Becoming a Morning Person

Let me start off by saying that this is not for everyone. While being a morning person sounds great, you really want to find what works best for you. Figuring out your most productive hours and really focusing with no distractions during this time is what makes for the best study session. Since I get asked so often for tips on being more productive in the morning, I thought I’d share some pointers on getting an early start!

1. Make small changes. You can’t expect to get used to waking up 3 hours earlier overnight. Start by setting your alarm an hour earlier than when you usually get up and slowly get your body used to waking up earlier and earlier.

2. Sleep early. Waking up early starts with turning in early. You know how much sleep your body needs for you to feel refreshed the next day, so figure out when you need to be in bed by to get up at your target time and commit to going to bed then.

3. Plan your morning. Going to bed knowing what you’ll be doing when you wake up can really help motivate you to not hit the snooze button on the alarm and focus on accomplishing those tasks from the start.

4. Choose a study location the night before. I find that getting myself ready in the morning and out of the house to a nearby cafe really helps give me something to look forward to when I wake up and sets the mood for a productive day.

5. Create the right environment. If you’re waking up early to be productive, get rid of any distractions around you so you can just focus. Also appreciate and use the silence that the morning brings to your advantage - this is my favorite part of getting up early!

Hope you find these tips helpful and feel free to share what works for you whether you’re an early bird or night owl!