Easy Things That Will Magically Transform You Into A Morning Person

"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." - Benjamin Franklin

Being a morning person has been proven to be one of the best ways to boost your health, career, and overall lifestyle. That's part of the reason why morning people seem so sunny, right?

For most of us, being a morning person is just not happening. Or, rather, it's not something that comes naturally to us. Though we all tend to do best with a little early sunshine in our lives, it can take a little bit of work to get into the natural rhythm of things.

If you want to reap the rewards of being a morning person, try these quick tricks to make it happen.

Drink a lot of water before you go to sleep.

There's an old trick that a lot of people have used to ensure they wake up unusually early: drinking a large glass or three of water before you go to sleep. Because water runs through our bodies in a pretty predictable way, your body will "process" the water faster—and you'll wake up early needing to pee.

The funny thing about this is that waking up to pee forces your body and mind awake. So, you end up feeling naturally awake and alert without much effort on your part.

It's also a good idea to invest in an alarm clock.

Set it at the same time every day, and you'll naturally acclimate to waking up around that time. 6 AM is a good time to start, if you're looking to become a serious morning person.

Sure, this might not be the easiest thing in the world, but it will pay off in the long run. Oh, and for the record, studies advise people who want to become morning people against pressing the snooze button.

Sleep in the dark and leave a window curtain near your bed slightly open so sunlight can peek in.

Thank evolution for this cool trick! Light naturally signals our brains that it's time to wake up—just like dark tends to signal that it's time to go to sleep. By leaving your window curtains slightly open, you make it possible for light to enter your room.

The light will give you a gentler, more gradual wakeup call; which in turn, will make you a little bit less jarred when your alarm starts to ring. Studies also shows it helps balance your Circadian rhythm.

Go out for at least 30 minutes per day for some fresh air.

If you haven't noticed, there's a theme going on here. A lot of "night owls" are night owls because their biological clocks are off-kilter. Guess what else tends to knock things back into place? If you guessed fresh air and exercise, you're absolutely right.

Around 30 minutes per day of outdoor activity is all you need to get a better sleep during the night—and also wake up earlier in the morning.

Slowly shift your sleep schedule so that you go to sleep earlier.

Ben Franklin was right about that "early to bed" thing. Earlier bedtimes will give you a full night's rest. And when they're shifted to an earlier time over a period of weeks, you won't even notice it. Doing this will also help you keep the habit, rather than rebound.

A good way to start is by going to sleep 15 minutes earlier than usual for one week, then adding another 15 minutes earlier to that time after another week.

Unplug an hour before bed.

If you think that all the light shining from your cellphones won't mess with your body's natural sleep rhythm, you're wrong. Studies have shown that technology lighting does, in fact, cause sleep disruption and Circadian rhythm imbalances.

A quick way to readjust your sleep patterns is to just stop using your phone, laptop, and TV an hour before sleep. Just spend the time reading a book, prepping tomorrow's breakfast (overnight oats, anyone?), or just relaxing in a bath.

Savor your mornings.

It's way easier to be a morning person if you actually savor the time you spend in the morning. The reason why is because you'll start to see waking up early as a prize, rather than a chore. Believe it or not, it is possible to look forward to waking up early in the morning.

When you're waking up in the morning, make a point to have something nice to do right when you hop out of bed. Have a nice cup of coffee, dance to a song, or just do a little something for yourself. You'll be surprised at how much better you feel.

Do 5 minutes of exercise the moment you wake up.

For most nightingales, the last thing they'd ever want to do when they wake up is exercise—but they totally should. Scientific studies have shown that a brief stint of light exercise tends to get people feeling awake, alert, and happy.

Exercise also has been shown to help people feel motivated throughout the day. So, it's a morning ritual that's good for both your mind and your body.

Establish a bonding routine with family members during those morning hours.

A lot of families struggle to find time for one another after 5 PM—and that's pretty terrible for all parties involved. That's why so many experts say that the morning is the best time to get in touch with the people closest to you.

Speaking as someone who does this on a regular basis, the best time to bond is during breakfast. Together, you and your family can establish a productive but quality routine that will help you get the most of your time together.

Lastly, make a point of making your mornings as happy and stress-free as possible.

You know that phrase, "woke up on the wrong side of the bed that morning?" There's a bit of truth to that. The way you feel in the morning tends to frame the way you feel throughout the day—and that energy can last well into the night.

Making your mornings stress-free goes beyond savoring it, though. It reaches into the point where you may have to consciously apply yourself in becoming relaxed. If you're the type to get stressed in the mornings, giving meditation a shot is a good way to unwind and get your mind right.

When all else fails, just remember that today is a new beginning, and anything can happen.