It’s not easy to find people who love to wake up early every morning. But for adult learners, it’s a matter of necessity. Whether you have to jump out of bed to jet off to work, pack for class or get your family in gear, there are a few tried and true methods for shaking off that dreaded grogginess.
Here are five morning rituals to help jump-start your day:
1) Stop hitting snooze
When it’s still pitch dark outside and the alarm howls across the cavernous expanse of your bedroom, nothing feels better than hitting snooze. However, sleep researchers agree that the snooze button is probably bad for you in the long run. Not only does snoozing disrupt your circadian rhythms, but also can decrease your quality of sleep. While hitting the button might be a tough habit to break, instead strive for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night, then get up the first time your alarm wakes you.
2) Exercise
Besides being good for your general health, moving around first thing in the morning is great for your metabolism and cognitive functioning. Plus, prioritizing a workout before the day takes hold will help ensure that you don’t find reasons to skip the gym altogether. Your body and mind will thank you.
3) Don’t go straight to your phone
A lot goes on in the world while you’re catching some z’s. When you get up, it’s easy to go straight to your phone or computer to see what’s happening. Of course, once you get going, you’re bound to fall down the rabbit hole. Before you know it, you’ll have to catch up to start the day on time. Unless it’s urgent, try to hold off until you have some free time to kill.
4) Stay consistent (even on weekends)
Sleeping in every once in a while is a treat, but if you dramatically alter your sleep habits over the weekend it can make it difficult to readjust. The more consistent your routine the better. So while being a slugabed may seem appealing, keep in mind you’ll be back at it bright and early on Monday.
5) Find your passion
It’s certainly much easier to get out of bed when you’re motivated to do something you enjoy. Whether you love cooking and wake up earlier to whip up an awesome breakfast or are passionate about photography and try to capture a majestic sunrise, the morning hours are the perfect time to utilize your creative energies and go into the rest of your day with a feeling of accomplishment.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2022 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
