“Rise and shine” doesn’t come easily for everyone. The whole “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” thing isn’t universal, and those who slap their snooze button at least five times per morning know this all too well.

Morning people – those who pop out of bed before the sun rises and have all sorts of to-dos on their plate as millions are still snoring, are a relatively rare breed. Sure, lots of us have needed to wake up at a decent hour to get the kids off to school and make it to work on time. But this doesn’t make us morning people, at least not willingly. Sleeping in would be a dream (quite literally), but our responsibilities require us to get up, get dressed, and get going.

I wanted to become an actual morning person, not just one by default. How could I become the early bird who was authentically eager to catch the proverbial worm? I’m not a big fan of the “fake it ‘till you make it” mentality, so I had to figure out how to change my perspective and learn to look forward to rising with the roosters.

I developed some practices to help me lose my night owl status and transform into the morning person I wanted to embody. I figured I’d get more done with my day and be in a better mood. From what I had observed, the self-proclaimed morning people I knew were always smiling and never sweated the small stuff. The “lazybones” types always seemed to have a chip on their shoulders and relied on caffeine to focus and function. I was ready for a change, and wanted to be the “up-and-at-‘em” woman who would take the world by storm…all before breakfast.

Here’s what I did to become the morning person I knew I had in me. It’s not particularly scientific or anything astounding, but it helped me get over the hump, and now mornings are my favorite time of day.

 

1. First-Thing Fitness

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before you say, “Wait a minute. Not only do you want me to get up early, but you want me to exercise?!,” understand that getting your blood pumping will set you off on the right foot for a fruitful day. Not only does it get your mood elevated, but when you’ve finished the workout in the morning, you won’t have to worry about fitting it in later, or missing it altogether.

Even when I’m not in the mood to exercise, I do it. Once I get started, I realize the initial dread soon dissipates. Whether I get on the treadmill, take a brisk walk outside, go to the gym, or use an at-home workout video for inspiration, the exercise gets me energized and excited for what’s next. I’m high off the endorphins, and as I head into my day, I feel healthy and happy.

 

2. Pucker Up

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not a coffee drinker in the morning. Instead,  I reach for a glass of lemon water. I l always leave a big pitcher in the fridge, filled to the brim with wedges of fresh juicy lemon. I pour a plentiful glass and chug it when I take all of my morning vitamins and supplements.

The taste is refreshing, the sips are stimulating, and the essence livens me up for the morning. I feel the hydration run down my throat and it instantly awakens me and gives me an energy boost.

Along with my vitamins, it also gives me a dose of Vitamin C first thing, giving me that much-needed immunity boost for my body. I also find that I’m not as ravenous for breakfast when I start off with lots of water. That said, I still make sure to get my morning meal, but I can get by with a smoothie, or a boiled egg and some avocado, rather than a giant bagel with cream cheese or a too-tempting chocolate chip muffin.

 

3. Private Time

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those who have kids or even if you’re living with a roommate, partner, or spouse know that alone time is hard to come by. Privacy is precious, and when you don’t live solo, getting any is almost impossible. That’s why waking up before everyone else does is so enjoyable. You can settle into your favorite chair with a hot cup of coffee or tea, read the paper, meditate, whatever.

No one needs anything from you, there’s no noise, and you can actually concentrate on your own thoughts. If you want to just sit there and breathe, so be it. Maybe you want to be productive and get a head start on work-related items. No matter your alone time preferences, this time to yourself is priceless. Getting up before the rest of the gang is well worth the rewards.

 

Will you become the morning person I’ve turned out to be? Give it a week and see if it suits you. You may no longer tune into the late night talk shows, but you’ll be the first to get the morning news!