7 Ways to Become a Morning Person

Tip #1: Move your alarm clock

If you’re well acquainted with your snooze button, you know all too well that the gratification those extra 10 (maybe 20, 30, 40) minutes provide is very short-lived. While the temptation to snooze is strong, the reality is you won’t get much more quality sleep – most likely you’ll wake up feeling stressed because you’re running late. Move your alarm clock to a place that will force you out of bed when you have to turn it off; that way you can cut out the unhelpful snoozing and get on with your day.

Tip #2: Stick to a routine

Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day will help your body clock get into a consistent rhythm. Make sure you’re allowing for around 8 hours of sleep and with a bit of practice, you’ll start waking up with more energy, maybe even without an alarm. If you have trouble getting to sleep, incorporating a natural health supplement, such as magnesium could help.

Tip #3: Make the most of natural light

Natural light and the vitamin D it contains, triggers your brain to wake up so try opening the curtains as soon as your alarm goes off. People who live in countries with less daylight hours are more likely to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can leave them feeling lethargic constantly. In New Zealand, we’re much luckier, so soak up as much natural light and vitamin D as you can during the day. If you struggle to get outside enough, taking a Vitamin D3 supplement can be a really helpful, convenient option.

Tip #4: Drink less alcohol

The sedative effect of alcohol leads a lot of people to believe that a nightcap is helpful before bed. The problem is that often alcohol disrupts your sleep, waking you up in the middle of the night, causing you to create an inconsistent sleep pattern. Try a herbal tea before bed instead and wake up feeling much more refreshed.

Tip #5: Have a reason to get out of bed

It’s hard to make yourself get up when you don’t have a good reason to do it. If you like to start the day with your blood pumping, book a gym session, organise an early walk with a friend or go for a run – physical activity in the morning wakes up your nervous system and leaves you feeling more alert. If you’re a bit of a foodie, make something you love for breakfast – eating a nutritious brekkie will give your body the energy it needs to function mentally, physically and emotionally. Or connect with your our mind and body through some pilates, yoga or meditation. Whatever is going to make you look forward to getting up and getting your day started, do it.

Tip #6: Relax

Getting the best possible quality of sleep is important when you need to get up and go. It’s essential that you allow time to unwind before going to bed in order to achieve this. When you’re constantly on the go, your adrenalin and cortisol levels surge, making it really difficult to fall asleep. Taking the time to have a bath, do some yoga or read a book before bed will allow those hormone levels to drop, and you to fall asleep (and stay asleep) more easily. 

Tip #7: Turn the lights down low

Another top tip for quality sleep is to turn down (or off) any bright lights 30 minutes before going to bed – that includes TVs, phones, tablets and computers. Bright lights reduce melatonin (the hormone that makes you feel sleepy), so by allowing half an hour of gentler, lower light, you can let your hormones do what they need to do to allow you to go to sleep naturally. Supplementing with 5HTP can also help to naturally increase your serotonin and melatonin levels.



You don’t have to be born a morning person to kick off your day in a positive way. Incorporating a few of these tips could help you to love your mornings, even in the depths of winter!

Monday is often the hardest day to get out of bed with a full week of work ahead. Like the Good Health Facebook page and get some inspiration with our Monday Motivation.