How to Deal with Mornings When You Aren’t a Morning Person

How to Deal with Mornings When You Aren’t a Morning Person

Some people are morning people and some are night owls. I am a morning person; this means I can be up by 4 a.m., stay busy until about 3 p.m., and be ready for bed by 7 or 8. I get my best work done before noon! But my eldest daughter, for example, can be up until 3 a.m. and sleep until noon, then be ready to hit the day. But with a child, or a job that requires that you “do mornings”, here’s how to deal with mornings when you aren’t a morning person!

• Prepare as much as you can the night before:
  • Pick out your clothes for the next day and lay them out to make it easier to dress in the morning. This goes for the kids too! Plus you avoid the “I don’t know what to wear” argument!
  • Pack lunches for the next day, whether this is for yourself, your husband and/or the kids. Then you can grab them right from the fridge and head out in the morning.
  • If you haven’t already done so, go through your child’s backpack. They may have papers you need to sign or sheets of information you need to know about. This is the perfect time to take care of these things so you won’t miss an important date.
• Get enough rest:
  • Not everyone needs 8 hours of sleep, some need more or less. Find out what works best for you and get to bed on time! This goes for the kids too. It’s especially important they get enough sleep to be able to focus and learn in school.
• Alarm Clock:
  • If you aren’t a morning person, you probably don’t depend on waking up on your on and still be on time. So set your alarm clock but don’t keep it next to the bed where you can slap snooze and roll over. Try the dresser’s top across the bedroom.
  • If your kids need help as well, look for digital clocks that either wake up with a soft, soothing sound that gradually gets louder, or even one that has a light that imitates the sun rise to help their bodies adjust to getting up.
• Avoid feeling rushed:
  • Give yourself enough time to take care of yourself before you wake the children. If you have enough time, try to pray or meditate for a few minutes. This will help you start the day with a sense of peace and calm before all the hubbub starts.
• Play music:
  •  Put on your favorite music to get you moving. If you have peppy music playing, you’ll be surprised how much you can get done and how good you’ll feel doing it!

I get that not everyone is a morning person. I am, but my teenage and adult children are a mix. I think we change when we become parents because most children seem to be ready to go before the sun comes up. But, regardless, I think with just a few small adjustments, you can at least face mornings without a sense of dread because you’ve made it easier for yourself ahead of time.

Have any other tips or tricks to add to the list?