As much as I’d love to pretend that I’ve always been a morning person, or like this is a ritual that has been a seamless part of my life since forever, the reality is that I’ve worked hard for my morning hours. I became a morning person out of desperation in quarantine for just one uninterrupted moment in my day. As a WFH mom of a toddler I was spent emotionally. My alarm clock was usually the sound of my son calling for me from the other room just before 7 a.m. After that it’d be a scramble to try and make coffee while toasting toaster waffles, rubbing my eyes and just feeling stressed and anxious.
I needed my mornings back, but the thought of getting up at 5 a.m. to truly get a full hour in before my son started to stir was daunting. Finally though, enough was enough. I made a plan that I’ve been sticking to ever since and everyone in my family has noticed a difference in me. I’m happier, calmer, have a longer fuse and I feel more myself.
A good morning routine starts the night before
You now have a bedtime. It’s 10pm at the latest. Ideally, you’ll be getting ready for bed, brushing your teeth, changing, etc. My husband and I put our son to bed at 8pm every night. From then I have two hours during which I do the following:
- 8:00pm Tidy the kitchen and living room— I’m not talking a deep clean here, but just enough that it won’t stress you out first thing in the morning when you wake up. There’s nothing that takes the wind out of my sails like waking up to a messy kitchen, or having to tip toe over duplos to get to the couch with my coffee in the morning. It usually takes me and my husband 10-15 minutes to put everything away at the end of the day before we settle in to watch something before bed.
- 8:15pm Take magnesium— At the height of my anxiety a few years ago, magnesium was my best friend before bed. Studies have shown many people who struggle with nighttime anxiety, are often magnesium deficient. Magnesium is key for a healthy immune system, blood sugar, DNA repair, nerve and muscle function, protein metabolism and so much more. I take this one by BioOptimizers (recommended by Dr. Mark Hyman), but picking up some Calm from your local health foods store will work too!
- 9:45 Prep coffee for the morning— If I can’t just push a button for coffee upon waking it’s game over for me. If you don’t have a coffee machine I highly recommend getting even a cheap one like Mr. Coffee. Having a delicious black pot of coffee in the morning is basically the only reason I get up. I use this Bonavita machine and LOVE IT.
- Set your alarm— I set my fitness watch alarm for 5:00am (with a back up alarm for 5:30 for extra sleepy mornings!) It buzzes silently, but the gentle vibration around my wrist is such a nice, non-jarring way to wake up. And crucially it doesn’t wake up my husband either!
- 5:00am— Push the coffee button. Keep your eyes on the prize. Remind yourself that this might be the only moment you truly get to be on your own all day.
- Plan your time— Yeah this is free time, but I like to have a plan. Some mornings I read, pray or meditate. Other mornings I want to get a head start on my freelance work. Some mornings I do a creative project, like write something, or read a book. But I find having something I am looking forward to doing is best.
- Plan your day— The last few minutes before I know my son wakes up, I plan out my day so that I have a sense of what’s coming next. Even if I don’t stick to it, having a plan or goals helps me feel like it’s less of a free fall and more intentional.
Other notes: I usually don’t eat breakfast until 10am, but if eating is part of your morning routine, you could prep something the night before. Make it as easy to make and eat as possible.
There have been seasons where this works really well, and other seasons where it doesn’t serve me at all. I think when it comes to goals and plans, it’s best to be honest with yourself. Try not to make them too aspirational. Just start with something that’s actually DOABLE long-term for you. If it’s not realistic, it won’t happen and on top of not reaching your goal, you’ll feel like crap. Keep it simple. Tailor it to your needs, and make sure it serves YOU and your life.
Hope this helps! Feel free to comment below with your tips and tricks for getting up early.