For many people it can be difficult to wake up earlier and enjoy it. We all lead busy lives and you’re probably trying to take advantage of every last second of sleep you can. I’m naturally a morning person. Even as a teenager major sleep-ins were few and far between, but growing older I’ve realised how much I actually enjoy early mornings. Especially when working a full time job – it’s so nice to have that extra time in the morning, before starting the day or heading off to work to just do whatever I want.
While I am a self-confessed ‘morning-person’ it can still be a struggle to wake up extra early, and it took a while before I was really able to create a routine that made it easier for me. There are a few tips and tricks which I’ve found helpful, so I thought I’d put together a little post that might help you gain some extra ‘you’ time in the morning!
How to Wake Up Earlier and Enjoy It!
Table of Contents
Essential Oils
I’ve been using essential oils for a while now, and I love that something so simple can help me wake up feeling refreshed and energised. Every morning I fill my diffuser with warm water before adding a few drops of sweet orange oil and peppermint oil. At first, I combined these two oils because they smelled good but it turns out both are full of benefits that will help you start the day.
Peppermint will boost your energy levels and really wake you up for the day. It can also help improve concentration (among many other benefits) so is a great oil to kick start your morning.
Sweet Orange is an uplifting oil and will help put you in a great mood – even if you do wake up on the wrong side of the bed. It’s also known to create a restful atmosphere so if you have a stressful day ahead this oil will ease your nerves.
Have a Reason
Giving yourself a reason to get out of bed in the morning is so important when you want to wake up earlier, and enjoy it!
It can be something as simple as wanting to have that extra time to enjoy a cup of coffee and read a book in the morning, or it something a little more ambitious like wanting to use this time to exercise more. Knowing you have something planned when your alarm goes off at 5.30am will make climbing out of the bed covers that much easier.
For me, my reason is this blog. I know I’m at my best in the morning so made it a priority to wake up earlier each day to get an hour or so of personal work done before heading to my day job. A few mornings a week I also head to a local coffee shop and work from there while treating myself to a flat white. I love having that personal time each morning to work on my own creative passion projects, and also find it helps me be more creative and productive when I get to work.
Make Your Reason Enjoyable
This one goes hand-in-hand with the above tip. Give yourself a reason, but make sure it’s something you enjoy, at least in the beginning. Otherwise you’re just making it too hard for yourself right from the start.
Let’s say your reason for waking up earlier is to exercise more. If you decide you’re going to wake up every morning at 6.00am and go for a run BUT you hate running, you’re already creating a hurdle for yourself and an immediate reason to stay warm and cosy in bed. Work towards the end goal – maybe instead of running every morning you have a few days waking up with some slow + easy yoga at home or by taking a fun class as your local gym.
Don’t give yourself a reason to fail from the start. As early mornings become more routine you can start challenging yourself with the things you may not enjoy quite as much.
Create a Healthy Sleep Routine
What you do the night before is going to effect how easy or difficult waking up early is going to be. If you stay up until 2.00am watching Netflix every night you’re definitely going to hit snooze on that alarm clock the next morning. But if you build a healthy sleep routine for yourself it’s absolutely going to help you in the long-run.
Essential oils can come into play here too. Just as some oils are great for getting you up and energised for the day, there are also oils that will help you relax and prepare you for sleep. Lavender and Chamomile are the most popular with those seeking sleep. Sweet Orange can also be used at night to reduce any anxiety and stresses from the day, which will help you have a more restful sleep.
Give yourself a set time each night when you will hit the hay. About an hour before this scheduled time, make sure you are switching off the tv/laptop/smartphone and picking up a book or doing some evening meditation instead to help your mind begin to relax and prepare for sleep.
Let Yourself Rest
Let’s be real, we can’t be at the top of our game ALL the time. Sometimes you’ve just gotta cut yourself some slack and allow your body to rest and recharge. On mornings like this be kind to yourself and take the rest you need.
Listen to what your body is telling you – it knows best!
Are you a morning person, or do you struggle waking up?
I would love to hear your favourite ways that make getting out bed easier!
Let me know in the comments!
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Also worth reading:
Top Tips for the Solo Traveller
How to Create a Space of Your Own
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