Are you more of a morning or night person?
Most of us usually have a strong hunch of our answer to this question.
Early research between 1969 and 1972 discussed findings of introverts having earlier peak times than extroverts. When I recently discovered a new company, Casper Mattress, who are all about providing the best night sleep and they strive to be morning people, I got curious about my own morning person habits as well as what works in general.
On face value, it seemed likely to me. My husband who’s more of an extrovert would always have more energy than me after work in our early careers.
For most of this early research, there is usually some age variable, which skewed results more in favor of age instead of personality factors. Often there is a statement about older people needing less sleep than younger people, so rise and shine.
Tell that to either, my 90-year old dad, and my 88-year old mom, and they might disagree. They both love sleeping in and napping during the day.
Being more of a morning person hasn’t changed for me becoming older although you can also find research to the contrary. Funny thing about some research: often we can keep looking for research to find evidence supporting our position.
If you want to be more of a morning person for any reason – be happier, be more productive, have a routine you love to start your day, enjoy the sunrise, or something else, here are
Top Ten Tips to How to Be More of a Morning Person
Wake up easier.
1 – Before you bolt out of bed, to go a hundred miles an hour – lay there quietly scanning your body. Take some slow breaths and bring in the quiet in your room for just a minute or so.
2 – Turn on lights slowly and use the dimmer control (get at least a bathroom or kitchen one installed if you don’t have one) to invite the light in rather than blast yourself with it.
3 – Develop a morning routine to your liking. Mine is one of quiet so that by the time the day starts I’m ready to take it on. Mine is to start with prayer, a Bible reading, gratitude statements, and meditation. That’s what I call a power hour. [Tweet “Find a morning routine that excites you to get out of bed early.”]
4 – Consistency is what makes my morning leap easier. You might know a lack of consistency from best of exercise plans that don’t happen? Whether it’s the weekend or we travel or vacation, I am up, without an alarm clock, no later than 5:30 am. Sometimes an uncomfortable room we’re in has me up earlier.
5 – Try different things whether it’s a light box or a routine until you find something that helps you be more of a morning person. Several studies suggest morning people are happier and more productive. Don’t you want to benefit that way?
Sleep better.
6 –Avoid screens after 9 pm – no television, no computer, no cell phone, no screens. Have you heard this suggestion before? Screens are the kind of stimulation that add to that tired feeling in the morning. In today’s high tech world, what activity doesn’t involve a screen of some sort?
7 – Cut back on mid-morning coffee. I can hear cries of anguish now, “No! Not that!” I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker. Just 2 cups before 10 am seem to energize me for the whole day. Any time I’ve had coffee later in the day, I’m over stimulated through the evening.
You may have heard of research supporting my personal findings, differently: coffee gives extroverts more of a boost. That’s the funny thing about research, again. [Tweet “Know how you react to coffee so you can manage it to be a morning person.”]
8 – Turn the thermostat down. You may need research to back up this claim: we sleep sounder with the temperature around 68 degrees. It took me research to buy into my husband’s claims about this, but it is true. Closing blinds both keeps the bedroom cooler in the warmer months and helps block any remaining sun.
Manage sleep or morning better like this.
9 – Try a coach or a mentor. Sometimes we need outside motivation, or accountability. A fresh set of eyes and ears in helpful in uncovering our blind spots or false and limiting beliefs.
10 – Manage the new wake time. How much earlier do you want to get up regularly? Whatever the timeframe is, then start with a lesser amount and build up.
Bonus tip: Reward yourself. Rewards or congratulations can be a simple, silent “congratulations, you did it,” stated to yourself. Or, tell someone else how well you are doing with this new habit.
[Tweet “We’re given a brand new canvas every morning so why not paint it as a happy morning person”]?
Are you a morning or evening person? There’s a quiz if you want to find out.
If you have a morning routine, what do you do?
Great tips, I am not a morning person at all. Takes me forever to get out of bed.
I will disagree with cutting back on coffee, NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY MY COFFFEE.
I do agree with not having coffee later in the day, if I drink any caffeinated drink, coffee or soda, after 5 PM I am up for the night.
Weird thing is, my parents use to drink coffee BEFORE they went to bed, and slept soundly all night long/
Just to be sure William: do you have any hesitation to saying NO in general to coffee??? Only kidding you know!
I think if we know our tolerance to caffeine, we can let that be our guide for sure. I have a low tolerance for it so it was a quick decision to know what to do about it.
You’re not a morning person – do you want to be? Why or why not?
I’ve never really been a morning person. Most of the time, I just work my schedule based on my peak times. Although I have to admit there are times when I wish that I would be able make a change, especially since I realized that much of my problems with time management seem to be linked to that.
if you know you need more time in the day – ie, you comment about problems with time management linked with the morning – then start small, and gradual with steps that get you up say first, 15 minutes earlier, then 30 minutes, and then early enough to give you the time extender you want. Thanks Adele.
I’m definitely not a morning person but I try to be. I workout at night but I would love to change it up to the morning. I just don’t have the energy to get out of bed. I get up at 5:30 am, send the hubs off to work and get back into bed.
I always tell myself, I’ll rest for a little bit but then I fall asleep and when I wake up it’s 7am. I know I could have used that hour and a half productively but I can’t get moving.
These suggestions you shared sounds like they would be helpful for me. Right away, I have to implement the “no screen after 9pm” rule. I work until 11pm at night, longer if my hubs works at night.
Thank you for sharing this Patricia. Have a great weekend!
Cori
Love knowing the tips work. Corina please give an update when you’ve been a few days into “no screen after 9pm” and if it makes any difference for your morning person desire! Thanks.
I must be odd! I can and do, sleep day or night, blinds up or down, it makes no difference.I don’t drink coffee any more since I became diabetic [just can’t handle it without sugar!] and switched to unsweetened tea. As I am often to be found at the keyboard until 2-2.30am i usually rise at about 7 for a cuppa and some toast then a ‘Grannienap’ at eleven or twelve for three hours. As far as working and brightness of attitude is concerned it makes absolutely no difference. Morning or night I’m still a miserable old bugger!
Chris how astounding! So one could say, are able to juggle day and night or are, an ambi-sleeper! So truly unique, don’t you think? Thanks so much for letting us know another way other than either/or exists.
Am defenitely not a morning person, never have been and only would become one if it’s absolutely necessary. Great suggestions though. Catch is my results would deteriorate if I started getting up early. Have tried it ever since I was at school, in vain.:-)
Having said that it’s definitely easier to be a morning person because society is built around starting early.
You know people more extroverted tend toward being more later day people! So Catarina, can I say, I’m not too surprised you’re not in the morning camp?
I’m fortunate in that I have always been a morning person. This was problematic when I managed bar a light-year ago, as I had to work until 2:00am. I did it for 3 years and it never felt quite right:) But I love watching the sun rise every day. That’s my meditation… seeing all the hope and promise in those pink clouds.
I can so relate to THAT pain Jacqueline. Ions ago, my husband and I managed a karaoke business. We were frequently up until 2/3am. I was usually good for nothing the next day. Aaahhh – do I see the sun almost rising?
I have always considered myself a morning person, but in the last few years that may be less the case than it was (or my definition of morning is moving forward a couple of hours). Great tips.
Indeed interesting Donna – sounds like you somehow have a built in day-extender. BIG need for those! hahaha
Am I a morning person? Yes – I have to be up by 5.20am so it helps. If you had asked me this question ten years ago, I would have said no.
Ten years ago I had no children and a fairly easy going life. Fast forward to the present day, I have two young children, work full-time with a long commute, am a church leader, run a blog and a make up business!
I have more of a zest for life as I now know my purpose. Each morning I wake expectant and excited about what God has in store.
It would be extremely difficult for me to stop using my mobile/laptop after 9pm. I only have the late evening to work on my blog/operate my business.
You know I betcha 5:20am daily wake up would be killer is someone were NOT a morning person. But for me, that hour is blessed – as long as my extrovert husband doesn’t wake up early for some reason. He starts with the noise of the television and I start with the silence of the sun coming up.
I suppose you’d only need to look at the need to stop using screens after 9pm if you needed to get up before your 5:20am hour since you’re quite acclimated to it.
No quiz necessary, I know for sure I am NOT a morning person.
It makes sense to me though, that if you are an extrovert and are energized by being with people that you’d have more energy in the evening after being with people all day. But if you get your energy from being by yourself then morning would be the time when you’ve just had the most refreshment. As for me, I have to get my morning energy from caffeine!
Yep Meredith, I think that kind of nails it: my guess is that if someone more introverted is able to take that quiet morning time and charge up for the day, that would be their ticket. My extrovert husband gets up later and — goes later full steam!
Hi Patricia,
I’m definitely a morning person. I am always up between 6 – 7 pm on any given day and yes, I love my coffee, lol…
Although I do have a cup on the afternoon.However, it’s usually an hour or two before a good workout and gives me a little extra energy for the weights. Trust me, after a hard workout sleep at 10 pm is easy to come by, lol…
The thermostat, that’s a big deal. On muggy or warm nights I just can’t sleep no matter how tired I am. The ac unit must come on because once it does I sleep wonderfully!
I really enjoyed your insightful post and hope that you have an incredible week Patricia!
~ Don Purdum
Don I think on a muggy night, I’d have the ac cranked cooler whether I was getting up early or wanting to sleep in. But that’s a great point that if we don’t take care of our surroundings for comfort on that kind of a night, it won’t matter how tired we get – we likely will find it difficult to fall asleep.
I have to say it’s hard for me to find a piece of advice here that I follow. I drink coffee all day and am usually on a computer until midnight. When I wake up, I do indeed bolt our of bed.
I’m sure if you made a decision to BE a morning person Ken, you’d either take an idea here or find one somewhere else. Nothing happens, nothing moves forward for us, until – we decide. Bolt on!
I’m pretty good about this one : ) I love the early morning, it’s so peaceful and it’s when I’m most creative. However, sometimes I miss the.” window” at night for getting to bed. then I’m doomed, Once I get that second wind I’m up until 2 or 3 in the morning and the next day is shot.
I couldn’t say for sure Pamela, but more can ask: what causes you to “miss the window” for getting to bed? Because it may be something you just want to make a decision to avoid, or do. Thanks!
Very interesting Patricia but I sure don’t need a quiz to tell whether I’m a morning person or not. All my life I’ve been an early bird, normally rising by 4am at the latest – though with the heat of the summer it’s often closer to 3am. I don’t even own an alarm clock and even when I was traveling to other countries I pretty much always kept the same biological schedule without effort or planning. I do enjoy the occasional afternoon nap, mostly during cool rainy weather when I can curl up with a good book and my dog. Otherwise some days I feel a bit like that stupid energizer bunny.
Who needs an alarm clock when we are ready to bolt out of bed Marquita! Ahem – well those of us who are morning people. I thought rain signaled to everyone – time for a nap? Hmmm. I got that one wrong. hahahaha
I tend to be a morning person too. I like to start my day with a routine that gets my day off on the right foot – nice breakfast and conversation with my husband, having my plan laid out for the day and sometimes week.
That definitely helps me to feel more at ease. My assistant said she likes to start her day off with old reruns of Leave It to Beaver or The Andy Griffith Show vs. the horrible morning news. Puts her in wonderful frame of mind before heading out to face the reality of the world as it exists in 2015. Whatever works for you! lol
What a great sounding substitute for the dreaded morning news Susan! I love it. I have to find one of my favorites and then give that a try. Thanks for a great tip addition.
Case in point, I am really horribe about avoiding screen time at night, but I keep aiming to get better at that. I wake up at 6 am most days and have no problem getting out of bed, but I drag my feet about starting work (which is easy to do when freelancing). A routine does help, but it’s always a struggle. Even though I’m “awake” my brain doesn’t kick into top gear until 1 or 2 pm.
If you think it’s procrastinating, rather than not being a morning person Jeri, either 1) you’re waiting around to start for a good reason or 2) you want to find a reason to get started sooner and turn those dragging feet into a hop, skip, jump!
Hi Patricia,
I’m definitely a night owl by nature by I’ve learned, the hard way, the importance of getting up and doing things early in the day.
I have to work on my morning routine because if I don’t have anywhere to be, it’s slow moving.
I found that getting to bed a decent and consistent hour helps me to be a better morning person. I really try to avoid electrontics after 9pm, but I can’t lol. But I do makesure I unwind before bed.
~Lea
Slow moving in the morning sounds perfect for someone with introvert tendencies. Are you more introverted Lea? Or is it as you say, because you have no where to be?
Who said – there is no try – either you do or you don’t. Yoda I think. lol
Unwinding before bed is another perfect direction to a better morning.
I think it’s a bit of both. I do have tendancies of an introvert and then there are times when I’m very productive in the morning without having to be anywhere. Gotta sort that out. lol
~Lea
Lea, if you want to be empowered by knowing more about introvert/extrovert tendencies, there is this url – digitalcitizen.ca/2011/02/20/free-personality-assessment/
Free, and because I’ve taken both the MBTI a few times and this free close to it assessment, I can vouch it is quite accurate.
Thanks for the link! I’ll take a look at that.
I can tell you that I’m *so* not a morning person. Despite giving it my best shot over the years, nothing seems to work. My most productive time seems to be at night, I’m like a member of the Addams family – I love the dark. However, I’ve made it work for me, splitting up my day into productive chunks. I’d like to blame the cats, who love to cuddle in bed for as long as possible, but that would be too easy …!
It is what it is Krystyna – AND the best thing is that even though you are not a morning person, night person works well for you. Bravo! Drive on.
You have to sleep well to be a morning person. Sleeping well requires the minimization of any and all distractions that may keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. You’ve identified some of these distractions – an irregular sleep schedule, caffeine, device screens – but you haven’t said anything about ambient noise, so I’ll say a few words about that.
Noise is a relatively unimportant issue if you live in a house and are therefore physically separated from your neighbors but it’s a crucially important issue if you live in an apartment and are therefore in close proximity to your neighbors. Before moving into an apartment complex you should seek out several of its residents and ask them: “How noisy is it here? Is it sufficiently quiet such that you can get a good night’s sleep every night?” If you can’t get satisfactory answers to these questions, don’t sign that lease.
Andy thanks for bringing in the noise factor! And so you know, my husband and I do live in a house with quite a distance for neighbors and no neighbors at all on one side. Still to your point, if you tend to be a lighter sleeper as I am, noise from anything might cause someone to wake from a sound sleep, and then it could be difficult to get back to sleep. This can make for sleeping in later. Thanks so much for bringing this up!