How to be a "morning person" when you REALLY don't feel like it.

OK, I’ll admit it – when it comes to mornings, I’m not exactly in my best form.

Usually I’m grumpy, I’m annoyed at myself for staying up later than I should have and want to throttle anyone that speaks to me before I’ve inhaled my morning coffee.

However, I have decided to make a change.

This year (well, starting now) I’m going to be one of those “morning people” I hear about.

Sure, I might not exactly hop out of bed chirping like a bluebird but at least I’ll be pleasant.

Here’s how:

1. Decide to be nice.

Before my feet hit the floor I’ve started taking a few minutes to decide to be nice. I know how ridiculous that sounds but hear me out, because I think it’s really helping. I just take a few minutes to assess what’s happening during the day and then I try to leave my comfy bed in the right frame of mind.

RELATED: The 5 bad breakfast habits you need to break, stat.

It’s a big change from my usual bed exit which is hurried, agitated and frantic. It actually doesn’t have to be. I set the alarm a couple of minutes earlier (or if I’m woken by one of my kids I just pull them in bed with me and make them lie there while I get my head straight).

 Just as an FYI, this post is sponsored by Uncle Tobys. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.

 2. Sit down and enjoy breakfast.

Again, probably something that sounds so minor yet can make such a huge difference to your day. Before I was guilty of a half-eaten piece of cold toast shoved down my face on the way to the car. It was never enough, and it was never enjoyable.

Now, I’m taking the time to sit with my kids and enjoy a bowl of cereal (which is much better nutritionally). I’m finding that I feel better and I’m also avoiding a sneaky trip to the coffee shop mid-morning for a naughty treat.

3. Be organised.

I’m a chaotic person. I’m disorganised and frankly, a bit of a mess. A typical morning for me consists of running around after lost objects, packing bags that could have been done the night before and rummaging through washing baskets searching for a semi-clean top.

But to decrease the stress levels I’m trying to be one of those people who has their stuff together. You know, the ones who have the bags packed the night before with lunch ready to go in the fridge.

I’m laying out outfits at the end of the bed to avoid the frustration of not being able to find anything and I’ve even made a place for my work stuff to sit waiting for me. I’ve really felt that by reducing my chaos, I’m turning out to be a much nicer morning person.

4. Make time for exercise.

One thing that I’ve missed out on since (well, since a long time ago) is the “me time” I used to have to exercise. In the dark ages I could go for a walk after work, spend weekends exploring walking tracks and taking leisurely swims whenever I wanted.

It was much easier to have an active lifestyle when no one relied on me.

RELATED: 11 things no one ever tells you about exercise.

Of course now that’s not the case but I have managed to sneak in some time in the morning which has really helped with stress levels and amazingly, fatigue.

I set my alarm, throw on some workout clothes and go. It actually doesn’t matter if I wake up in a foul mood because nobody is there to deal with it. Clearing my head in the early dawn does wonders and it’s such a nice feeling getting the “morning” smile from other walkers as you pass. By the time I return home, I’m refreshed and ready for the day.

What’s your best tips for being a better morning person?

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