Mornings are tough. Maybe you were having a nice dream, or you’re just happy to be getting some rest after a long day. Regardless of the reason, waking up is not exactly the easiest thing to do. That doesn’t make it any less necessary, however.
There will always be something to wake up for in the morning, whether you like it or not. The rest of your day will be much more enjoyable if you start it off on the right foot. Whether it’s getting up for work, school, or church, here are some ways you can improve your mornings for maximum enjoyment and effectiveness:
Look Into Mental Health Treatment
For many, sleep is a coping mechanism for dealing with strong feelings of depression or anxiety. Your worries fade away while you’re asleep, which offers some much needed peace and rest during a long battle with mental health. Reality comes washing in each morning, which can be the toughest pill to swallow.
Getting the help you need is important for more than just being able to get out of bed. Mental health affects your work, your relationships, and even your physical health. Prioritizing yourself is worth the effort and investment, and mental health treatment shouldn’t be so taboo.
The tricky part is knowing where to start. Fortunately, you can find quality mental health treatment online. You don’t have to be constrained by limited resources or offerings in your area. If you’re using sleep as a way to avoid the day, look into available options to find the care you really need.
Start Each Day Doing Something You Enjoy
If getting out of bed is your least favorite thing to do in the morning, follow it up with something that you actually enjoy. The enjoyment of this activity should help offset the dread you feel when your alarm goes off. After a while, you may even start to look forward to your mornings.
Some may want to take a page out of Michael Scott’s book. The smell, and taste, of bacon in the morning can really perk you up. A good breakfast is not only delicious, but it can give you a calorie boost to provide some needed energy.
Others may look forward to a quick workout, an episode of their favorite show, or a walk to the coffee shop to start their day. Find an activity that gets you excited to jump out of bed and work your schedule around it.
Pump Up the Tunes
There are many factors working against you first thing in the morning. The sun might not be out yet, temperatures are still low, and the world can be eerily quiet. On days like these, you need to insert your own excitement and adrenaline into the mix.
Try changing your alarm to play an upbeat song instead of an ordinary ringtone. There has to be at least one tune out there that you can’t help but snap your fingers to. It will feel a lot more invigorating to wake up to some jazz or hard rock than to the basic alarm package programmed into your smartphone.
You don’t have to just wake up to music. You can create a playlist that helps you get through a morning workout, wake up during your shower, and get amped up during your commute. Music is powerful, enjoyable, and definitely worth a try in this situation.
Bribe Yourself
Just don’t tell anyone, but you might need to offer a little bribe to yourself to make your mornings better. If nothing else is helping you get out of bed, an extra incentive just might do the trick. The difficult part is making sure your bribe works and doesn’t negatively alter a different part of your life at the same time.
The bribe you use can be as simple as a piece of chocolate. This small treat can make a major difference in your morning. Similar to starting your day with a favorite activity, a bribe gives you something to look forward to. Having that motivation can help you jump out of bed with more vigor than ever before.
Early to Bed, Early to Rise
One key to a good morning is to follow a proper evening routine. Your nighttime preparations set the stage for how the following morning will go. If you don’t take care of yourself at sunset, don’t expect sunrise to come easily.
Start by making sure you’re actually getting to bed on time. If you’re only getting three hours of sleep, then of course you’re going to struggle to wake up in the morning. Create a bedtime routine that forces you to get into bed at an appropriate time. Turn off your cell phone and log out of Netflix before your sleepytime hours dwindle away.
If you need to go as far as set half a dozen alarms in your phone, then that’s what you need to do. Aim for that sweet spot of eight hours of sleep a night. Even getting too much sleep can make it difficult to get up in the morning, so try to avoid oversleeping as well.
You may never transform into a morning person, but you can at least make the early hours of your life more bearable. Try a different combination of strategies until you find a formula that makes your mornings feel at least neutral to you. It’s different for every person, but once you find what works, waking up on the right side of the bed can improve your whole day.