Hey, my darling! Are you enjoying the summer? I hope you are getting the most out of every extra hour of sunshine, especially the morning hours. Did you know that for my entire 20s and the beginning of my 30s, I was a night owl? I had no idea what I was missing, mainly because my old career required that I’d be up until late. Oh boy, was I missing out on some magic! Even after I changed careers & schedules, I battled with the idea of rising early for a while…can you relate?
I would literally pray to God to help me become a morning person 🙂 because I kept hearing, reading, and seeing the marvels of a morning routine in my studies, clients, and basically everywhere I looked! Several studies relate rising up early to success in various areas. For example, in a 2008 Texas University study, students who identified themselves as early risers earned an extra point on their GPAs. Harvard biologists found out that early risers are more proactive and willing to take charge to attain their goals. Randler’s research identified that morning people are more likely to anticipate problems and minimize them efficiently. That is some pretty amazing data! Beyond that, I know that when I wake up early, I have the time to do something for myself. Aka, my practice. I can meditate, practice breathing and asana, visualize my day, and eat breakfast, all without rushing. The quiet time in the mornings helps me plan and organize my day. That sets the tone for it, puts me in a better mood, and ensures that I have a calm demeanor no matter what I have to face. Overall, I’m a better version of myself when I wake up early.
Maybe you know all this, but after much trying, you just can’t seem to get there. I hear you! I tried all the tricks, but they were just not working. But after much trying, I realized I was putting the wrong energy into it. So, I’m going to share my secrets to becoming a happy morning person…
- Start gradually. I wanted to jump from getting up at 7 am to 5:30 am…yep, that’s not a good plan. Do it in 30-minute increments, when the first 30 minutes become a habit, which can take about 21 days, go to the next 30 minutes, and so on.
- Go to be earlier. You’ll never get to rise early if you keep going to bed at 11 pm. Here’s a good trick to help you get there. Start turning all your lights off by 9 pm, and do not watch TV or stare at the computer before going to bed. If needed, try a relaxing tea like Valerian, Chamomile, or lavender.
- Watch your inner dialog. What are you saying to yourself when the alarm goes off? Listen carefully because that dialog leaves clues. I would tell myself that I worked hard, so I deserved that extra hour, or that one day wouldn’t be a big deal. The truth is that if I was tired I could organize my nights go to bed earlier, not robbing myself of any sleep…and on the second excuse, we all know that one day always turns into 2,3,4 days…Try this: Listen to the excuse and ask yourself: “Who is saying this? Is it my higher self?” Can it be your ego? (hint: the answer is yes). I wrote a flash card with my intention to have peaceful and nourishing mornings, and I kept this card in my nightstand. When my mind went on this tangent, I would turn on my lamp and read it a few times to remind myself of what my higher self really wanted.
- Trick yourself into getting up. I mean it. Put your alarm clock or cell phone as far away from your bedside as possible (try the other corner of your room!). Or maybe jump in the shower right after you get up. Set your coffee maker at the same time as your alarm so the smell lures you. Get clever…! Once you get out of bed, it is much harder to talk yourself into getting back in.
There is one more thing…I must say that the wisest thing I ever heard about this subject came from a Yogi from India, who is actually a very well-known expert on yoga sutras. He taught this in a seminar about creating a morning chanting practice (I’m paraphrasing): “Don’t beat yourself up or go into a guilt trip over the hours of Brahma or whatever people say about getting up early. Instead, decide What is early for you and start there”. This is important; be realistic and kind to yourself. If you miss a day, try the next one, and maybe plan a couple of days a week when you sleep in. After all, I’m a 100% believer in the 12-step program saying, “Easy does it.” So have an easy and happy morning!
Xo,
Coach Maria Marcano
