Blogger and self-confessed non-morning person Beth Sandland shares her tips for acing miserable winter mornings...
I am not a morning person. Try as I might, I seldom spring out of bed with a certain joie de vivre, so when the world outside my window is dark, frosty and frankly a bit miserable, crawling from beneath the warm, crumpled sheets is practically mission impossible.
Sadly, spending the day in bed binge watching Grey’s Anatomy just because it’s cold and bleak outside isn’t an option, so instead I’m sharing my top tried and tested methods for making winter mornings that bit easier to bear.
1. Invest in a wake up light
Sunlight alarm clocks wake you up gradually with warm, glowing light so that by the time your alarm goes off, you’ve likely already stirred and you’re opening your eyes to a bright, sunny room. It’s a far kinder way to wake up than being plunged into consciousness by a loud sound in a pitch black room.
2. Put an alarm clock on the other side of the room
Alternatively, if you need something a bit more hardcore to get you moving first thing, force yourself out of bed by placing an actual alarm clock – yes, you heard me right! – on the other side of your bedroom. Rather than setting multiple phone alarms and allowing yourself to snooze between each one before dragging yourself up at the last possible moment, set a proper clock for the time you actually need to get up. More sleep, and the fact you have to actually get out of bed to silence it means you’re less likely to crawl back under the covers.
3. Set your central heating to a timer
Nothing says ‘grumpy’ in the morning like stepping out of bed onto icy floors before shivering your way to the bathroom like Jon Snow trekking north of The Wall. Put your central heating on a timer so that your home is toasty when you wake up; trust me, getting dressed is far more pleasant when you can’t see your breath.
4. Make your bed immediately
Remove the temptation to dive back between the sheets by making your bed virtually as soon as you stand up. It’s easier to get ready quickly in a tidy room too!
5. Jump straight in the shower
I’ll never understand people who don’t shower first thing in the morning, not least because it’s such a vital part of waking up and feeling fresh and ready to face the day. Invest in some nice shower gel with an energizing morning scent (mint, lemongrass, grapefruit etc) and allow the water to wash away the grogginess.
6. Make a get up and go playlist
Fill it with feel good tunes that are the kind of vibe you want to emulate throughout the day. Bonus points if you listen to it whilst showering!
7. Get your body moving
If you can’t think of anything worse than exercising first thing in the morning, or if you simply don’t have the time before work, that’s totally okay. It doesn’t really matter how, just get your blood circulating and your body moving. A good dance around the kitchen (see above playlist!) whilst your coffee is brewing is enough and it’s guaranteed to put you in a better mood.
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