‘He that rises late must trot all day’ – Benjamin Franklin

These days, I am considered an early riser – a ‘morning person’. But that was not always the case!

Have you considered the benefits you might realize should you become a morning person? 

When I first started to shift to starting my days earlier, it was so tempting to hit that snooze button. I had to be disciplined and intentional, completely shifting my mindset. I had to break my habit of snoozing the morning away.

After much research, I have come to believe that becoming a morning person is possible for anyone. It does, however, take a desire to do so as well as a specific action plan.

4 Steps Toward Breaking a Habit

  1. Identify the habit that needs to be broken.
  2. Recognize your desire to break the habit.
  3. Outline specific actions to take to break the habit.
  4. Do not give up – break that habit!

 

7 Practical Steps Toward Becoming a Morning Person

  1. Write down your intentions – what do you hope to accomplish? It is important to structure your mornings so that you have clear goals to accomplish.
  2. Have an identifier for your morning time – While some folks identify their mornings as their ‘Quiet Time’, I call mornings ‘My Investment Time’. Because this is a time that I use to grow myself and invest my life into God. If I struggle to roll out of bed, I ask myself, ‘Can I afford to not invest in myself’? The answer is a resounding, ‘No’!
  3. Motivate yourself to wake up – Invest in a good alarm clock and ensure that it is unable to be ignored! Set a timer on your coffee maker so you have a fresh, restorative cup of coffee to look forward to. Put on some invigorating or inspiring music and open the window shades to let the sun in! Whatever it takes to motivate you to get out of bed, do it!
  4. Develop a routine – In order to make the most of your morning time, establish a routine and prepare for it each evening before you go to bed. Checklists can be both organizing and motivating. Having a clear focus will help you achieve your objectives.
  5. Don’t go it alone – It is helpful to have an accountability partner. Find someone that can help motivate and encourage you in your goals and habits.
  6. Set realistic goals – Aim high, but set realistic incremental steps. Stretch yourself, but do not set yourself up for failure. Having smaller ‘wins” along the way will help motivate you to press on.
  7. Enjoy the process – This is a marathon, not a sprint. This journey does not have a finish line – you will continually reap the benefits of changing your morning habits.

 

Research suggests that it takes 21 days to change a habit. This process is a slow-cooker, not a microwave. But the results are well worth the effort. Read more about taking control of your time here.

What are some steps you can take toward changing your morning habits today?