5 Small Steps I'm Taking To Become a Morning Person

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Truth be told, I've never been a morning person. I thought this would change the older I got but I think it just keeps getting worse! If I don't get enough sleep then I'll spend the day in a pretty bad mood so I'm really trying to improve both my evening and morning routines in a bid to wake up in a brighter mood.

What to do the night before

1. Turn on night shift mode and set up bedtime on your phone

So many people say that the best thing to do is to completely switch off from your phone and social media in the evenings but honestly, I really struggle with that. Sometimes I think it makes me worry more (which is a whole issue in itself) and as I know that completely switching off doesn't work for me, instead I use night shift mode. I'm sure other phones have similar alternatives to this but basically, if you have an iPhone you can set up night shift mode to start and end at particular times that suit you and your routine. Currently, my night shift mode comes on at 10:00 PM and switches off at 7:00 AM. Night shift modes turns your screen warmer (colour wise - your screen doesn't suddenly become too hot to touch...) which is supposed to be more relaxing and means your eyes don't strain as much.

I find that this helps me albeit in a subtle way.

Another step involving technology but this time it involves creating a sleeping routine. Bedtime is another iPhone feature which notifies you when you should be going to sleep and also sets off an alarm at your wakeup time. I have mine on for weekdays, encouraging me to go to sleep by midnight (I get a notification 15 minutes before) and to wake up at 8:00 AM when my alarm rings. This is what I try to stick to on most days but if I have meetings or morning events then sometimes I need to set an alarm for earlier.

2. Read a book

I've become much more of an avid reader which I'm very proud of. It has taken me a while to really get in to the habit of reading books but now I almost always carry one in my handbag for tube journeys and then pop it on my bedside table so I can read a chapter or two before going to bed.

Like I said, I find it very difficult to completely switch off from social media so picking up a book an hour or so before going to sleep actually helps my mind focus on something other than my phone for a while, which is said to be really important when it comes to setting yourself a sleep routine.

3. Use a silk sleeping mask

This sounds so extra but I've been doing this for a couple of months now and it just helps me doze off. I've used a couple of different sleeping masks but I find that my *Slip silk sleep mask [gifted] has worked brilliantly - I do end up losing it by the time I wake up in the morning but it helps me fall asleep quicker at night so job done.

What to do in the morning

4. Once you're awake, get out of bed

I'm so guilty of staying in bed for ages after my alarm has gone off, usually just catching up on social media. Sometimes I start my day on my phone and then next thing you know, an hour has passed and I've done nothing but scroll through Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Not the best start to the day. I don't think it's a bad thing to catch up on social media in the morning - it is a big part of my job and life after all - but doing this once you're up and out of bed is so much better in terms of kick starting your day.

I know a lot of people suggest getting ready in the mornings, even if you're working from home or having a lazy day, but I don't think that works for me. Sometimes spending the day in pyjamas or loungewear is all you really need so I think forcing yourself to get ready in the morning - even when you don't need to - won't necessarily make you more productive.

5. Have breakfast

Unless I have a breakfast meeting (which involves getting ready before having breakfast) the first thing I will do when I'm up is make myself something to eat. Even if it's just some tea and toast, or more recently a bowl of porridge oats, it gives me a boost of energy in the morning to kick start my day.


Are you a morning person? If so, what's part of your evening and nighttime routine?