If you’re not a morning person, you know just how tough it can be to wake up in the morning. Night owls often have trouble parting from their cozy beds and comfortable slumber. However, you can learn how to wake yourself up in the morning with fewer slaps to the snooze button. Waking up in the morning can be easier once you adopt some ideal nighttime and morning routines.

The Importance of Sleep

If you’re like most people, you treasure your sleep. After all, it’s your time to rest and recharge your body. A good night’s sleep is incredibly important for your overall health, just as vital as exercise and healthy eating.

According to Healthline, good sleep can improve concentration and productivity. Cognition, focus, productivity, and performance all are negatively affected by sleep deprivation. On the other hand, a good night’s sleep has been shown to improve problem-solving skills and enhance memory.

Good sleep also can improve your immune function. Getting at least eight hours of sleep each night better equips your body to fight off viruses like the common cold.

Why You’re Having Trouble Waking Up

The most apparent reason why you might have trouble waking up is a lack of sleep. When you’re tired or sick, your body is going to crave more rest. This is why aiming for eight hours of sleep per night is so important.

If you suffer from parasomnias like sleepwalking and night terrors, sleep apnea, or circadian rhythm sleep disorders, getting a good sleep also might prove difficult for you. Other factors that can contribute to difficulty sleeping or waking include stress and anxiety, chronic pain, certain medications, and depression.

Best Tips to Wake Up in the Morning Seamlessly

Learning how to wake yourself up in the morning might seem like a pain if you’re not already a morning person, but it’s important to know how to wake up easier to get your day off to a good start. Here are some of the best ways to wake yourself up.

Break Up With the Snooze Button

Are you truly committed to learning how to wake up in the morning? Ignore that snooze button. The night before, tell yourself, “When I wake up in the morning, I’m not hitting the snooze button.” Lingering in bed confuses your body’s natural clock, causing you to wake up feeling less refreshed and more groggy and grumpy. 

Let in Light

Your body follows a natural circadian rhythm, and light exposure is a big part of that. Open your curtains and blinds to let that light in — it can help promote wakefulness. According to VeryWell Health, it’s best to enjoy indirect light rather than staring directly at the sun. Plus, the darker the room, the more your body will want to rest and stay glued to your bed.

Drink Some Caffeine

Who doesn’t enjoy a morning cup of joe? Caffeine consumption can be key to knowing how to wake someone up. Ensure that your coffee isn’t the decaffeinated kind. According to WebMD, caffeine pumps up brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which give you an energy boost and help you focus.

If you’re not a coffee fan, no worries — just grab your favorite caffeinated tea. Good options are black or green tea, which also has other healthy compounds. Additionally, it’s important to note that another best practice of how to get up in the morning is drinking a cup of water before your morning coffee or tea. This will help rehydrate your body and boost your metabolism.

Maintain a Regular Sleep Schedule

This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to wake up easier. Your body likes to follow regular patterns, which enforce your natural circadian rhythms. Try to define a bedtime and wake-up time for yourself to get those eight hours of sleep in. A regular sleep schedule, breathing techniques and different relaxation ways will reinforce your desire to sleep and help maintain that circadian rhythm, thus leading to a better sleep overall.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise helps keep your mind and body alert, and it’s good for your overall health. Plus, adequate exercise can actually help you sleep better at night. Get up, get some fresh air, and move.

Eat Healthily

Just like with exercising and getting enough sleep, eating healthy is equally important to your general health. Consuming processed and packaged foods, especially carbs, can put you in a slump and make you feel tired. Remember to get in your proteins, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.

Stretch

Stretching can be a vital asset in knowing how to wake up in the morning. It helps get the blood flowing to your muscles, especially if your body is stiff. Stretching also helps improve flexibility, range of motion, and endurance while decreasing the risk of injury. Plus, a good morning stretch feels great.

Wash Your Face

Another great way to wake yourself up is by simply washing your face. Try splashing your face first with cold water. This will help snap you out of your dreamy state and into starting your day on the right foot.

Change Out of Your Pajamas

Staying in your pajamas all day actually can be detrimental to your motivation and productivity throughout the day. Plus, you miss out on the great feeling of getting back into them at the end of the day.

Takeaway

Now that you know best practices for how to wake up and stay awake, you’ll hopefully have a much easier time getting out of bed in the morning and starting your day the right way. The key is putting together a routine that works for you, coupled with general healthy habits like exercise and eating right. Although you may not become a so-called morning person, in time, your body’s circadian rhythm will adjust, and you should be able to wake up feeling rested, refreshed, and ready to begin your day.