How to become a morning person… when you’re not.
4 minute read
I had a friend reach out to me and ask “how can I become more of a morning person? I like to sleep in but it’s not really conducive to having kids!”
And although there are some things that we just can’t change about ourselves or about our situation, there are some things you can do to help yourself like mornings a little more. Under the headings below, I included a bunch of tips and links to resources that you might find helpful.
Please share this page with anyone who you might think would benefit, because however you choose to spend them, your mornings are so important!
This is important: read through for ideas on what to ADD to your mornings to make them easier if it works for you. But also keep in mind that MINIMIZING “things” in your morning might be exactly what you need. If you only take away one thing from reading this article, hear this to like mornings more:
Eliminate as many decisions and tasks as you can in the morning. You don’t need to wake up at 5 am and jump to “do it all” every day to be a good parent.
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If you can eliminate all of these, read on below…
1. Your kids’ sleep habits
I don’t think anyone should be waking up before 7:00 am if they don’t have to! You do not have to accept that you’ll just never get a full nights’ sleep for three years. In fact, if it’s not happening now, it might go on much longer than that.
Hiring a certified pediatric sleep coach can be absolutely essential for a family. I can help you teach your child to LOVE sleep and stay in their room on their own until it’s a decent time to wake up. If you can teach your child the skill of independent sleep and what to do to keep themselves occupied before your family’s day begins, you can count on this important factor to be taken care of in support of holistic wellness and harmony in your home.
2. What do your nights look like?
Is there something else interfering with your ability to sleep? Do you sleep next to a partner who snores? Is there a giant street lamp pouring light into your bedroom or noisy traffic outside? The worst is when the neighbors can’t keep it down…
3. What do your days look like?
Do you hate going to work every day? Is it time for you to implement some boundaries with a certain person in your life? Are you experiencing environmental stress that can be changed? Think about how important it is to choose to live a life that you love every day.
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Sleep helps us heal and take care of ourselves properly, and healing and taking care of ourselves helps us sleep better. Click here to check out some more self-care tips on my Instagram post about Momsomina.
But consider all the factors that might need some attention and adjustments below. If you were to consult with a professional, these would all be part of the assessment before any treatment could happen. Click the links to learn more.
Are you getting proper nutrition and vitamins? Check out this post about magnesium and sleep!
Alcohol and caffeine - possibly 100%
Overall mental health - PLEASE reach out to a professional. I have some great names I could refer you to in Calgary and online.
Sleep issues - sleep apnea, insomnia, other sleep disorders etc.
Are you struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder? This is really common in Canada. Talk to your doctor and check out this article on SAD Light Therapy.
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Plan how you’ll wake up BEFORE you go to bed so there are no surprises. Plan to reduce and uncomplicate the number of decisions and tasks you need to complete every morning.
Tidy up your house and feel good about walking into a clean kitchen instead of chaos.
Lay out your clothes - everything down to your underwear, socks, jewelry, etc.
Make things easily accessible - ie. keys and shoes ready by the door, make a lunch and prep breakfast etc. Think: is there anything you can load into the car for the next day? Do it. You’ll thank yourself later.
Keep a notebook somewhere handy so you can ‘brain dump’ any ruminating thoughts before you go to sleep.
Communicate with your family. Empower your kids to be independent. Keep a consistent routine so everyone knows what’s happening every day. The less questions, the better!
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After taking care of all the things I’ve written above, don’t let your kids’ early wakings and morning chaos ruin it!
You cannot have a child jump on you with crazy energy and depend on you to meet their every need inches away from your face from the minute you wake up for an extended period of time. They love you so much and you love them so much, but this start to your day is not fair, considerate, or helpful, and I’m telling you, it’s not okay. There are things you can do!
Learn to set boundaries with your kids and say no in loving ways. Help them know that it’s not that you don’t love them. Everyone needs to be okay with Mom and Dad saying no sometimes.
Work toward some independence for them in their own sleep space until you’re ready to engage and be the best parent you can be. Check out this blog post here for help with this.
Wake up slowly. The end.
Try to wake up at the same time every day and keep the same routine.
It’s like shaking the dust off to get all your body systems started. This can be 10 jumping jacks, a hot and cold shower, mouth exercises, dry brushing your body (thank you Melissa Maker), facial massaging, etc.
Play the same playlist every day and include enjoyable scents that you like every morning.
Eat a nutritious breakfast to literally break the all night fast you just endured. This helps to clear the brain fog and gets everything in motion for a productive day. Seriously people, fuel your body!
Create a gratitude list in your head.
Have a cue in your routine that helps you remember to do this - when you’re drying your hair, pouring your coffee, brushing your teeth, driving, etc. Make sure it includes things you can look forward to.
Make it fun!
You can keep it chill and slow but if you hate your morning, it’s really hard to get going. Look forward to a daily ritual to create connection with your kids or a partner, or a ritual just for you.
My friend created an awesome coffee set up in her home and she makes an over-the-top special drink every day. She loves it. Another friend has a dance party with her kids as they’re getting breakfast on the table and it makes them all happier people. Make time to just chill and think about nothing for a moment, meditate, chat casually with your partner, or think of some goals for the day.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
Don’t compare yourself to other people who get up at 5 and “do it all”. Just keep mornings simple and make sure they work for you. Maybe you need an autopilot morning every day and that’s completely okay. Don’t feel guilty. What can you set aside to think about or do later in the day?
The end. Remember the important part… always do what works best for you. And if you need help to like mornings better, eliminate as many decisions and tasks as you can in the morning. You don’t need to wake up at 5 am and jump to “do it all” every day to be a good parent.
Any advice offered by by Keara Moore at Wonderland Sleep Co. should not be counted as medical advice. Please seek help from your doctor if you have a health issue to address. Read my terms and conditions here.
