And while waking up early can be difficult, it doesn’t have to be.

So, how can you become a morning person? Or at least be better at it? Here are some steps to take to start your day off productive and get things done.

Stop Hitting Snooze

This is the first thing you want to do as soon as your alarm goes off. “Just five more minutes”, right? But, what do those five extra minutes do for you? Is it actually beneficial? 

Studies show that while hitting the snooze button, we are actually disrupting our REM sleep. By doing this, we are actually hurting our health - not helping ourselves. Disrupting the REM cycle of sleep causes a “fight or flight” sensation, which increases our blood pressure and heartbeat. Those extra five or so minutes, that we think is helping us become less tired, isn't restorative sleep and is causing more harm than good. 

So, instead of hitting snooze, as difficult as it may be, just get up and start your day! Those extra five minutes of useless sleep could be used for so many other things!

Get Active

Yeah, we know, who wants to go for a run in the morning? Not us. But being active in the morning can actually be super beneficial for your health and give you more energy throughout the day. The hard part is just getting up to do something active.

Working out regularly actually helps with fatigue and loss of energy, plus it’s said to make you happier overall. Studies even show that you may not feel as tired at night because you aren’t moving enough during the day. Getting that morning workout in can not significantly change your mood, but it can help you sleep better at night too.

You don’t have to do something super hard in the morning, either. The workouts can be as simple as a brisk walk or a quick morning run. Here are a few easy morning workouts to consider.

Eat the Right Breakfast

It doesn't matter if you believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day if you’re not eating the right thing. Different foods have different effects on our bodies and making the right food choices in the morning can determine how we feel the rest of the day. 

Have you ever ate fast-food and just felt sluggish for the rest of the day? That’s because fast-food, junk food, foods high in carbs and sugars, actually does make you feel tired. 

Of course, not everyone eats breakfast and some people actually do better not eating it. But, if that’s not you and you love breakfast (like myself), then make sure you are using the food as fuel for your body and eating something that will give you energy. Here are some healthy breakfast ideas that can spike your energy and make you feel better throughout the day. 

Get Into a Good Nighttime Routine

This is one of the most important things because if you don’t get enough sleep, it doesn’t matter what you do the next morning, you’re still going to be tired. So, with a good nighttime routine, you can start becoming that annoying morning person who’s already completed a million things before 10 am. 

Start your evening by eating at a decent hour and preparing yourself for the next day. Go ahead and think about/prepare you breakfast, what you’re going to wear, and what exactly you need to do when you wake up. Having a plan will help and being prepared as much as possible will allow you a little extra time in the mornings, so you’re not rushing around.

Here are a few things you can do in the evening to have a more productive morning.

What are some things you do to become a morning person and have a more productive day? Let us know in the comments below, because we need all the ideas!