I know what you’re thinking: You could never be a morning person. You’re either wired that way or you’re not, right? A few years ago, I had that same philosophy. I would stay in bed until the last possible second, I almost enjoyed the mini competition with myself each morning to see how quickly I could get ready with the little amount of time I had. Although I became a master at getting ready in record speed, which is something I am still proud of to this day, it didn’t exactly serve me. My days began rushed, without thought or intention, which in turn, caused stress, anxiety and that horrible feeling of being disheveled that I had to carry around with me all day. I needed change. I realized I needed to somehow make myself a morning person, if it was at all possible. And, I’m happy to say, it is. Now, don’t get me wrong, getting out of bed every morning is not exactly something I look forward to, but I’ve created a routine that works for me and makes me feel ready to take on the day before I leave the house. This routine has turned into something I love, and it fulfills me each day. I now like to wake up an hour and a half to two hours before I need to leave the house. Here are nine ways I transitioned into loving my mornings. These ways are extremely personal to what works for me, so take it, leave it or just keep sleeping.

1. Coffee

This is what gets me out of bed in the morning. This is actually what keeps me functioning most hours of the day. The first thing I do when I stumble out of bed is somehow make it to my Keurig, make myself a bold cup of coffee and sit at the kitchen table. I am one of those people who likes to enjoy my coffee in a nice big mug, especially my first cup of the day. It warms me up, helps my mind get rejuvenated and it’s by far my favorite way to start the day. Now, there have been multiple “health” debates discussing whether or not coffee is good for you, and to be honest, you can keep them. Coffee has only affected me positively, and in moderation, it is more than fine. I decided long ago since I’m a healthy person, I make good choices, but no one can convince me to ditch my coffee. Seriously. However, if coffee isn’t your jam, I still suggest a warm beverage to start your day since it hosts a variety of benefits for your body. Tea, lemon water or decaffeinated coffee, if you’re watching your caffeine intake, are all great options. A warm beverage first thing you wake up aids your digestive system, increases your metabolic rate and helps with memory.

2. Breakfast

Eat breakfast. Just do it. It’s the most important meal of the day for a reason! I never used to eat breakfast back in my “sleeping in” days, and now, I don’t know how I functioned without it. It is so important for your metabolism, health, focus throughout the day and weight control. I’m not saying you should eat an unhealthy breakfast, which would definitely have opposite effects, but at least try to eat a little something after you wake up. A meal with protein and healthy fats is ideal to start the day. For me, a favorite of mine is a veggie omelette. You can slowly train your body to crave breakfast, and overtime, you will be hungry upon waking, which is a good thing.

3. Journaling

I love to write. I write everything down. My thoughts, my goals, to do lists, everything. I have about six journals for different aspects of my life, and sometimes, it still doesn’t feel like enough. Every morning I write down intentions, a few things I’m grateful for, long and short term goals, my schedule and what I need to accomplish in the day. However, if you’re not crazy about writing and still want the benefits of journaling to start your day, I suggest the Five Minute Journal. It takes three minutes in the morning and two at night. You write down three things you’re grateful for, what would make the day great and one positive affirmation. There have been multiple studies showing the correlation between expressing gratitude and overall happiness. Trust me when I tell you, writing all this down will positively impact your mood, and what better way to start your day?

4. Vision Board

In my room, across from my bed, I have a cork board filled with pictures of goals, quotes and people who inspire me. I call it my vision board. I’m sure you’ve heard of something similar to this, as it is very popular for goal setting and manifesting your dreams. This is a great reminder of what I want out of life and certainly motivates me to get out of bed in the morning! I will even take my coffee into my room and sit in front of it some mornings and just give it a quick look. It’s fun to create, and you can make it your own; do whatever works for you!

5. Music

This is a huge one. Music gets me in an amazing mood to start the day, but of course, it has to be the right music. I created a playlist filled with random music that pumps me up, makes me happy and makes me feel I can conquer the day. I call this my “feel good” playlist, and if you want to hear the most random assortment of music you’ve ever heard in your life, you can find it on Spotify. I suggest you make your own personal playlist since music is so subjective. The genre of music doesn’t matter – it’s how it makes me feel – and that playlist is filled with songs that never fail. I usually have music playing the entire morning as I’m getting ready, journaling and doing a few yoga poses.

6. Yoga

I could preach about the benefits of yoga until I’m blue in the face. There are so many energizing, invigorating poses that will get your body and mind awake. I usually do at least five poses in the morning to start my day to get my body warm and moving. However, it’s always important to stay aware that you are tight from being asleep for hours and you need to be gentle with yourself first thing in the morning. My favorite morning go-to practice is about 10 minutes. I start off in child’s pose, transition to cat-cow, table top variations and then into a few Sun A vinyasas (downward dog to forward fold to flat back, to fold, to rise, to fold, to plank, chaterunga back to down dog) and then to Sun B vinyasas (downward facing dog jump to forward fold, flat back, fold, utkatasana, flat back, fold, back to plank, chaturunga, upward facing dog to down dog to warrior one on the left and right) until I feel I’m ready. I also like to include crescent lunge twists most mornings with my knee on the floor since I’m not quite warm yet, and an assisted bridge pose is always a good option for energy. If these poses sound like Greek to you, there are a plethora of amazing sources online that can get you into a morning practice if you’re interested.

7. Plan out what you need the night before

This is a tough one for me, and it’s something I still need discipline with. When I actually commit to planning out what I need the night before, my mornings are a breeze. Plan exactly what you’re going to wear, lay it out, pack every little item in your bag and whatever else you may need for the day. Have your bag packed and ready to go before you go to bed the night before. It makes such a difference, saves you time and solves the issue of running around in the morning looking for something you can’t find (which happens to me too often).

8. Go to bed earlier

If you’re going to be waking up earlier, you need to go to bed earlier. Sleep is so important for your overall health and happiness. It may take your body time to adjust to the time switch, but eventually, your body will find its rhythm, and I promise, it will be worth it. In college, especially with my major, it’s incredibly difficult to get the recommended amount of sleep, which is eight to 10 hours, but it is something I’ve worked to make a priority. When I don’t get the sleep I need, I’m tired, gloomy and cravings set in. If falling asleep is something you struggle with, try turning off electronics at least an hour before bed. Putting my phone on airplane mode really helps because I don’t feel I need to look at my phone if it happens to buzz. I’ve also found meditating before bed has had amazing effects on my insomnia, and if you’re interested in developing a nightly practice, there are plenty of guided meditations on YouTube, and some of my favorite meditations are from Deepak Chopra. Bottom line, if you’re going to be waking up earlier, you need to go to sleep earlier!

9. Give yourself a day

If this is at all possible, which often times, I know for my schedule and many busy college students, it isn’t. If you can, give yourself a day on the weekend to let yourself sleep in as late as you want. Don’t set any alarms, don’t make plans for the early morning and go to bed with the satisfaction the night before that you will let your body take as much time as it needs to sleep. When waking up early during the week seems daunting, there is a little voice in the back of my head with a countdown until my sleep-in day, and it makes the morning seem way more doable. Sometimes, on my “sleep-in day,” I end up only waking up an hour or two past my early weekday alarm, so I listen, and I start my day. In contrast, after a busy week, sometimes I can sleep until noon! It’s all about listening to your body and giving it what it needs. I would like to address the notion that some people may feel that sleeping in until noon is lazy. It’s not! Doing that every day would be lazy. Not giving your body the rest and sleep it deserves is quite honestly irresponsible. Sometimes in college, I feel as though a lot of us pride ourselves on being tired or running on no sleep. How can you expect to be your best self when you’re always exhausted? It’s OK to be kind to yourself; in fact, it's essential. So, give your body and mind a break once in a while!

I hope this article was helpful for those who find mornings difficult. It takes a few weeks to really get into your own routine, but it has changed my day to day life for the better. Trust me, if I can make the transition into a becoming a morning person, you can, too! Find what works for you and stick to it.