Tips to Wake up Early (and feel happy!)

Waking up early during the winter can be incredibly difficult. Opening your eyes at 6 am and tiptoeing to the kitchen while even the sun is still asleep can seem nearly impossible, especially when it’s -22˚C outside. Whether you have to go to work, a super early workout, a busy day ahead, or a little one that requires your attention, it’s never fun to be pulled out of bed. Generally, I tend to be pretty grumpy in the morning, and having to wake up at dawn doesn’t help my case at all. Of course, if you have an early wake up call, you can always use the drastic method; throw off the blankets as soon as your alarm goes off, hop in a cold shower, get dressed immediately, down several cups of coffee, and be out the door before you can even say “potato”. Personally, I don’t like to start my day being traumatized, so I prefer a much cozier approach. Here are a my top tips to start enjoying waking up with the sun.

Wash your face as soon as you get out of bed
Going to the sink as soon as my feet hit the floor is really not my favorite thing, but I find that it really helps, especially on those days when you can barely find the energy to drink your coffee. The trick is to use a face wash that has a fresh and reviving smell, like citrus or mint. We all know I’m a big fan of the Neutrogena Oil-Free  Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub. As soon as it touches my face, I instantly feel alert and ready to take on the day. Moreover, if the idea of splashing your face with icy water at 5 in the morning doesn’t appeal to you, you don’t necessarily have to use cold water. I tend to use lukewarm water, but I always make sure to splash my face, as opposed to using a washcloth. Splashing water, I find, is what truly wakes you up.

Leave some time to hit the snooze button
Some people like to set their alarm an hour earlier than necessary, and then hit the snooze button for an hour and a half, resulting in one possible hour of good sleep transformed into an hour and a half of mediocre sleep. That goes without mentioning the rest of the house that’s being prematurely awakened by the incessant noise. That’s definitely not the technic I’m suggesting here. However, I do think it helps to plan enough time in the morning to be able to get ready without rushing. Make sure you have time to check Instagram in the morning, if that’s what you like to do, or read the paper, make some eggs, or even squeeze in a little workout. Accordingly, make sure you have the time to get ready the way you want to. That little extra 15 minutes spent on doing your makeup or meditating is going to make you feel good all day, and that is no luxury. I like to set my alarm about an hour before I have to leave the house, and that usually gives me enough time to wake up progressively and start the day feeling amazing.

Drink up
Unless you’re setting an alarm every hour of the night to gulp down a glass of water, you’re probably waking up really dehydrated. Some of the “early morning symptoms”, such as feeling groggy, having a dry mouth and having no energy, are actually due to dehydration, and not the fact that you just woke up. That’s why it’s super important to drink fluid as soon as you open your eyes. That can be lemon water (see how to use lemon water to have radiant skin in my Secret Weapons for Radiant Skin - Part 2 post), tea, coffee, juice, a smoothie… Basically anything that’ll provide hydration. The best is to drink a glass of water before breakfast, as that has been proven to have very many benefits.

Have a cozy outfit waiting for you
If the mere thought of waking up and getting dressed immediately gives you a rash, then don’t do it! Before going to bed at night, prepare a cozy outfit for you to throw on when you wake up, like a fluffy robe, big fuzzy socks, or your favorite hoodie. Place those items right next to your bed, so you can grab them as soon as you wake up. It makes you feel like you’re carrying your bed around for a little bit, and it allows you to stay warm while you’re having breakfast or washing up. When you feel ready and a little more awake, then you can change into regular clothes and face whatever’s out there. My favorite robe has a hood, and I cannot live without it. It is a staple for those freezing winter mornings. I strongly recommend it.

Prep as much as possible
I’m sure you’ve all heard this before, but it truly is one of the best ways to ensure you have a smooth morning; prep everything you can the night before. For me, that includes making my lunch, packing my bag, and sometimes I even lay out my outfit for the next day. You can also make your breakfast ahead, like overnight oats or a fruit parfait. That way, you only have to grab it from the fridge when you wake up.

Being rushed in the morning is no fun, and it’s often what causes us to feel down and generally not happy when we get out of bed. Thankfully, there are some things we can do to make early mornings brighter, less stressful, and generally more enjoyable. These are some things that I like to do and that I find work really well, but please share your own top tips down below in the comment section, so we can all become early birds together.

Until next time.

Much love,
-TM-