Become a Morning Person – How to Get Up Earlier in the Morning
It’s no secret that dairy farmers get up early in the morning. I get up four mornings a week before 4 A.M. and I am at the barn before 4:30. Some days this routine is easier than others, but it all depends on how well I am prepared for the morning to come. Here are my tips on how to get up earlier in the morning and make it a good morning!
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Prep the Night Before
Mornings are always easier when you prepare for them the night before. Before going to bed at night, walk through the same routine so you are prepped for the next morning. This eliminates decision fatigue for the morning when, let’s face it, there is NEVER enough energy for thinking things through. These steps MUST be completed the night before:
- Lay out your clothes.
- Prep your breakfast/coffee
- Set your alarm(s)
- Go to bed on time
Lay Out Your Clothes
Before going to bed at night, set your clothes out for the morning. Whatever the first activity of the morning is: working out, heading to the job, etc. When you roll out of bed (or step from the shower), you should be able to immediately get dressed. There is nothing worse than digging through your drawers in the dark and NOBODY wants to turn the overhead light on at 4 A.M. My husband definitely does not appreciate me fumbling around in the dark while he’s still trying to sleep. (He’s the night owl while I’m the early bird.)
(Sometimes I literally do just that… roll out of bed and get dressed sitting on the floor!)
Prep Your Breakfast/Coffee
At 4 A.M., I am not much of a breakfast eater, but I do like to have my coffee in hand as I walk out the door. Its about 1/4 to 1/2 milk, so it has protein! The night before, I get my Ninja Coffee Bar ready to go so all I have to do is press the button to start my cup as I walk out of my room. Fill the water, add the grounds and put my cup underneath. I could go a step farther and set the automatic timer to brew for me in the morning, but I don’t find that necessary.
Having breakfast ready to go to fuel my body really helps wake me up, even when I don’t eat a lot of breakfast. Knowing if I’m going to have a banana or a granola bar or a piece of toast means one less decision to make when my brain is already tired. I won’t be making any scrambled eggs or waffles right now. If I’m in the mood when I get the kids up later, I can make a bigger breakfast then.
Set the Alarm(s)
You may be a snooze person or someone who sets multiple alarms. I like to shut my alarms off, so I always have multiple alarms set. (Like 4-5). I like to set them at different intervals to make sure I am up. If I REALLY want to make sure I am up and out of bed at a certain time, I set the alarm across the room so that I have to get out of bed to shut it off. Once up, I might as well put my clothes on for the day and get moving.
Go to Bed on Time
One of the most important parts of getting up early is going to bed on time. Whether you like 9 hours of sleep or 6, you have to go to bed on time to get the right amount of sleep. It is a lot harder to get up earlier in the morning if you just cut down your sleep by an hour or two. Of course with kids, you might not be guaranteed the amount of sleep you are planning on, so going to bed earlier is never a bad idea!
Have a Happy Morning!
Are you looking to get up earlier to implement exercise or bible time in your routine? Maybe you are starting a new role in life that requires earlier mornings. Either way, these steps will help you be successful in your change. The key is always to prep the night before to get up earlier in the morning! Is there anything you would add in order to be up and ready? Comment below!
