Life Hacks

How to become a morning person

For many of us, working from home continues to be the new normal. For many others, we’re being encouraged to return to work if we’ve encountered a period of not being able to. Whatever your situation, it’s natural to feel lack of motivation with a change in daily structure. It can also send us into a morning lull, and we may find ourselves sleeping in more than we used to. However, during these moments of uncertainty, maintaining a routine is key.

Alister Gray, Executive Leadership Coach and Mindset Expert, explains that ‘routines bring a level of certainty and security amidst a time when uncertainty can often feel overwhelming. Daily routines help us to stay focused, maintain productivity and feel fulfilled by activating the reward system in our brains when we complete tasks.’ Alister, who is also Founder of Mindful Talent, adds that waking up early allows us the time to prepare ourselves for the day ahead. But what if the thought of an early start sends fear through your veins? And routine seems impossible? Here are some great tips from experts to try…

Fuel your brain to focus: Nutritionist Jenna Hope recommends eggs, as the yolks contain choline, which is pivotal for supporting memory, mood, and cognition. As well as eggs, enjoy oily fish and nuts. Protect your sleep: Euan MacLennan, Herbal Director at Pukka Herbs and Medical Herbalist at an NHS practice in London, says: “Research shows that side-effects from herbal medicines for sleep are rarely experienced, particularly compared to over-the-counter medicines. Some of my favourite natural remedies to support sleep include ashwagandha, valerian and oats – which naturally contain Tryptophan, helping to regulate our bodies circadian rhythms.” Try meditation: Yoga and meditation teacher, Kirsty

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9. upon waking: “Feel the calm, the peace, the presence. This one pause will make the biggest shift to your day and all that follows.” Listen to inspiring people: Kirsty also recommends listening to podcasts or audio books from some of the world’s most inspirational people: “‘Allowing their words to infuse and shape your day can be really beneficial, particularly if you begin your mornings listening to their positive mantras.” Bring bedtime forward: Lucy Gornall, Personal Trainer at DigMe Fitness, says the big secret to being a morning person, is simply getting to bed earlier: “I go to sleep between half 9 and 10 and find that getting up at 5 is barely an issue as I will have had at least seven hours sleep.” Reduce the negativity: Alister says we should focus on all the things that are great in life: “We have over 70,000 thoughts per day; it’s suggested up to 80% of these thoughts are negative in their nature as our brain constantly scans and searches for threats in a bid to keep us safe. Try to give yourself a set amount of time to read the news. When time’s up, move on and focus on Gallagher, recommends meditating for five to ten minutes

something else- ideally something happier!” Write it down: Journaling as part of a morning routine is a great way to delve deeper into your motivations, asking questions such as, ‘What would make today great?’, ‘What am I grateful for today?’, and ‘What inspires me most in life?’ Set a wake-up intention before bed: ”Take a moment to make a pact with yourself that you will wake up earlier tomorrow than you did today, and then in small increments each day, work towards the desired time.” Move your alarm: Lucy says that placing your alarm across the room means you have to physically get up to turn it off. “When you’re up, stay up, and crack on with the rest of your day!”

WANT SPARKLING

Put a few drops of baby oil onto a soft cotton wool pad or ball and rub into the stainless steel. Hey presto – not a smudge in sight!

WHAT’S BETTER –A TUMBLE DRYER OR AN AIRER? STAINLESS STEEL?

In terms of cost, tumble dryers use a lot more energy and are therefore more expensive to run, so keep costs down by using an airer. However, the problem with airers is that when you allow your clothes to dry naturally inside, it can cause condensation and damp. The best bet? Use a tumble dryer if it’s wet weather and when there’s sun, use the airer to hang clothes to dry outside. If you need to dry them indoors, try closing the door of the room they’re in and leaving a window open to help with air circulation.