Let's face the facts — getting out of bed is hard. When you're all wrapped up in your comfy blankets, it can feel almost impossible to motivate yourself in the morning. That is, unless you're one of those lucky people who pops awake at 6 a.m. But if not, then I'm sure you're right there grumbling, whining, and hitting snooze with the rest of us.
Starting your day like this may not feel like the biggest deal in the world. I mean, you do get up, you do make it to work (albeit, occasionally late), and you do somehow manage to survive the day. But that's the thing, right there — you shouldn't feel like you have to survive anything.
That's what morning people understand that the rest of us have yet to realize. The early morning hours of the day are a really great time to be alive. When you wake up before everyone else, you have time to prepare for the day, to think about your goals, and to soak in a few moments of peace. It's all kinds of awesome, and it really sets the tone for a good day.
And that's where motivation comes in. Motivation is what will get you out of bed early so you can enjoy such things. And it will have you heading off to work on time, with an almost-annoying pep in your step.
Sound good? Then here are some ways to get yourself a bit more motivated in the morning.
1. Make Sure You Get A Good Night's Sleep
First things first, you can't feel motivated for anything if you are too tired to move. So start off by getting a good night's rest. To do this, the general rule of thumb, according to Dr. Michael J. Breus for the Huffington Post, is to go to bed seven and a half hours before you need to wake up. "Count back five 90-minute cycles or 7.5 hours. Each sleep cycle on average is 90 minutes long and the average person has five of them per night," Breus said. That should be just the amount of sleep you need to be ready to start the day.
2. Set Your Alarm To Something Not-So-Annoying
Don't start your day with the sound of a blaring alarm, radio static, or annoying talk news. Instead, set your alarm to something soothing and upbeat. Think your favorite song, or a funny podcast, to make getting up way easier.
3. Whatever You Do, Don't Snooze
Don't start the day by hitting snooze. It's bad for the psyche, bad for your motivation, and only makes waking up that much harder. As Alan Henry said on Lifehacker.com, "After you hit snooze and drift off, your brain starts its sleep cycle all over again. When the alarm goes off a second time, you're likely at an even deeper, earlier part of your sleep cycle, which results in you feeling even worse than you did the first time."
4. Ask Yourself Some Positive Questions
Before you even get out of bed, ask yourself some questions, such as "What am I happy about in life right now?" or "What am I excited about today?" It may sound cheesy, but taking a second to be grateful can help lift the veil of sluggishness. And as Henrik Edberg noted on PositivityBlog.com, the questions also make you recognize things you take for granted, which can fill you with a sense of appreciation.
5. Do Something Small To Get Yourself Rolling
If you're really feeling the pull of your bed, try doing something small to get yourself motivated to do more. "Just clean your desk. Or pay your bills. Or wash the dishes. You just need to get started. When you have finished that small task you’ll feel more alert and ready to go do the next thing," Edberg suggested.
6. Treat Yourself To Sweet, Sweet Rewards
Tell yourself that only once you get up, pick out your clothes, and take a shower can you sit down to breakfast, or coffee, or a few minutes of scrolling Facebook. According to Eric Barker on Time.com, "Research shows that rewards are responsible for three-quarters of why you do things." So choose something you consider a reward, and use it as motivation to pull yourself through the arduousness that is morning.
7. Use Some Good Ol' Fashioned Peer Pressure
If you are not a morning person, starching leeching off someone else's amazing ability to pop out of bed. Think about setting up a gym date with a friend (who you definitely don't want to let down, right?). Or get your SO to rustle you up from underneath the comfy covers, and then make breakfast together. Basically, if you have people waiting around with expectations, it'll be much easier to get yourself moving.
8. Actually Have Something Good For Breakfast
When I say something good, I don't mean a half rotten banana, or a quick bowl of stale cereal. I'm talking about smoothies, pancakes, omelettes — the things that make mornings so great. Not only will a healthy breakfast wake you up and supply tons of energy, but it can be quite the reason to start the day.
9. Take A Gander At Your Vision Board
Write down a list of things you want in life, or go full out and make a vision board complete with photos and inspirational quotes. Then, hang it where you'll see it first thing in the morning. As Onder Hassan noted on Lifehack.org, "Our brains constantly need reminding of what we want from our lives. Having it written down creates a massive shift in our psyches and belief systems because what is simply a thought and a dream suddenly becomes tangible and clearly visible for everyone to see." Look at it every morning, and soak up the good vibes.
10. Set Some Attainable Goals For The Day
It can be easy to get overwhelmed when your goals are things like "get a new job" or " backpack around Europe." That's because these major things take a lot of planning and forethought, and can't happen in a day. My point is, don't let overwhelm ruin your motivation. Instead, set some small, attainable goals for the day that will move you in the right direction. As Jeff Olson said on Greatist.com, "Your little choices add up to big results."
11. Get Dressed in Something That Makes You Feel Good
There's something about the perfect outfit that can kind of make or break your day. That's because when you're feeling comfy and lookin' good, you project confidence, and that's a major motivator. Build a wardrobe that expresses your style — one that feels right — and you'll actually look forward to getting dressed in the morning.
And yes, it really can be that simple to become a motivated morning person. Sometimes all it takes are a few tweaks to your morning routine, and soon you'll actually want to get up and start the day.
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