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Original poster

Question for morning people

73 replies

Hollyhocky · 19/01/2023 06:34

For you larks, morning people, people who naturally have no problem getting up around sunrise and not 5 minutes before you really have to get up and can't get away with it any longer.:

When your alarm goes off, what goes through your mind? My automatic thought is snooze it. I wish I could just jump up and get on with my day and would like to make some changes to see if I can be more lark/like.

So how do you do it?

OP posts:
IvanaB · 19/01/2023 07:08

I'm a morning person but more so in the summer.

Before kids I'd naturally wake up/get up between 7-8 everyday. In the summer I usually wake a bit earlier and because it's light and bright i'd happily spring out of bed to enjoy the peace and quiet with a coffee.

Now I have a baby and a toddler so I'm forced to get up between 6-7. Don't mind this at all in the summer but in the dark, cold winter months I'm not so keen.

iiojdasdewe · 19/01/2023 07:11

If you need an alarm to wake you up, you're not a real morning person 😁

Sling · 19/01/2023 07:17

Up as soon as the alarm goes at 6am, gym gear on, open door of teen 1's room and cuddle dog who always sleeps with her, open door of teen 2's room and then head down for coffee.
Teen 1 comes down straight away, gets breakfast and organised then sits for 30 mins before the bus scrolling on her phone - she hates to be rushed.
Teen 2 rolls out of bed 20 minutes before the bus, showers and leaves with wet hair - I fear for his Uni/working days.
I walk the dog, come home shower, dress and crack on with my day

gotellitonthemountain · 19/01/2023 07:19

There's a really good book about sleep. It talks about the evidence for 40% of us being morning larks and 30% night owls (the rest are a mix of the two). It's hardwired survival for the group - as then there's less time with everyone in the tribe asleep and vulnerable.

The problem for night owls is that society now is geared entirely towards early risers and there is a slight snobbishness about those who genetically need to stay in bed longer.

gotellitonthemountain · 19/01/2023 07:20

Book: Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker

Tiffan · 19/01/2023 07:21

Never EVER press snooze. Makes me feel worse.

humblebeedle · 19/01/2023 07:21

As others have said it’s much easier in summer, but also a bit frustrating as usually wake when the sun comes up way before alarm. But do use an alarm and snooze it a couple of times in winter. Seem to have less energy in the winter generally. Once I wake or alarm goes off my mind starts thinking and planning. Have the most energy first thing in the day. Super productive up until about 3pm - totally rubbish energy levels in the evening though and no matter how much I try always struggle to get much done at all past 7pm and could happily go to bed. Not sure if relevant but love a nap. When kids were little I used to have a nap while watching a tv programme with them 6-6:30pm then would have enough energy for bedtime routine. If I didn’t do this I’d nap on their beds while they were settling. Also used to take them to the cinema so could have a nap. I think I read somewhere that it’s to do with cortisol (stress hormone?) with early risers and early sleepers you have more in the morning that runs out during day rather than being steady. That being said I love being awake early and do all my quiet chores with enjoyment and a peaceful cup of tea.

EVHead · 19/01/2023 07:23

I’m very motivated by breakfast. Especially real coffee. 😄

ForfuckssakeEXHstopbeingatwat · 19/01/2023 07:25

I set an alarm, for safety, but usually wake up before it. Im a single parent to teens who annoyingly need a lot of chivvying so I'm up and making sure it's all in place so we can all leave together on time. If I snooze then it all becomes a horrible shouty rush. We've had issues with school attendance and anxiety so mornings have to run smoothly. Self preservation basically...getting up earlier makes my life better.

Ihatepcos · 19/01/2023 07:27

I usually wake up early naturally without an alarm and I think that's what makes the difference OP.

Tlolljs · 19/01/2023 07:27

I always set my alarm but very rarely do I need it.
Love 4am in the summer up, coffee on, sit in the garden.
Winter not so early but half 5 is not unusual.
Knackered by 8pm though.

WandaWonder · 19/01/2023 07:28

If have enough time to hit snooze I would just the alarm later, as in if I get up at 6.30 and can snooze it till 7 I would just set the alarm for 7 type thing

I am neither a morning person nor a night owl but have a dull time job so don't have a choice to get up when I have to get up

Topjoe19 · 19/01/2023 07:30

I read an interview with a morning DJ or news presenter (they get up before dawn) and the person said they count to 3 and no matter how tired they are they get out of bed on 3. I've always done this (2 terrible sleeper DC) so I'm always pretty groggy. It works though. Cup of tea straightaway then I'm ready to go.

EVHead · 19/01/2023 07:32

have a dull time job

Yeah I’ve had a few of those! 😂

DuchessOfDisco · 19/01/2023 07:40

Waking up is the easy bit. Getting out of bed? That I struggle with.
im always first awake in the house, and usually awake before my alarm goes off (simply if you struggle with that just go to bed earlier). I have a deal with myself that if I wake up anytime after 5 I stay awake - no rolling over for an extra hour snooze.
to get up - my motivation is that morning cup of tea in peace before everyone else wakes up. Much nicer in the spring and onwards when you can watch the sunrise. Winter is a struggle

frozendaisy · 19/01/2023 07:44

I do both, I set my alarm even earlier than I need to to allow about 20 minutes of snooze but I don't fall back asleep I indulge in wakeful rest, daydream, go through a mental list etc

Highonpower · 19/01/2023 07:45

I used to hit the snooze button but after having kids - or maybe it's getting older, I've changed, I can't sleep in. I wake up between at 5-7am. Dh gets up at 5am - we do this at weekends too - I rarely use an alarm, I try to go back to sleep but it's often not possible - I got up this morning at 6am and took dh to the station. No hesitation, no sleepiness and no snooze. But we can't stay awake past 10:30 at night, kids find it hilarious that we go to bed so early. Still up for a party till the wee hours and on those occasions I might be able to sleep until 9am - 10am tops. More likely to grab an afternoon nap. I have loads of energy in the morning - and by the evening I'm zonked.

Supertatato · 19/01/2023 07:47

Most of the time I'm already awake when my alarm goes off, I naturally wake up at about 6:30 so that probably helps a lot. I also always make sure I have enough time to sit with a cup of tea for half an hour and watch TV / scroll on mumsnet. That 30 minutes is vital and I will get up extra early if I have to just to accommodate it. I could never just get up and out the door, I need time to properly wake up.

PilatesPeach · 19/01/2023 07:48

I was born this way - even as a chid I used to want to go to bed early and get up early then at Uni if I was revising I would start at 6am and finish at noon - ok some days I might feel a bit tired but even then to stay in bed until 6.30am is a lie in. Get so much done by lunchtime.

Highonpower · 19/01/2023 07:49

And I always got up 30 mins before the kids for my coffee in peace start to the day - I find the mornings soothing, there's a different quality to the light - love the sunrise. Even on holidays, I love walking through cities in the morning - observing everyone getting ready for their day, whilst I stroll along with no other aim than finding a good breakfast spot.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 19/01/2023 07:51

I am NOT a morning person. I do find in winter that my 'sunrise' lamp helps me get out of bed - it wakes me up naturally so 9 times out of 10 I'm awake before my audible alarm goes off. It might be worth trying one, OP.

DressingForRevenge · 19/01/2023 07:53

I go to bed early enough that I’m ready to get up. If I went to bed at midnight, I’d be hitting the snooze button too.

theemmadilemma · 19/01/2023 07:55

Read up about your circadian rhythm and changing it.

Bagatella · 19/01/2023 07:55

I get everything ready the night before- outfit, bag etc,so no dithering! I get up, feed the cat/let the dog out/drink coffee, shower, dress, makeup and out. I can do this in under half an hour from waking up to being in the car.

If I lay in bed trying to decide what to wear, what needs doing , I'd fall back asleep- voice of experience!

I used to get up last minute and rush around. I've forced myself to become a morning person and love the calm start to my day.

HerbertChops · 19/01/2023 08:01

Depends, even though I’m a morning person sometimes I’m knackered and I’ll put it on snooze once or maybe twice (rare as I set alarm when I need to get up and don’t factor in snooze time). Mostly, on week days, I wake up before the alarm and get up after a few minutes and just start getting ready.

My son had an early exam the other day and I’d set the alarm wrong but I woke up about five minutes before it was set for, thank god! It’s like my body knows when it has to get up and wakes up ready. Used to work long hours and the same thing happened when alarm was set for 5am.

I always seemed to have boyfriends and now dh who are night owls. They factor in snooze time and have the alarm snoozing for 30mins before getting up. I can’t stand that, it makes me really tired if I set an earlier alarm when I don’t need to get up and repeatedly snooze it.