I can honestly say I have never been a morning person. I am a self proclaimed night owl, I truly believe my body clock is set up to function better in the late evening. But I am wondering is it just that I have made it that way? Is it a natural thing I honestly cannot control, or is it that I have convinced myself I am not a morning person because I say it way too often?
I remember as a child not being able to fall asleep, my mum would tuck me in a read to me and I never wanted it to end. I would sit up after she left and play school with my teddies and dolls. I would set them up and get out my note book, mark the role and begin my lessons. As a teen I still couldn’t fall asleep, I would lay awake for hours. In my later teens and then still at university I would do all my essays or study for exams at night. Even if I allowed myself time to get up early to study I would find my brain in the morning was too foggy.
As a nurse I chose the late shifts, when most people wanted the early shifts. After I had Aspen it worked out great as she was a night owl too. Until April came along and I had an early bird on my hands. Getting up early was torture! Then of course they started school and I was forced into early mornings. Yet I still can’t fall asleep at night, and I still don’t enjoy mornings.
It actually really annoys me though. Why? Well because I want to be a morning person! Mornings are so fresh, it is a new day, new adventures are about unfold, the air is crisp, the sun has risen and I want to be excited about it! I want to be one of those perky, bubbly morning people who right now I am insanely jealous of. But how can I make this happen? Can I even make this happen? Is it just that we are born this way/ Was I born in the wrong timezone?
I have heard rumours that mornings can be the most blissful time of day, and if that is true then I want to make it feel that way for me. So I am setting myself a little mission, actually it feels like a monumental mission to be honest! I am going to enjoy mornings!
So here is my plan. Feel free to join me if you too are a night owl, or if you just think mornings suck!
- A new bedtime routine. No phone checks right before bed, when I check my phone I start liking and commenting on Instagram and that just makes me more alert (even if I don’t think it does). If it is not Instagram for you, it may be Facebook, or emails, and we need to cut that out.
- Meditation before bed, there is a sleep meditation on the Smiling Minds App. If you don’t want to follow a meditation guide just download some peaceful music or mediation music you find soothing. Alternatively just try deep breathing exercises.
- Gratitude makes us feel happier, it makes us appreciate what we have, it is good to think about we are grateful for before sleep and in the morning when we wake up.
- Be as organised as possible the night before! The less we have to do in the morning, the less stressed the morning will feel.
- Although the weather man/woman/app isn’t always right, check it the night before, that way you can get your clothes ready the night before and you want be searching for that lost umbrella before you leave the house!
- Know where your shoes, car keys, files, kids school library books, and whatever else usually holds you up in the morning are before you go to bed.
- One of my pet hates in the morning is if my kitchen isn’t clean in the morning, I come downstairs and feel immediately overwhelmed and negative! For you it may be another room. Try to tidy that room before you relax for the evening.
- OK this will be hard for me! Wake up earlier than I need too! The truth is the more we rush the more stressed we are, and usually something doesn’t go to plan in the morning, so it is better to have extra time. I am going to try allowing an extra 20 minutes each morning.
- DON’T hit the snooze button. WHAT!!!????? But I love the snooze button, but NO it is now my enemy!
- Make some nice time. My plan is to fit in some nice time for me in the morning, time to really enjoy my shower, not rush my hair style, or just have ten minutes for a cuppa.
- Make time for breakfast. I actually love my breakfast, I am a cereal fan, Weetbix and soy milk is my favourite. Breakfast does give us the right start to the day, I know lots of you probably skip it, but it is important. Even if it is a cuppa with a piece of toast. Try making a smoothie, or fruity frappe’ on a warm day, or a warm crumpet on a cold morning.
- Sing. Try popping on your favourite music, or even radio talk show. Sing in the shower, get your morning groove on, I am going to try!
So there you have my plan to make my mornings bright and sparkly. Who knows soon you and I may even be riding unicorns each morning!
Tomorrow morning here I come!
Thanks for joining me, love Mac xx
Don’t forget to find me on Instagram @macglanville and join in with my tags #mummyshot and #livingfearlesslyauthentic
13 comments
I’m a morning person. I wake the children up by bouncing in and singing to them. I don’t think you’d like me much. I really do spring out of bed, although the darker mornings are catching me out at the moment. Funny. I posted about my morning starts today. Must be something in the air…or the change of the season.
Oh I could also do a whole post on this morning-night thing. I’ve come to realise I’m pretty flexible when it comes to sleep as long as I have my 8 (or maybe 9) hours of sleep. Yeah I like sleep. I can sleep anytime as long as I’m not stressed.
I did night shifts during my job with a daily newspaper and I worked fine. The thing is these days I rarely get to bed before 11 and so I find it difficult to wake up early. With the kids, it has to be 5 am each morning, which is why on weekends I like to sleep in. But just like you, I love mornings, they’re so fresh. These days I’m trying to get to bed early so mornings aren’t such a trial. Loved your pointers.
I’m a night owl too. I do some of my best work at night when I can’t sleep. But since having an early riser (thanks R!) I’ve come to appreciate mornings too. I already do quite a lot of the tips you mentioned and they really do work. Once R is in bed I clean up, get everything ready for the morning and then have my winding down time for me. It’s amazing how much easier it is to get up in the morning when you’re not dreading all the chores you have to do! Unfortunately I didn’t follow my own advice last night and now I’m still in my PJs staring at the mess wondering where to begin. Happy Saturday! #thesatsesh
I’m naturally a morning person, and everything you just listed is everything I do. It really does help to be as ready as you can be the night before. I usually do 20 mins of yoga and get a load of washing out before I do school run on the way to work. It’s a great way to start the day 😁
This SO resonates with me-I am a definite night owl and I hate it! My Husband is a bright and breezy Lark and falls straight to sleep come 9.30pm. Me, I’m often still clock watching at 1am 🙁 I too have wondered if I am actually naturally this way or if its just because I tell myself I am, but yes, when I think back to my childhood was always awake way later than the average bedtime and I find my mind is far clearer and more productive in the evening. I wish I was a morning person too and I love and am going to try all of your suggestions. Thank you! #thesatsesh
Oh I love this Mac, so brilliant to start the day with lots of light and good vibes. I try and make sure we go for a walk or trip to the beach first thing with Emma and it sets up our day. Now, to make all the rain we’re getting over here disappear… Thanks for hosting #ablogginggoodtime xx
There are some great tips here for helping solve the morning battle. Like you I had my kitchen being a mess, and it usually is, as I always think I’ll just leave it for tomorrow morning. I really must get better that. I do find that I’m more alert in the morning, then have a lull in the afternoon, and then much more alert later in the evening. Claire x #ablogginggoodtime
Ooooh good luck with this. I love the meditation reference – take a look at the beditation on you tube – it’s meant for teens but I really like it for me! I’m actually a lark so am generally fine at getting up – unless I’ve had a disturbed night with the kids of course! #thesatsesh
It took me a while, but I now wake up at 5am, six days a week. I love it, and I feel much better for it. #ablogginggoodtime
I am definitely a morning person! Although not as awake as before the kids… #ablogginggoodtime
I get up 45 minutes earlier than I need to just to enjoy the peace and quiet of the morning. I’m not really a morning person but it really does make for a good start to the day. I also set my alarm 5 minutes earlier so I can hit that snooze button once! #ablogginggoodtime
Great tips lovely. I’m not a morning person or a night owl haha, I work best around 2pm ! Definitely agree a good sleep routine is important and ditching screen time just before bed xx#ablogginggoodtime
checking my phone and snoozing are two of my worst habits in the bedroom! #ablogginggoodtime
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