The 3 Habits That Turned Me Into a Morning Person

For most of my life, I was not a morning person. I dreaded the sound of my alarm, hit snooze at least three times, and started every day feeling behind and groggy. Mornings were a blur of rushing around, trying to look somewhat human while guzzling coffee and half-heartedly scrolling my phone.

I envied people who talked about their peaceful, productive mornings like it was the best part of their day. I wanted that sense of calm and control, but I genuinely believed my DNA just wasn’t built for mornings.

Turns out, I was wrong.

I didn’t suddenly wake up one day as a chipper sunrise-loving version of myself. What changed everything were a few small habits I built into my mornings—simple, doable actions that helped me ease into the day rather than dread it.

Here are the three habits that helped turn me from a chronic snoozer into someone who actually enjoys mornings (and sometimes even looks forward to them).

1. I Stopped Reaching for My Phone First Thing

Let’s be honest—this was a hard one.

For years, my phone was my alarm clock, my news source, my inbox, my entertainment. The moment I woke up, I’d grab it and scroll through everything: texts, emails, headlines, Instagram, the weather, random TikToks. Within minutes, my brain was already overstimulated and overwhelmed.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but this habit was shaping the entire tone of my day. I was starting in reactive mode—consuming instead of creating, reacting instead of reflecting.

So I made a rule: no phone for the first 30 minutes of the day.

At first, I didn’t know what to do with myself. It felt weird and kind of boring. But that boredom turned out to be a gift. I started noticing how I felt in the morning. I began doing little things like stretching, drinking water, or journaling. Sometimes I’d just sit in silence for a minute or two before getting up.

It was awkward at first, but eventually, it became something I looked forward to—a little pocket of calm that set the tone for a slower, more intentional start.

Now, I actually enjoy that quiet space before the world comes rushing in. And I swear, it makes my brain feel clearer and more focused all day.

2. I Built a 10-Minute Morning Routine I Could Stick To

One of my biggest mistakes in the past was trying to do too much in the morning.

I’d get inspired by YouTube videos or Instagram reels and decide I needed to meditate, journal, stretch, do a full workout, cook a healthy breakfast, and plan my day—all before 8:00 a.m.

I’d last maybe two days before I gave up completely.

What finally worked was scaling way, way back. I created a routine that took just ten minutes and focused on how I wanted to feel, not what I thought I should accomplish.

My 10-minute routine started with:

• A quick stretch or body shake-out (1–2 minutes)

• Writing down how I’m feeling and one thing I’m grateful for (3 minutes)

• Setting a simple intention for the day (2 minutes)

• Drinking a glass of water and taking a few deep breaths (3 minutes)

That’s it. Nothing fancy. No pressure. Just a way to check in with myself before jumping into the world.

This little ritual gave my mornings structure without being overwhelming. And because it was short and realistic, I actually did it—day after day. Over time, those ten minutes became something I genuinely enjoyed, and they naturally grew into longer stretches of time as I got more comfortable being awake early.

The best part? I started feeling grounded instead of rushed. And that feeling stayed with me throughout the day.

3. I Went to Bed 30 Minutes Earlier (Even When I Didn’t Want To)

This sounds obvious, but it was the hardest shift for me.

I used to stay up late out of habit. Even when I was exhausted, I’d convince myself I needed “just one more episode” or that I deserved a late-night scroll to unwind. I called it self-care—but really, it was self-sabotage in disguise.

Eventually, I made myself a deal: just try going to bed 30 minutes earlier for one week.

I didn’t change my entire sleep schedule overnight. I didn’t become the person who goes to bed at 9 p.m. with lavender oil on their pillow. I just turned off the screens a little earlier, dimmed the lights, and let myself wind down without noise.

The difference was almost immediate.

Waking up wasn’t so painful anymore. I had a bit more energy. I didn’t feel like I was dragging myself out of a coma every morning. That extra 30 minutes gave my body and mind just enough rest to start the day with more clarity and less resentment.

Now, I actually protect my bedtime like it's important—because it is. Morning me is very grateful for night me when I follow through.

Final Thoughts

I never thought I’d become someone who enjoys mornings. But it didn’t happen because I forced myself into some high-achiever routine or woke up at 5 a.m. with a green smoothie.

It happened because I made a few small, realistic changes that supported how I wanted to feel in the morning: calm, grounded, and clear.

If you’ve always told yourself, “I’m just not a morning person,” I get it. I really do. But maybe it’s not about becoming a whole new person. Maybe it’s just about finding a few small habits that make mornings feel a little less like a battle—and a little more like a beginning.