10 Daily Morning Habits That Will Set You Up for Success - Lolly Daskal | Leadership

A bedtime routine clues your mind and body in to what is coming. It slows down your mind and helps you calm your way into sleep and allows you to awaken more relaxed.

Because the blue light emitted by electronics suppresses melatonin production, experts say to shut down anything with a screen at least a half-hour before bed, so you can begin your day feeling empowered.

Make sure your bedroom gets natural light… The darkness of night signals that it’s time for sleep, and allow the morning light to simply wake you up.

If you’re sensitive to light, even a night light or a glowing alarm clock can shift circadian rhythms. Darken your space and allow the natural rhyme to wake you in the morning.

Making a list of things you are grateful for–in your mind or on paper–replaces worry with gratitude and anxiety with calm. And it allows you to sleep deeper and awaken more positive.

Many people underestimate the amount of sleep they need. Move your bedtime to be earlier in 15-minute increments until you wake up on your own at the time you’d like.

Instead of a blare of noise, wake up to simulated sunlight–in all weather and at the same time all year.

Snooze alarms actually make it harder to get up. Do away with the “ten more minutes” mindset. And allow your inner clock to set your wake up time.

Come up with a meaningful goal you’ll be able to achieve by starting the day earlier. Knowing there’s a purpose behind getting out of bed earlier will help you stick with it.

If it doesn’t come naturally to you, the process of becoming a morning person won’t be easy. But if you hate mornings there is always a better way to become a morning person.