5 Steps to becoming a Morning Person - Day 11/90

Gone are the days when we could stay up until the sun rises and sleep until noon. Welcome to adulthood! To my fellow night owls who have been trying to be an early bird for years, this ones for you.

I've always been a night owl. I'm talking staying up until 4:45 am with just 15 minute to log off of AIM and say goodbye to my Runescape friends before my mom came downstairs to start her day. Once I grew out of that phase, it turned into staying up until 2 am doing homework and texting my friends, and getting 4 hours of sleep before I wake up and just barely catch the bus. Ever since I developed this habit, it has been such a struggle to get out of it.

I tried to use the excuse that, "My creativity and all of my ideas come out at night!" But that's simply not true. The reason I believed that was because I would procrastinate all day until it came to the point when I actually had no more time and literally needed to sit down and get to work. That's why my best ideas came at night... because I only let myself sit down and focus at night. Now, I'm determined to change that.

​To my fellow night owls who have ever wished they could get up early and be a part of the 5 am club, I want you to know that I am with you and I'm here to help you turn that wish into your reality.

Above are my top 5 things you need to do daily to become a morning person! Let's break this down:
1. Create a routine.
You know I am all about my routines! If you plan ahead and develop a routine that is focused around having a successful and productive morning, there's no way you can fail. Give yourself 30 minutes to get yourself ready and gather some focus food, then dedicate the next hour or 2 to working directly on your goals. Write it all out in detail to the minute. Once it's written down and on your calendar, you have to do it.
2. Prepare for tomorrow.
A big reason I've stayed up so late is because I have no plan to guide me in getting things done. Sometimes, I'll even lay awake just thinking of the things I need to do tomorrow and stressing about how I'll make it all happen. This is where preparing & planning is absolutely imperative to having a successful morning. Write all of your tasks done, and add them to the timeline of your routine. Also, get out some comfy clothes to change into in the morning so you won't miss the comfort of your bed ;)
3. Set 1 alarm & don't snooze!
Setting 1 alarm ensures that you have 1 chance to get up. If you go back to sleep (especially since you're not hitting snooze), you might not wake up in time for work, school, or any other appointment you have that day. As soon as the alarm goes off, turn it fully off and jump out of bed. Then, it's time to...
4. Make your bed.
There are so many reasons why I like this tip so much. Making your bed first thing in the morning puts you into a productive mindset and proves that you are committed to yourself and your goals. If you make your bed, you've already accomplished one of your tasks today! Also, it prevents you from getting back in it, and you have a cute, clean background for your Insta selfies ;)
5. REMEMBER YOUR WHY. 
Before you go to sleep, remember why you're doing this in the first place. Remember why waking up early, having a productive morning, and putting yourself in a routine & mindset for success is so important to you. How will your life change by committing to yourself & your goals, and getting up early to achieve them today? Whenever you want to hit snooze, remember your why again. You're doing this for a reason, and it's worth it. You're worth it.

And there you have it! 5 things you need to do to become a morning person. I hope this helps! As long as I commit to all 5 of the steps above, I make it happen and get it done. I have so much more time to focus and achieve my goals in the morning before the rest of the world is awake. If I wait until I get home from work, I'm exhausted and just want to relax. That is why mornings are so powerful.

Comment below to let me know which step is your favorite and which step will be the hardest for you. Then, we can talk about different ways to overcome your worries and get you on track to becoming a morning person!

Thank you for being you & thank you for being here,

Leah Jean

P.S. Goal check! Yesterday, I got up early! I did it! I worked on my business for an hour before my day job. I made a delicious matcha latte and treated myself to paleo Chipotle for lunch & a delicious healthy meal of potatoes, chicken, and kale with tons of hot sauce for dinner. I stuck to my skin care routine and exercised via lots of laughter with my BF :) Okay, I know that doesn't count for exercise, but I only didn't go to the gym because I was honestly enjoying my time with him so much that I made a conscious decision that staying in this moment is more important and valuable than hitting the gym today. Stay present & listen to your soul. See ya next time!