How to become a morning person: ‘I’m trying to become a morning person, here’s what’s worked for me so far’

“How to become a morning person?” is the phrase I swiftly punched into Google when I realised I’d need to become one with my new job. 

As the new Morning Editor for 9honey, it meant a switch to very early starts – something that I’ve never been a big fan of – but when it’s for your job, you gotta do it. 

So, coming from the person who would do anything for a sleep in (and was just getting used to them thanks to her toddler sleeping through the night, here’s what’s been working for me so far. 

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You need to go to bed early 

This one is way easier said than done but going to bed early is the key to being able to wake up early – shocking, I know. 

The hardest thing is shifting your bedtime forward, and if you can I suggest doing this gradually. Even if it’s only by 15 minutes over a few days it’ll help you start to shift your body clock.

The same thing goes with getting up early. Don’t suddenly try and wake up hours earlier; go with an earlier alarm gradually moving it in 15 minute increments to when your new wake up time will be (or the time you’re aiming for). 

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Try to create a bedtime routine 

We all know that blue light from your phone will stimulate your brain and keep you awake, but we’re all guilty of doom scrolling as we lay in bed, mindlessly lost in TikTok. 

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Creating a bedtime routine, one that eliminates the little screen even a bit before bedtime will help you wind down. 

I’ve been making an effort to put the phone down earlier and instead reading and trying to get into the sleepy zone with just a lamp on, creating a sort of space that fosters sleep. It also helps that I can hear the white noise in my daughter’s room through the baby monitor, too. 

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You cannot hit snooze 

This is something I took from the Mel Robins morning routine but you absolutely cannot hit snooze. We all know how good it feels to hit snooze and put your head straight back on the pillow, especially when it’s well before dawn, but you absolutely cannot do it. 

Alarm goes off, you get up. No excuses. 

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Shift your whole day forward 

Now, this one is really what I think has helped the most because it makes going to bed earlier feel less unusual. Spoiler: after a few mornings of early starts the early bedtimes, is a breeze. 

This means eating breakfast earlier, eating lunch earlier and of course dinner earlier. It’s helped get into a daily routine and really made a difference for me. 

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Stick with your routine 

I’ve quickly learned that indulging in late nights and sleep-ins on weekends and days you’re not working makes it so much harder to get back into it every week, so sticking with routine and making the early starts a permanent part of your life is necessary. 

Now I’m not saying if your alarm goes off at 4:30am you get up at that time every day, but on (some of) the days I don’t work I’ve been booking a 6 or 7am Pilates class in an effort to make myself get up and keep the routine going.

Again, not blowing out bedtime to extremes – unless there’s a good reason – really helps too. 

It’s the consistency here which will help put your body into that new routine. 

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Absolutely no naps 

I really think this has been the key to attempting to become a morning person: no naps. 

The absolute worst thing I know I could do is crash out for a little nap in the arvo after I log off, effectively setting myself up for a late bedtime and then less sleep as the alarm goes off early. It create a very vicious cycle of trying to get my sleep back on track. 

To power through the afternoons I’ve been getting on top of all my household chores or doing a home workout before it’s time for daycare pick-up.

What else can you do to become a morning person? 

These are just some of the tips I’ve been following that have worked for me; there are others that the internet suggests can help shift you to becoming a morning person: 

• Get natural light as soon as you wake up to help with your circadian rhythm (easier said than done in winter). 
• Work out first thing. Getting up to work out definitely helps, but for some people it means and even earlier wake up which just might not be possible. 
• Do something positive or productive. That might be journaling or a bit of meditation, or for some people it might be a few household chores like packing away clean dishes or starting a load of washing.
• Start your day with something you’re passionate about. If you have a hobby, use the extra time for that in the morning.

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