Best 5 AM Morning Routine Tips You Probably Never Considered Trying That Will Help You Beat Sleepiness And Tiredness!
There are many videos and blog posts you probably already came across, on how to wake up early in the morning, and have that aesthetic morning routine…
It’s all about those fitness girls portraying their effortless self-care morning routines that seem like they came out of a fairytale movie, making us all envy them 😆 Then, we decide to try the same! And the reality is … you wake up, all groggy and exhausted, not in the mood for anything, or even just snooze the alarm, and go back to sleep.😆 Yeah, I know that feeling!
Any beginning is challenging unless it is done repeatedly and firmly. If I wasn’t dedicated and eager enough to improve myself, I wouldn’t be able to adapt to it. It all starts with you and your mind. Your willingness.
Waking up earlier in the morning has many enormous benefits, starting with the fact that it allows you to do and finish everything you don’t have time for if you consistently wake up around 8 or 9 AM, to get in better shape, and have much better mental health!
How waking up at 5/6 AM changed my life…
- allows me to have more quiet time working on my projects and blog
- brainstorm some of the best ideas early in the morning
- meditate in total peace while everyone is still sleeping
- helps me do more things because it feels like time flows slower when you get up early😆
- exercise and get my body in better shape
- become a more productive person, calmer, optimistic, and simply happier…
What waking up at 5/6 AM allows me…
- to have a more calming, quiet self-care time to sit with my thoughts and observe them
- plan the whole day if I forget to do it the night before
- slowly get ready
- get out and take a calming walk in nature, connecting with my inner self…
1. start slow and steady
You don’t have to get it all done immediately. Just start. I know it all seems kind of daunting and demanding to adjust to, but baby steps are crucial!
If your body is already accustomed to waking up at 8 AM, it’ll be a little harder, in the beginning, to jump from 8 AM to 5 AM straight.
You’ll probably manage to do it for approximately 2 days and then fall back to the old routine. To avoid that, start slow and steady. Listen to your body.
For the first 3-7 days – try waking up at 7.30, then for the next 3-7 days – try waking up at 7 AM, and eventually, you’ll come to 5 AM or your specifically desired time frame! Just give yourself time! You’re not rushing anywhere!
2. don’t use your phone for at least 30 minutes before bed!
Yeah, I don’t think there are many exceptions among us, the ones who don’t like to check their phone and scroll through TikTok before falling asleep. 😆It’s always those 5 minutes, and „Let me check for a second what’s new on Instagram“ – and it suddenly turns to 1 hour!😆
I know how much it’s tempting, and it seems to be an inescapable and hard habit to break but trust me, it’s definitely worth it!
I’ve noticed that not using my phone at least 30 minutes before my scheduled bedtime helps me gradually unwind, relax and prepare my mind and body for a good night’s quality sleep!
The phone emits blue light which can disturb our internal body clock and interrupt our circadian rhythm, keeping our minds engaged and alert, not giving it the proper time to gradually prepare for sleeping.
Research has shown that the blue light from cell phones affects the production of melatonin, the hormone that induces sleep. Normal melatonin levels rise just before bedtime, but blue light decreases those levels. This makes falling asleep more difficult because you are more vigilant, alert, and not as sleepy as you typically would be.
3. sleep in complete darkness!
According to a study, turning off nighttime artificial light sources like TVs, radio clocks, and light coming from streets may also benefit your heart and blood sugar levels.
As coauthor Phyllis Zee, M.D. says, “Your subconscious is aware that there’s light and there’s something going on, and it’s keeping you a little bit on watch. Your fight-or-flight system is more activated.”
Practicing turning off all the sources lights in my room has significantly helped me calm my mind, and body, relax entirely and slowly fall asleep. When it’s dark outside, our bodies create more melatonin, a hormone that helps us sleep more quickly.
4. set a goal that makes you want to excitedly jump out of bed in the morning!
Setting exciting and motivating goals that make you want to jump out of bed in the morning is what will drive you the whole day!
Think about that one thing that you can start your day with as the main priority. If you make a to-do list the night before and list all the daunting tasks you need to get done the next day, it’ll just frighten you and make you anxious and unmotivated.
So, even if I have those intimidating tasks to get done, I prefer not to always start with them first thing in the morning. If you can, schedule them for later. Make your morning self-care routine one of those inspiring activities that will excite you and motivate you to get up! Just think about all those eagerly awaited feelings it’ll create!
Just imagine how good it feels dedicating your time, and spend it taking healthy care of your mind and body. Meditating, journaling, going for a walk in nature… it all requires some free, quiet time, and it’s worth it! It should be enough motivation to get you up in the morning excited!
5. Going to bed before midnight is the key!
You’ve probably heard this adage before „Every hour of sleep before midnight is worth two after midnight.“ The reason for this is that after the sun sets, our circadian rhythm, or internal biological clock, alerts our brain that it is time for sleep.
It seems reasonable that sleeping in accordance with the circadian rhythm would help to promote deeper, more restorative sleep because our circadian rhythm is crucial in the control of many bodily functions, including the generation of hormones, blood pressure, and body temperature – according to Dr. Nerina Ramlakhan, a sleep expert.
I know it seems kind of impossible to adjust yourself to that sleep rhythm, and it was pretty hard and inconsistent for me in the beginning, but I managed to do it because of my unbeatable persistence! And, you can do it too!
Just think about all the hours you can spend for self-care early in the morning, and how rejuvenated you’d feel if you let yourself get some extra quality sleep!
Be determined to change for the better and you’ll succeed!
6. a cup of Herbal tea before bed To calm you down!
A cup of peppermint and lemon balm tea always gives off that calming, nourishing, and shooting effect, which makes it a perfect part of my self-care night routine! I simply can not imagine my morning and night routine without a cup of tea with honey and a few drops of lemon!
Here are some of my favorite teas I always use as a part of my daily routine!
Peppermint – is known for its cooling properties, improving energy, helping with digestive problems, allergies, and clogged sinuses, alleviating menstrual cramps, and freshening your breath.
Linden tea – it’s rich in many vitamins, antioxidants, and essential oils. It can calm anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve digestion. It also has strong sedative properties that can soothe your whole body and help you sleep better.
Chamomile – is good for digestion, quality sleep, sore throat, and the immune system, and according to healthline.com “It contains apigenin, an antioxidant that binds to certain receptors in your brain that may promote sleepiness and reduce insomnia, or the chronic inability to sleep.”
Lemon balm – it has calming, sedative effect; helps with insomnia, boosts mood and cognitive functioning, and helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
7. be consistent and set a realistic hour window!
Training your body to get up early requires performing the behavior repeatedly, just like training your body to perform any other activity. Your body will eventually begin to create “natural alarms,” making waking up progressively easier!
Every day, for me personally, the time must fall within a 30-minute frame. If I want to wake up at around 6 AM, I need to go to sleep between 9.30 PM, and 10 PM.
Set your specific and most appropriate time frame and stick to it. Be determined and consistent. Your body needs to adjust to your preferred wake and sleep hours, so as consistent as you can be, the quicker your body will naturally start waking you up at that time!
8. put your phone across the room and set the irritating music/song alarm!
I’m serious. Throw your phone across the room and don’t use it at least 30 minutes before bed! It is so that your body can gradually unwind and prepare for sleep!
This is probably the best, and the most helpful one!
Setting an irritating sound, or a song that’s so loud and makes you want to start dancing immediately should be enough motivation and something that will immediately wake you up!
I realized that „Danza Kuduro“ is my go-to alarm song! 🤣It may sound weird, but it actually makes me leap out of bed and alertly, excitedly wakes me up! 🤣
So, find your own song that makes you either jump out of bed to dance to it or the one that irritates you so much that you have to get up and turn it off!
10. raise window blinds immediately when you get up!
Letting natural light, the first rays of sunlight into your room is crucial to signal your body that it’s time to wake up!
I noticed that by raising my window blinds immediately after waking up, I am giving myself the needed tranquil time to calmly get up and prepare for the day!
Any kind of lighting indoors at night appears to deter you from falling asleep, so opening your windows straight when you get up will allow your body to gradually adjust to daylight, and also give you that nurturing feeling of sunshine!
11. forget a coffee first thing in the morning!
I’ve never been an obsessive coffee drinker, nor has it ever been necessary for my day to run smoothly. But, all of my friends literally can not live without coffee! Especially in the morning to get their sleepy, groggy mind into action and business mode!
Even though the sweet taste of coffee in the morning is tempting, coffee actually tends to increase your cortisol levels! It is also known as the “alertness hormone,”, and can make you more awake and aware, but also agitated and anxious!
According to Dr. Breus, a sleep doctor, since sleeping is our dehydrative mode and we lose almost a liter of water every night – before consuming any other liquid, it is recommended to first consume 20 to 30 ounces of room-temperature water!
12. make yourself a healthy, energy-boosting breakfast.
You already know the fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day… As your body is working diligently to digest the meal you had yesterday while you sleep, so it’s craving fresh food by the time you wake up!
Protein, slowly processed carbohydrates, healthy fats, and some fruit or vegetables make up a good, balanced meal! It could be oatmeal, eggs, pancakes…
Here are some of the amazing energy-boosting recipes you can choose from!
13. stretching/yoga
Preferring some yoga or peaceful stretching in the morning with nature, zen, and relaxing sounds in the background can make the whole experience even more delightful and soothing!
Any stress or pain from the previous night’s sleep might be eased by stretching first thing in the morning! Also, it benefits in boosting blood circulation and getting your body ready for the day.
Stretching lengthens your muscles and relieves stiffness. Moreover, stretching might trigger the release of endorphins, which are known to reduce pain, and boost circulation – according to healthline.com!
14. motivating videos/speeches
Listening to motivational speeches, videos, or podcasts can give you hope, increase your inventiveness and decrease your fear and nervousness.
It can give you new insights on various topics in life, and motivate you for the rest of the day! Having some evidence of how some more successful people have tackled similar issues before can help us and inspire us to do the same!
Here is one of my favorite motivational videos and affirmations, which I listen to regularly in the background as I do my self-care morning routine! It’s full of positive morning affirmations to help you raise your vibration and prepare for the day ahead!
15. meditate before bed to calm your mind and body
Practicing mindfulness meditation every day, especially before bed, may improve both your physical and emotional health, which can help you feel quiet, peaceful, and in balance.
By concentrating your attention on something peaceful, you can also utilize it to unwind and manage stress. Expand your self-awareness, find your inner peace, and slowly calm down your body and mind preparing yourself for good and quality sleep!
According to healthline.com, there are many amazing benefits of meditation:
- Reduced stress
- Relieved anxiety
- Enhanced self-awareness
- May reduce age-related memory loss
- Cope with addictions
- Relieves pain
- Reduce blood pressure… and much more
So, my friends, those are my 15 tips on how to wake up early in the morning and not feel tired at all! It’s definitely not an overnight success, and it might take you a while to adjust your body to your new schedule, but it’ll absolutely be worth it!
Try, and see how your body reacts!
Let me know in the comments if you have already tried it and how it is going! 😀
Stay healthy, happy, and safe. See you in the next blog post!
DISCLAIMER! I do not own the photo on this post. Special thanks to https://kaboompics.com/ for the beautiful photo!
