6 Morning People Share Their Secrets for Feeling Awake First Thing in the AM

Last Updated On October 19th, 2023
6 Morning People Share Their Secrets for Feeling Awake First Thing in the AM

Key Takeaways

  • Adjust Your Bedtime: To adapt to an earlier wake-up time, consider going to bed earlier than usual. By gradually shifting your sleep schedule, you can accustom your body to waking up at the desired time, reducing the struggle to get out of bed in the morning.
  • Understand Your Sleep Cycle: Recognize the different stages of the sleep cycle and identify the time when you are in the lightest stage of sleep. Utilize sleep tracking apps to pinpoint the most optimal time to wake up, ensuring that you rise feeling refreshed and energized.
  • Opt for Energizing Wake-Up Practices: Choose an alarm tone that is invigorating rather than jarring. Consider taking a cold shower upon waking, as the cold temperature stimulates the release of adrenaline, which enhances circulation and cognitive function. Engage in activities that excite you, whether it’s playing an instrument, completing a small task, or participating in light exercises.

If getting up early seems as horrible to you as, say, getting a root canal, you might marvel at those morning people who bound out of bed the second their alarm goes off.

Where are their magical, morning-loving powers coming from? And how can they possibly be in such a good mood?

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Chances are, you’ve heard the standard advice about getting exposure to natural light or exercising as soon as you get up in order to feel more awake. But if those things aren’t quite cutting it, don’t worry. There’s still hope.

We spoke with seven self-proclaimed morning people to find out about the things that make their dawns enjoyable—and energized. Take a tip or two from their playbook, and see if you don’t have a (slightly) easier time getting up tomorrow.

Go to bed extra early.

This is more of a temporary trick than a long-term strategy. But if you’re trying to “change your clock,” then you have to spend time actually working on it. Practicing going to bed earlier than usual is a good method to get used to getting out of bed at a new time.

The point is to practice the act of being awake and active at your target wake-up time, so you don’t have to spend the first 20 minutes of the morning trying to open your eyes. Since you went to bed so much earlier, chances are, you’ll naturally wake up earlier.
-Ken Immer is the President & Chief Culinary Officer of Culinary Health Solutions

Know your sleep cycle.

There are five stages in the sleep cycle, and we go through each stage several times throughout the night. The easiest time to wake up and feel refreshed is during the lightest sleep stage.

I’ve discovered that my lightest stage of sleep occurs between 5:00 and 5:30 AM. I can wake up at this time alert and ready to go. However, trying to wake up at 7:00 AM is like torture for me.

Sleep tracking apps can help you find your sweet spot quickly. That way, you can set your alarm to wake you up when you’re in your lightest stage of sleep.
-Wesley Bradley is an Online Marketing Specialist at Vend

alarm clock on a bed
The easiest time to wake up and feel refreshed is during the lightest sleep stage.

Pick an alarm that isn’t the worst.

Being jolted awake by a blaring radio or robotic beep is never pleasant. So set a fun and energetic tone for your alarm instead. It’s a small change, but it can make a big difference in how you feel about starting your day.
-Brianne Ewell is the owner of Cor Collective

Hop straight into a cold shower.

Hot showers are more relaxing. But cold ones will help you wake up. That’s because cold signals the release of adrenaline, an energizing hormone released by the adrenal glands that improves circulation and enhances long-term memory.
-Jared Heathman, MD is a Houston-based psychiatrist

Channel your inner Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Find something to get excited about. It’s a lot easier to get out of bed with a smile on your face when you greet all of life’s moments with a smile.

Since by best friend Jessica and I are fitness bloggers, we jump out of bed with some stretching and light exercises, down a glass of water, and immediately get something small crossed off our to-do list. I can comment on 10 photos on Instagram—and build relationships with 10 potential readers!—in the time I used to spend smoking my first cigarette and brewing a pot of coffee.
-Michael Noker is the co-founder of the Get Two Fit blog

Engage your brain.

What I do first thing in the morning is play the piano. It’s fun and it’s something I look forward to. Plus, playing an instrument has been shown to engage several areas of the brain at once—including the visual, auditory, and motor cortexes—so it gets my mental capacity going. It’s like a workout for my brain.
-Gene Caballero is the co-founder of GreenPal


About the author

Marygrace Taylor is an award-winning health writer for Amerisleep. Her commitment to sleep health is evident in her ability to consistently prioritize eight hours of sleep each night. Her in-depth interviews with industry experts, such as Ken Ceder on "Why Light is Essential for Great Sleep and Optimum Health," highlight her dedication to delivering valuable insights. Marygrace's work has been featured in reputable publications like Business Insider, Glamour, Refinery29, Metro UK, and Hunker, further solidifying her expertise in the field.

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