How to Become A Morning Person (Even with A Toddler)

I truly believed that I was never built to be a morning person.

As a teenager I remember cringing as my dad chirped ‘Morning!’ as I dragged myself out of my bedroom to the kitchen, wishing I could quietly lie on the floor and sleep for another two hours.

In my 20s I was obsessed with making my morning routine as short as possible. I’d do as much as I could the night before, skip breakfast and get the latest train to work as humanly possible so I could catch a few more minutes of sleep.

Around 6 years ago, I decided this couldn’t be my reality for the rest of my life. Feeling grumpy and sluggish was no longer how I wanted to start my days.

Now I get up about 60 to 90 minutes ahead of my daughter and could not imagine anything different. So how did I do it? And how can you do the same?

Ease into it

My transformation into a morning person did not just happen one day. It took a lot of trial and error and alarm tweaking.

I mapped out what I wanted to get done in the morning and how much time it would take to comfortably do each task without rushing.

For example, I wanted to stretch my body in the morning for five minutes or so, as I found that helped with any niggles from sitting at my desk all day or sitting on the floor with my toddler. Hello to my 30s. 

I started building that, and some other ideas, into each day. I played around with the order of things, and what was most important if my daughter were to wake up earlier than expected.

Think of three to five things you’d like to do in the morning before your day kicks off and start slowly moving your alarm clock back to accommodate them. 

Try it for a week and if it doesn’t work for you, mix things up the following week until you find a flow you enjoy.

Do something for yourself first thing

This concept is a major factor in becoming a morning person.

Whether you work full time, have a family, or have a number of other commitments each day, if you get up and launch into those tasks first thing, it likely won’t set your day up to be centred and purposeful.

I take around 20 minutes to meditate and do self coaching with my coffee ahead of my day starting. Old me wouldn’t have believed I’d have the energy to do this in the morning, but now, I know I won’t feel myself if I don’t do these things.

It’s good for my mind and body and sets me up to move on to my busy day.

Expect your brain to argue

This all sounds great, but what if your alarm goes off and you a) hit the snooze alarm or b) start the desperate bargaining for how you can stay in bed?

Can I exercise tomorrow instead?

Can I call in sick?

Can I cancel all my plans and stay in the warmth?

In one of my favourite personal development books, The Happiness Trap (read my review here), Dr Russ Harris talks about distancing yourself from your thoughts.

As you’ll know from my content, I constantly remind you that our thoughts are not necessarily the truth. If you can name the thoughts or watch them from a distance, they will likely be easier to deal with.

For example, you can name the thoughts you go through each morning (“Here comes the ‘you really need to stay in bed’ story again”) or mentally stand back and watch your thoughts drift by from a distance.

This loosens their power and effect on you and helps pull you out of the intensity of your feelings.

Becoming a morning person isn’t always a quick process, but choosing to enter your days in a good frame of mind is a skill you will have for life.

What would you like to add into your morning routine this week? Can you set your alarm a little earlier so you have more space in your morning?

Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear.