Adapting to a.m. hours as a natural-born nightwalker can feel a little like diving headfirst into the depths of the ocean without an air mask or flippers: It's a serious physical and mental strain. No, you probably won’t pop up like a summer daisy, wake up on the right side of the bed, and stride through your day feeling like a champion at first, but eventually, you’ll figure out how to enjoy your mornings, and those feelings of dread will subside for the most part. Trust me, it’s possible.
On that note, however, I'm not naive. I know it can absolutely seem like a stretch from your comfortable position under the covers, but night owls can learn to love early mornings, too — not just tolerate them. Self-proclaimed early bird Mandy Moore recently sat down with Huffington Post to spill the tea on how she makes the most of her time in the morning, and even though the This Is Us actress peels herself out of bed anywhere between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m., when you consider her morning itinerary, it's no wonder she loves early mornings so much.
She told Huffington Post,
I think I have a new consistency in getting up early and feeling like I really did something with my day. It’s a consistency I didn’t really have before [This Is Us].
But this is a seven-plus-month commitment that’s nonstop getting up and going. I love that and really crave that now.
The key is to make the most of the early hours at hand, rather than begrudgingly rise out of bed and continue to sulk through a shower and breakfast on-the-go. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your mornings as much as Moore clearly does.
01Ditch Your Alarm Clock
Let's be real, friends. A shock factor wake-up call courtesy of a cell phone alarm violently blaring inches away from your face is enough to make anyone loathe the mere thought of waking up in the morning.
When asked whether she's for against pressing snooze, it turns out Moore is able to forgo alarm clocks altogether because she has "always been more of a morning person than a night owl," so it would seem she has a bit of an upper hand here.
It's true that your circadian rhythm is biological, so if you're not naturally a morning person, it might just be that staying up late is in your DNA. Luckily, though, this is something technology allows us to work around.
For example, the smartphone app Sleep Cycle is able to track your sleep patterns by analyzing your body's movements in bed. By doing this, the app is able to identify what sleep phase you're in, and "wake you softly when you are in the lightest possible sleep state."
02Eat A Well-Balanced Breakfast
When her morning schedule isn't super hectic, Moore told Huffington Post she loves whipping up a full breakfast complete with eggs, turkey bacon, "and all the fixings." Amen, girl.
As cliche as it is to say, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day because it fuels your body with exactly what you need to get sh*t done. And, trust me, I'm all for everything bagels slathered with cream cheese and a coffee to go, but refined carbohydrates are a temporary solution to hunger that often lead to a crash hours later.
U.S. News Health reports that while carbs aren't the enemy here, a well-balanced breakfast is comprised of high-fiber foods like fruit, whole grains, a serving of protein, and healthy fats to keep you energized all day long.
03Sip On Something When You First Wake Up
When you wake up in the morning, your body is resetting from a total of roughly eight hours sans liquid nourishment, so the first sip of the a.m. is a crucial decision.
Everyone has their go-to morning beverage, be it coffee, tea, water with lemon, a matcha latte, or some kind of trendy apple cider vinegar tonic. Moore admitted her morning coffee's on the brain before she even goes to sleep at night, and it's definitely still at the forefront of her thoughts as soon as she wakes up in the morning.
There's no denying just one sip of caffeine can have your mind reeling, and that herbal teas soothe the stomach, but these benefits are somewhat limiting. According to LIVESTRONG, drinking a glass of lemon water first thing in the morning will not only help to wake you up, but it'll also provide your body with a bunch of great antioxidants, and assist bodily functions to ensure they're up and moving efficiently to get you through your day.
04Connect With Loved Ones Early On
As a response to what her perfect morning consists of, Moore said snuggling with her pets in the early a.m. is everything for her.
I know myself, and there's no denying I adore when my tabby cat curls up in a ball on my legs before the day starts.
According to Dr. Danielle Forshee, LLC, a little TLC from loved ones is an excellent way to start your morning right. She tells Elite Daily,
Connecting with loved ones in the morning will start your day with a very positive spin.
When we have rituals of connection with people who we love, it creates a sense of connection and positive mindset that will likely help you start your day positive and continue on a positive trend.
So whether you're snuggling with your fur baby, or stealing a few kisses from your partner, sharing a little love can absolutely amplify your morning.
05Tackle One Thing At A Time
Maybe you're not much of a morning person because the second you open your eyes to a new day, you're immediately overwhelmed by the anxieties that piggyback a hectic schedule. The key here is to compartmentalize your thoughts, make a tangible, realistic to-do list, and check off one thing at a time.
Moore told Huffington Post that in order to stay grounded, her strategy is not to look at the day in a macro sense. "I try to put one foot in front of the other and focus on one goal instead of the whole, big picture." Smart move, right?
Stacey Kaiser, Live Happy editor at large and licensed psychotherapist, tells Elite Daily that in order to tweak your morning routine and set yourself up for a happy, healthy, productive day, it's important to "get mentally organized," and tackle responsibilities only as they arise.
Rise and shine, friends! You've got this.
