The Secret To Becoming A Morning Person

Believe it or not, but not everyone springs out of bed in the morning easily and in a good mood. Not even me. Some days I do want to roll over and just hang in bed. You have two type of people those who can bounce out of bed everyday damn day eagerly anticipating the day and will talk your ear off if there’s anyone to listen. Then you have those who groggily stagger out of bed reluctantly and no coffee no talkie.

Let’s be honest which one are you” I have to say I’m the first, but that wasn’t always the case, I was so not a morning person and coffee was my life line!!!

When I first started working out I wasn’t getting in all my workouts because I was working out in the evening. I was missing my workouts because I was working later than I expected. I was getting frustrated because it was out of my control.  He told me that if I started working out in the morning I took back my control and I would actually get my workouts done. I felt awesome because before I headed to work I had done something for me. Working out in the AM was a game changer for me. I started working out in the AM 15 years ago and I have not gone back to evening workouts.

So which of these describes you’ Do you fall somewhere in between’ Which would you rather be’ There are countless studies about the early bird gets the worm. A 2008 Harvard study discovered that early risers are more proactive. Early risers are more likely to exercise. Don’t get me wrong some late risers get just as much work done; it just takes them longer to get to it.

If you’re not happy with your morning habits and want to change, it can be done but it has to be a concerted effort on your part. Raise your hand if you embrace change. Not many people jump at the chance to make a change. You’ve been this way for years and it works for you. On the other hand, who wants to be an old grouch in the morning making you and everyone around you miserable’

You can become an early happy riser, make it a habit and yes, you will embrace.

What is your current waking mood” Is it working for you” Do you want to make a change’

Are you willing to try something different’ How comfortable are you with knowing that the first thing you try may not the that transforms you into a new you.

Preparation and planning is key. I’m huge with rituals. When you look forward to something you are more likely to do. One of the biggest reasons why folks don’t get up early is they say they don’t get enough sleep. Let’s be honest most of us are staying up late curing cancer or coming up with a strategy to bring peace in the middle east.

I encourage my clients create a bed time ritual. Just like you did as a kid or you currently do for your kids. You set a bed time and maybe you read for a few minutes, meditate, take a bath or talk to your partner anything that slows down your brain and tells it, its time for bed.

Pretty much any habit we want to change or start can be turned into a ritual. Wanna change your food” Decide what will be your new ritual will you stay away from heavy fatty foods and sugars before bedtime’ Try a healthy dinner a few nights and make a note as to how you feel the next morning. Is it working’ If not, don’t give up. Pay attention to what may need to be tweaked and keep tweaking till you are at a place that you love.

Wanna make exercise a habit’. If you’ve followed me for anytime, you’ll know I’m a huge believer in sleep!! The better shape your body is in the better it will sleep and the better you’ll feel each morning. Working out in the morning is more beneficial then before bedtime. For some, nighttime exercise can get the blood flowing too much for you to fall right to sleep.

Anticipate the morning routine. Don’t give yourself something boring to look forward to.
Make time for at least some morning exercise even if it’s just stretching. Perhaps, sitting outside journaling or meditating. Count your blessings and plan your day. New morning habits are not accomplished in a day. Be patient and willing to experiment. Give yourself the time and the space to make the changes.

I think summer is one of the best times to change up your habits. The days are longer it’s warmer outside and maybe it’s just me you just feel like you have a bit more of a pep in your step. When the sun up earlier working out in the morning doesn’t seem so hard. You can also take vacation and a time to try on some new habits without the pressure of work. I know you are thinking I want to enjoy my vacation and not worry about what I’m eating.

I’m here to tell you it’s possible to enjoy your summer and still maintain or start healthy living. — Grab your Shame Free Summer Action guide here.

Gabriel Garcia Marengo