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How to become a morning person in only two weeks

Mar 25, 2020

Read time: 8 min

There are two types of students in this world: those who pop out of bed ready for the day at the crack of dawn, and those who stay up until 2 a.m. studying (or going down the rabbit hole of cat videos—pick your poison).

In a recent CampusWell survey, 40 percent of respondents said they’re naturally “night owls.” At the same time, 83 percent noted having responsibilities at 9:00 a.m. or earlier on weekdays.

As the proverb goes, “The early bird gets the worm.” And so does the research. According to a 2009 study of university students published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, morning people were more proactive than night people.

Early bird perks

There isn’t anything inherently wrong with being a night owl. But your academic programs and jobs likely have morning hours. Some sports may even hold practice before dawn.

There are also many other reasons to get up early, such as:

Enjoying some peace and quiet
Having time for breakfast, reflection, and even a nap later on
Increased productivity
Time to yourself for whatever you’d like to start your day right, whether it’s meditation, a cup of coffee, homework, or journaling

According to the respondents to a recent CampusWell survey, here are some a.m. benefits:

Less traffic
Time to get errands done
A calm, relaxed pace
More sunshine
More time to relax at night (since you were productive earlier in the day)
Light
Time for physical activity
Getting to sleep earlier

Shift your schedule

Almost 25 percent of the respondents to the CampusWell survey said it’s “always” or “usually” difficult to wake up before 9:00 a.m., even when absolutely necessary. Another 51 percent said it’s “sometimes” hard.

Many people believe you’re either wired to be bright-eyed in the morning or you’re not. In reality, adopting specific habits will make it easier for you to wake early. Here’s how:

Start gradually

Adjust your schedule in increments. For example, try going to bed 10 minutes earlier tonight and waking up 10 minutes earlier tomorrow. Raise it another 10 minutes the next day, and so on.

Prepare ahead of time

Set out clothing, review your schedule, and make your lunch the night before. “If you plan the night before what you’re going to do in the morning, it helps to get you going,” says Ewan C., a second-year undergraduate student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia.

Get moving

“I go to the gym in the morning, which energizes me for the rest of the day,” says Maria T., a third-year undergraduate at Saint Louis University in Missouri.

Get consistent sleep

Students 17 and older need about seven to nine hours of sleep every night. “A regimented schedule, especially on weekends, [is essential],” says Dr. Michael Decker, a diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine.

Set an alarm

Try using your favorite song for motivation or setting two alarms—15 minutes apart—to ease yourself out of bed. There are also many smartphone apps that track your sleep cycle and aim to wake you at an optimal time, though some students prefer the old-school way, such as Elizabeth R., a fourth-year undergraduate at Northern Illinois University, who says, “Get a real alarm clock instead of using your phone—a real alarm clock is more obnoxious and annoying than your phone alarms. When I use my phone, I sleep right through it, but when I use my alarm clock, it’s almost impossible to ignore.”

Enjoy breakfast

A healthy meal will help energize you. Prepare something that combines protein, whole grains, and some fruit and/or vegetables. “I wake up an hour before I have to leave the house, so I have time to eat before work or school,” says Sarah R., a second-year student at Wake Technical Community College in North Carolina.

Fuel your morning with these easy and healthy breakfast ideas

How you can become a morning person in only two weeks

Making a shift in sleep habits requires not only a change in thinking but also a physical adjustment. Your body can’t make a big leap all at once. Instead, set yourself up for success by taking a gradual approach.

Here’s a sample schedule to follow over the course of two weeks. Adjust as necessary based on your commitments. This plan allows you to get up earlier but actually increases the amount of sleep you’ll be getting.

chart of weekly sleep schedule

Sleep chart text

If your usual weekday habit is to go to bed at 1:30 a.m. and wake up at 8:30 a.m., that means you get seven hours of sleep.

On Saturday night, try going to bed at 12:45 a.m. and waking at 9:45 a.m., resulting in nine hours of sleep.

On Sunday night, go to bed at 12:30 a.m. and wake at 8:30 a.m., for eight hours of sleep.

On Monday night, go to bed at 12:15 a.m. and wake up at 8:15 a.m., for eight hours of sleep.

On Tuesday night, go to bed at midnight and wake up at 8:15 a.m., for eight and a quarter hours of sleep.

On Wednesday night, go to bed at 11:45 p.m. and wake up at 8:15 a.m., for eight and a half hours of sleep.

On Thursday night, go to bed at 11:15 p.m. and wake up at 8:00 a.m., for eight and three quarter hours of sleep.

On Friday and Saturday night, go to bed at midnight and wake up at 9:00 a.m., for nine hours of sleep.

On Sunday night, go to bed at 11:15 p.m. and wake up at 8:00 a.m., for eight and three quarter hours of sleep.

On Monday night, go to bed at 11:00 p.m. and wake up at 7:45 a.m., for eight and three quarter hours of sleep.

On Tuesday night, go to bed at 10:45 p.m. and wake up at 7:30 a.m., for eight and three quarter hours of sleep.

On Wednesday night, go to bed at 10:30 p.m. and wake up at 7:15 a.m., for eight and three quarter hours of sleep.

Finally, on Thursday night, go to bed at 10:15 p.m. and wake up at 7:00 a.m., for eight and three quarter hours of sleep. You’ve now shifted your sleep schedule.