I guess this post is a little unfair of me because I’m naturally~ a morning person, but I realize that a lot of people are not. Unfortunately for you night owls, the American working society kind of forces you to become morning people so might as well embrace it for what it’s worth vs. dreading getting out of bed (which morning people sometimes hate too, believe it or not).

There are a lot of articles out there on “how to become a morning person,” and I can guarantee that they probably go a little something like this:

1. Don’t hit snooze & get out of bed immediately.
2. Spend 15 minutes stretching/doing yoga/bullet journaling/some other thing you probably don’t have time for.
3. Eat a hearty, full breakfast that you most likely don’t want to make/will make you late.

Listen. Even as a morning person, I’m calling bullsh*t on all the “morning person” articles. No one in their right might can JUMP out of bed as soon as their alarm goes off (I certainly can’t) nor does the normal human being have the time/energy to do like 15 different activities AND get ready for work AND cook a full breakfast every morning. I’m all for taking back your mornings (once in a while & in an enjoyable way!), but for everyday, routine mornings here are some realistic suggestions on how to become more of a morning person. 

Pack your bags the night before

This is a little bit of a no-brainer, but still worth stating. Having all your ish together the night before will save you a lot of heartache in the morning. I always make sure my gym bag is set, lunch is packed & purse is in order before I go to bed. Trust me, I know, it’s a hassle, but it’s a lot easier to grab a fully packed bag and go vs. grabbing random work out clothes in your morning haste, only to realize you packed one sneaker.

Allow yourself time to wake up

I’m so anti no-snooze-rule. Like I am very much against it. Yea, sure, I’d to love to open my eyes at daybreak and JUMP out of bed like a damn jack-in-the-box and start my day. But that is SO unrealistic. I personally need TIME to wake up. I think most people do.

This is what I do: I set two alarms, a half hour apart. My first alarm goes off, I turn it off, and rest for a half hour. My second alarm goes off. By that point, I’ve woken up gradually. I spend a few moments in bed scanning my emails/catching up on my texts (I know this is BIG TABOO but I don’t care, it relaxes me, bye). And then I get up. I’m so much happier and actually AWAKE than if I had leapt out of bed.

If you’re a no-snooze, get up at first alarm type person, great. If you’re like, “Kasia, if I give myself a half hour between alarms, I’m DEFINITELY falling back asleep,” don’t do this method. My point is, find a way to let yourself gradually wake up instead of shocking your system from being asleep to being wide awake.

Plan an EASY breakfast that you actually want to eat

I actually love breakfast foods. Give me all the bagels, eggs, pancakes & pastries. I’m always ten times happier when I eat a real breakfast vs. scarfing down a KIND bar on the way to work. Now, I’m not suggesting you spend 30+ minutes preparing a full breakfast every morning. That’s ridiculous. But try making some things ahead. I love this Egg Muffin recipe (& you can freeze the leftovers!) or try some healthy breakfast cookies. Buy some croissants or bagels from your grocery store. Make your own yogurt parfaits. Again, no need to whip up a whole brunch-worthy meal every morning, but plan some quick & easy breakfasts that you’ll actually enjoy.

Put your coffee pot on a timer

If you have a traditional coffee pot, put it on a timer so you can literally wake up to the smell of coffee. How lovely does that sound? If you don’t have a coffee pot, make a cup of coffee in your Keurig as soon as you wake up or if you have a little extra time, do it in your french press. Coffee is one of the best things about the morning. Cherish it.

If you can, work out

Ugh, I KNOW you didn’t want stereotypical “morning person” advice but working out in the morning actually does energize you. I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules, this is just science. Yes, it’s hard to drag yourself out of bed in what feels like the dead of night to make a 6am yoga class, but afterwards, you’ll feel like a GD rockstar & completely kick a** the rest of the day. I recommend actually getting OUT of your apartment to work out–sign up for a class or physically go to the gym. Working out in your apartment sounds* great in theory, but are you really going to leave your cozy bed to do yoga on your sad yoga mat in the living room? Probs not.

Solidify your morning routine

Or make one. In the wise words of Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye (a true icon), “You’re worth investing a few minutes in. It’s not vanity, it’s self-care, and there’s a difference.” I love getting ready in the morning. It makes me feel calm & collected as I start my day. Make sure you save yourself enough time to do the basic self-care things: wash your face/skincare routine, brush your teeth, do you hair/makeup. Don’t skip out on these things–it’s important to take care of yourself! And it doesn’t have to be an elaborate process. 5 minutes for yourself is better than nothing. Plus if you feel like you’re pampering~ yourself a little bit each day, it’ll make your mornings feel more luxurious and less laborious.

I know that everyone is not a natural morning person. But we could all make our mornings a little more enjoyable. Have any morning tips? Leave me a comment below! &.